So the Prez has admitted the reality that we done “tortured some folks.” As one writer makes clear, “torture” is a word of real legal implication. Worse, this acknowledgement is stronger than his earliest statement containing the qualifying “I believe” preface. Nevertheless, on three occasions now he has used the word and made it clear at least twice. There is one difference this time in that he did not restrict his reference to “the water torture” (aka, “waterboarding”). ‘Course the AG also has stated unequivocally that waterboarding is torture as was known by all civilized persons.
Obviously there is no stomach for action notwithstanding the declaration that what was done is actionable. But we are not alone on spaceship earth and others might have the integrity so lacking to charge those responsible. In addition to the top two officials, various secretaries, enablers such as a current prestigious law professor or at least law professor at a prestigious law school and a judge of the Ninth Circuit, there are the numerous people who acted upon orders thereof/from (see Nuremburg, trials). Surely some international authority or authorities within countries upon whose citizens our torture was visited might pursue criminal process.
Clearly our fearless leaders are unlikely to surrender those appropriate for prosecution. On the other hand, indictments of them could lead not merely to international ridicule and scorn but to actual process should they venture beyond the secure confines of our holy borders. For this reality we have the estimable Captain Video who knew a thing about hair on the chest.
Based upon our October 1985 interception of an EgyptAir flight over the Mediterranean Sea one dark (but not stormy) night, the world is on notice that we accept the right of nations to hijack airliners whenever they carry baddies deserving of prosecution. Thus, our own international terrorists must be subject to such treatment should they venture beyond our territorial waters without our being due even so much as an apology. When one was demanded of our Captain he said “Nuts” or maybe it was “Never,” the former being the eloquence of a man of vastly greater stature. Nevertheless, the implications are pretty much the same.
So just imagine our brave mouthed guys and gals wetting their pants at the thought of travel in the face of official international condemnation of actions they so joyously took in behalf of their exceptionalism…
As a postscript it should be noted that after our courageous and daring hijack of the airliner, the Italians took possession of the bad guys and allowed them to proceed on their way. Presumably future activists will have learned to avoid the futility attendant our thuggery.