The banality of evil...
I was reminded of the banality of evil this morning as I watched Senator Bill Frist on "This Week: with George Stephanopoulos". As he sat there, grinning and twitching his way through the interview, he repeatedly defended President Bush's policy regarding the torture of detainees thought to be members of extremist groups, I could only wonder at his utter disdain for the rule of law.
But the rule of law doesn't seem to be an issue for this president or those who support him. Given the recent "compromise" on torture and the Geneva Conventions between the White House and the so-called "rebels" in the GOP, led by John McCain, the rule of law in this nation is on its way to becoming little more than a vague memory.
This "compromise" would allow the president to establish his own interpretations of the Geneva Conventions with no more than an executive order. It will also render immune from prosecution members of the CIA and the military for past violation of the Conventions. Another provision of this "compromise" will eliminate any possibility of detainees to challenge their imprisonment through the use of habeas corpus. The net result of this would be that innocent detainees could be locked away and tortured...er...subjected to "alternative" interrogation practices, indefinitely and never have a chance for their case to be independently reviewed.
The "compromise" would also prevent the use of the Geneva Conventions in any suit brought against the US government. This would mean that those individuals tried by the military commissions established by this "compromise" would not be able to challenge the legality of those commissions by claiming they don't meet the "fair trial" standards of the Geneva Conventions Common Article III.
If this "compromise" becomes law, for the first time in US history, testimony obtained throught torture...er..."alternative" interrogation practices, will be allowed into evidence. Thus, a defendant could be convicted and executed on the basis of coerced testimony...A violation of one of the foundations of American jurisprudence since this nations inception.
And last, but not least, this "compromise" will allow the Administration to hide its “sources, methods or activities by which the United States acquired evidence”, should those practices be deemed "classified". But guess what boys and girls...All of the "alternative" interrogation practices sanctioned for use by the Administration are classified. In short, no defendant brought before a military commission will be able to challenge the torture or abuse they were subject to.
This is what Senator Frist was defending, seeming to almost relish the thought of torture. Grinning blandly while parroting the unsubstantiated Administration assertion that intelligence obtained through the use of "alternative" interrogation practices has prevented further terrorist attacks and saved countless American lives. I challenge Chimpy McPresident and his Administration to submit public evidence of this assertion. But I know they never will.
It should also be remembered that fourteen of the detainees at GITMO were transfered there from secret prisons the Administration, until recently, denied ever existed. This alone merits prosecution of members of the Bush administration, including the president himself, as war criminals.
U.S.: Senate Leaders Reject Explicit Redefinition of Geneva Conventions
COMPROMISE BILL ON MILITARY COMMISSIONS WOULD STILL AUTHORIZE INDEFINITE DETENTION WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF LEGAL CHALLENGE
