May 31 2009
Gen. Petraeus Says the US Violated the Geneva Conventions
http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/gen-petraeus-believes-our-values-and-co The general admitted on Fox News that the US had violated the Geneva Conventions.
Over 500 prisoners have been released from Guantanamo and with this admission from Petraeus; I think it’s high time we reassess our indefinite detention with out charge policy. The “worst of the worst” line doesn’t hold water when so many of these so called bad men have been released. How many have also been released from Bagram? And how many innocent people have been tortured? If US officials did violate the Geneva Conventions why isn’t someone being charged with a crime? If drug addicts can be sent to jail why is it such a big deal to indict war criminals? For those who buy the line that many of the released prisoners have returned to the battle field, I would encourage you to listen to this weeks Counter Spin. http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3806
When innocent people not on the battle field can be detained for years with no charge there is something seriously wrong with the system. While our nation’s laws can be avoided by legal maneuvering and specific classification of detainees, such avoidance clearly violates the values these laws are meant to enforce. The Geneva Conventions are the laws of this land. And if former President Clinton can be impeached for lying about a blow job why are war criminals allowed to go free? It’s time to cowboy up and bring those responsible for war crimes to justice. The looking forward excuse for not prosecuting war criminals is pure unadulterated bullshit. Our nation’s reputation has been further soiled by war pigs like Cheney, Bush and Rumsfeld, and while their prosecution may not wipe away the damage that has been done, it would be a clear signal to the world that we place our values above convenience and that holding high office in this nation does not mean you can commit war crimes with immunity from prosecution. We are on a slippery slope and if we don’t get our footing who knows how far we may descend.
