The Torturers’ Manifesto

The Torturers’ Manifesto

These memos make it clear that Mr. Bybee is unfit for a job that requires legal judgment and a respect for the Constitution. Congress should impeach him. And if the administration will not conduct a thorough investigation of these issues, then Congress has a constitutional duty to hold the executive branch accountable. If that means putting Donald Rumsfeld and Alberto Gonzales on the stand, even Dick Cheney, we are sure Americans can handle it.

After eight years without transparency or accountability, Mr. Obama promised the American people both. His decision to release these memos was another sign of his commitment to transparency. We are waiting to see an equal commitment to accountability.

Nice of the NYT to finally broach the subject of accountability. Of course, such accountability must not be limited to the likes of Judge Bybee. Where was such talk during the Marquis de Sade's administration? Sure, there were plenty of editorials and op-eds that proclaimed torture to be abhorrent, or wire-tapping to be wrong, but never ever any calls for investigation or *gasp* prosecution for acts that were prima facie illegal, and in the case of the torture allegations, immoral.

Investigation and prosecution of these acts needs to be separated from any political discussion. This is not a political issue. The previous administration knowingly committed war crimes and intentionally sought to cover them up. This much is clear to anyone with a conscience. No amount of rationalization can justify what was done. No ticking time-bombs. No imminent threat. No amount of hand-wringing about "terrorist threats" justifies such acts.

The scales are beginning to fall from the nation's eyes. The time has come to investigate and prosecute the previous administration's wrong-doings. Only that can put this nation back on its course.