John McCain admits US under George Bush violated the Geneva Convention
By John Amato Monday Apr 27, 2009 8:00amJohn McCain admitted to Bob Schieffer on Face The Nation that the US violated the Geneva Conventions under George W. Bush regarding the abusive treatment of prisoners.
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN (Ranking, Armed Services Committee): First of all let me repeat what you just said, Bob. I have opposed torture. It's violation of the Geneva Conventions. I worry about treatment of Americans in future conflicts.
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN: The-- the allegations are that they gave the wrong counsel that’s and—- and that bad things were done. And we violated fundamental commitments that the United States of America made when we signed the Geneva Conventions. And we disregarded what might happen to Americans who are held captive in the future. And by the way, those who say our enemies won’t abide the Geneva Conventions they will if they know there’s going to retribution for their violation of it.
BOB SCHIEFFER: Let me ask you about this quickly, Jay Bybee who was one of the people at the Justice department that wrote the memos that gave the CIA what they call the legal reasons to go ahead with all this, he’s now a federal judge. We understand that he very much regrets, or at least he’s told people, he regrets having written those memos. Do you think that he should be impeached or do you think that he should resign or you-- you think he should be left alone?
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN: Well, a resignation would be a decision he would have to make on his own. But he falls into the same category as everybody else as far as giving very bad advice and misinterpreting fundamentally what the United States is all about, much less things like the Geneva Conventions. Plus--under President Reagan we signed an agreement against torture, we’re in violation of that...
So tell me what are the penalties for violating the Geneva Conventions? John McCain freely admitted that our great country violated the agreements we signed up for. Is it an act of vengeance that the people who broke those treaties should be prosecuted or is it just following the law?
A hat tip to Library Grape, who emailed me the tip. They add:
Although McCain said that we now just need to move on, I'm impressed by his ability to speak the truth. To his point about moving on, however, if McCain admits that the Bush administration violated the Geneva Conventions and the U.N. Convention Against Torture, that means that the people that formulated the torture policy are guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. I just don't get how you can "move on" from fundamental violations of U.S. and international law that we routinely call on other nations to prosecute.
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of civilization's collapse at the moment without McCains input at least it's manageable.
"And by the way, those who say our enemies won’t abide the Geneva Conventions they will if they know there’s going to retribution for their violation of it."
Good for you John. That's one of the MANY reasons why we should not torture prisoners and prosecute those who do.
like we prosecuted the Japanese and Germans after WWII for torture, in some cases the same torture used by the U.S. of A. That's right... the U.S. tortures.
So Sen McCain is saying "they know there’s going to retribution for their violation of it" at the same time he is saying there should be no retribution of us or U.S..
Are we that much "better" than the rest of the world ?
And get sued by some thirteen year old for malpractice. Still Crazy Grandpa and his tough on crime party are so full of shit.
And don't want to go through it again, which is soooo amusing, because it was REPUBLICANS who put this country through that agony --and all over a freaking BJ!! What a frivolous waste of this country's energy, not to mention millions of dollars in taxpayer funds.
In the case of torture, though, I think the U.S. MUST go through an investigation and prosecution. We need to purge our country of non-democratic ideals and get back to the treaty that Reagan signed, thereby making it the law of our land. "Are we a nation of laws, or of men?" We need to affirm that we are the former!
If we fail to hold them accountable for their crimes this time the American people may and (most likely) will be the victims next time
I keep calling my congress people with these points....
1. It's on paper we torture
2. Repubs are publicly admitting we torture
3. We hung Japanese officers and soldiers for torturing after WW2
4. The rule of law was supposed to be reinstated under Obama
5. So why isn't the last administration's top leadership behind bars?
EXCELLENT points you pose. It's time to get the prosecution of these criminals started and roll it fast!
That's great. The tarnish on America will never go away, no matter if we prosecute or ignore. The Law breaking should have been dealt with in 2003-2004-2005, not 2010 or beyond. We are schmucks. Clown show.
But we can lessen the duration by prosecuting those responsible.
And yeah, maybe we should have done something 2003-2005...but seriously, no way anyone could have proceeded with legal action with the political climate like it was back then.
We're just now gettin to where something can finally be done.
It's gonna take a while.
..if Speaker Pelosi hadn't taken impeachment off the table.
Just sayin'.
they could have impeached Bush and Cheney when these rightwing neocon fascist nazis don't want to prosecute those that approved the torture methods?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/e...
.
Dear America,
"A Nation of Laws, not men..."
... Yah, whatever!
.
Slobodan Milošević? Wasn't Saddam executed for crimes against humanity?
have Poppy and Babs committed a crime against humanity?
The shit stain of the Bush Administration will never wash out of the underwear of America.
commando.
"be sure to stock up on toilet paper"
US CODE TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 118 > § 2441 War crimes
..would we even know about the torture memos?
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN: The-- the allegations are that they gave the wrong counsel that’s and—- and that bad things were done.
"..bad things were done." Don't you mean Criminal Acts?
Shoot, bad things is what my dog does to a pillow.
adog that did that to his pillow.
....smack them on the nose with a rolled up newspaper??
..we've tried.
The American Psyche depends entirely upon seeing America as the Greatest Country In The World, Always Perfect, Never Fallible.
To admit that war crimes were committed is to admit fallibility.
This is something Americans CANNOT DO. It will SHATTER THEIR WORLDVIEW.
This is why there are flags everywhere and why the media must constantly reinforce the idea that America is the Greatest; otherwise, people might start looking at other countries with their longer life spans, health systems etc. and decide maybe they want some of that stuff too.
That's what the GOP and the news media would have you believe everytime they get caught doing something dispicable.
US CODE TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 118 > § 2441 War Crimes
All the relevant International Treaties regarding War Crimes are incorporated into this section of US Law.
...like a blowjob. Now THAT was worth tearing up the country over.
Although McCain said that we now just need to move on, I'm impressed by his ability to speak the truth.
I guess I am, too, although I would have found it more impressive if he had spoken the truth at the time.
!
thanks for the shoutout, John! big fan of the blog and am very appreciative of your work speaking truth to power
did you happen to see the huge slate of GOP officials who called for a full-fledged investigation into the previous administration? check it out http://www.librarygrape.com/2009/04/breaking-...
..check it out.
They did not get wrong counsel. That makes it sound like they're innocent. They got exactly the council they asked for. They had to search around to find someone who would say these things were legal.
Let me just add: Why the hell is McCain on the Sunday monring talk show circuit again? He lost the election. Who cares what he thinks? He should shut his trap and hole up in one of his 7 houses to lick his wounds.
Remember back in the dark days of Lewinsky, when the righties would get on TV to justify their endless investigation/impeachment? I recall seeing so many of them in their spittle-spewing rage saying, "the President broke the law" - and "the President lied".
What happened to 'move forward' and 'keep walking' then?
Criticizing Obama for 'sending a bad message' for shaking hands with Hugo Chavez?
What kind of message does "torture is legal" send to the world?
I knew Cheney went to work immediately after "Gulf War One" stripping every full time job from the military that THEY wanted to replace with contractors "in time of war" ..
They do make long range plans ..
I do know what I'm talking about.
If you had lived in Austin, Texas between 1990 and 2000 (like I did) and based on what we know today about the previous administration, it's easy to look back and see, without a doubt, exactly what and how it went down. Possibly other Texas residents would not have figured it out, but definitely if you were living in the capital of Texas and bumping into name-dropper Karl Rove at the dancehall every Wednesday night, it's no big secret. Another factor would be if you were duped into a fraudulent marriage with one of those loyalists who just happened to have needed a green-card.
like we need to have a write-up on this, velly intelesting
I think from other stuff I'v read,Henry and Ottis were in the organ (body parts) selling bussiness
http://www.konformist.com/2000/henry.htm
i mean... surely you can't believe this nonsense...?
....I recall seeing so many of them in their spittle-spewing rage saying, "the President broke the law" - and "the President lied"....
Yes, I remember seeing this too and it really makes my blood boil now, after all that has transpired during the last eight years. The worst part of all for me is that I was in Austin while Bush was governor when they were trying to impeach Bill Clinton. Can you imagine that?
It's not an option, it's the solemn obligation of every government official to protect and defend the Constitution, which requires investigating and prosecuting crimes.
Nothing political about it. It's the law. Now, let's move on with the required investigations and prosecutions.
Absolutely correct.
From being unacceptable to a witch hunt.
He is too weak to make a stand.
There are 2 justice systems in this country. One the "law and order" conservatives would apply to us the other they apply to themselves. The Bush Republican Guard will get off you betcha.
We won't allow ourselves to be in a situation where we’ll be so worn out and tired of death and depression that you’ll offer little resistance to the new order.
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090427/capt.0a467c...
But maybe they should not be forgotten in all this,They already slipped the noose on these two things .Not including the S&L scandals,Iran/Contra and many other crimes and corruption,I just think these things people should also keep in mind
http://www.wethepeople.la/indict.htm
http://deoxy.org/wc/warcrim2.htm
...opening their worthless yappers after a major election. In November America told the likes of Grandpa and Cheney to STFU.
These people really can't let it go that Obama is President.
Surely I'm not the ONLY one who saw this coming as early as late 2001/early 2002?
As soon as Rumsfeld & Co started talking about 'Illegal combatants' (a thereto nonexistent term in international law) and how the Geneva Convention didn't apply to POWs in Afghanistan, etc.
After all, what possible motive would exist for denying them their Geneva Convention rights - unless you intend to treat them in a way that violates the Geneva Convention?
Then - Shock Horror! - it turns out that some 'bad apples' at the bottom had gotten the impression that the GC didn't apply.. But these criminals were supposedly not representative..
Seriously, if there ever was a case of a fish rotting from the head down, its this one. Bush, Rumsfeld and Cheney were laying the legal foundation for prisoner abuse long before any prisoner abuse had actually occured.
.....the Bush criminals in Texas come down with the Swine Flu.
NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!
so, human rights violator federal judge bybee has regrets about his efforts in trying to provide legal cover for torture? how does that work? he didn't realize what he was doing? his fingers slipped on the keyboard? he was confused? i don't get it...
So when is McCain going to call for investigations and prosecutions if American officials broke international law? Or does he just suggest a slap on the wrist and a promise to never do "bad things" again?
there is nothing left but myth. Time for Tobey Keith and Lee Greenwood to come out with some new songs.
I agree. It's pathetic to call America a nation based on the rule of law when your leaders get away with breaking them.
to be an American, where the networks brainwash me...
They tell me how to think and live so I can pretend to be free...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lKwXwU5iWs
We should have just moved on, after Mason and his family did in all those people in LA....prosecuting and such just dredges up bad feelings and stories, so let's just move on. Let's do that for all crime, after all crime and criminals are just SO unpleasant.
I didn't mean to plow down that family of four in my SUV...but...really...it serves no purpose to arrest me. I mean...think of their family! Having to relive this whole sordid affair! Think of the children!!
Cuz, if you do, well, then, we'll have to give you a stern talking to and maybe even think about possibly in the future one day discuss maybe not letting you watch your favorite TV show.
If I gave legal advice to the CIA that they can round up all Republicans and kill them, then they can do that and I won't be in any trouble whatsoever, the CIA won't be in trouble whatsoever...nobody is to blame and we all get Get-Out-Of-Jail free cards? That's what I'm hearing them say...how come nobody is calling the obvious: We signed international agreements saying we wouldn't do something. We consciously and intentionally ignored those agreements and broke them. Whether it was useful to any means is irrelevant. The bottom line is that the law was broken. PERIOD. Send the whole cabal to the Hague and let them sort them out.
you are a good american
ford's pardon of nixon cast a pale upon this great nation, and left most of its citizens with a cynicsm towards politicians that lasts till the present times
what mcoldcoot is saying is that "if its done in the name of politics, it may not be ok, but no one can be held accountable"
bs, i say
who wanted to prosecute a sitting president for getting a bj
they all make me wanna puke
McCain says that we don't have to fear that other nations will torture out people if they know that they will ultimately come under prosecution. Hmmm. Makes you wonder why he is opposed to prosecuting those who were involved in this mess during the Bush administration. Doesn't the lack of prosecution of anyone from the Bush administration contradict his main point?
You know I really thought this shit would end after Obama got in...
BUT IT GOES ON AND ON!!
Yes, the trailer trash, bad apple ENLISTED RANKS can be prosecuted and sentenced to jail for years and years.
BUT OOoohhh for the legal minds, officers and politicians it's time to "MOVE ON".....
My hatred knows no bounds. I cannot even articulate the level at which the fuck ups who run my country have failed.
EVERY POLITICIAN IN WASHINGTON SHOULD BE WATERBOARDED!!
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