UN Official: Enough Evidence to Prosecute Rumsfeld
by QuestionGirl • Wednesday, January 28th, 2009 - 12:19 amA UN official says there is enough evidence that former US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld could be brought to justice for war crimes.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Manfred Nowak in an interview on Monday told CNN that the international body had enough evidence to prosecute Rumsfeld for his direct authorization of tortures at US detention centers in 2002.
“We have clear evidence,” Nowak said. “In our report that we sent to the United Nations, we made it clear that former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld clearly authorized torture methods and he was told at that time by Alberto Mora, the legal council of the Navy, ‘Mr. Secretary, what you are actually ordering here amounts to torture.’ So, there we have the clear evidence that Mr. Rumsfeld knew what he was doing but, nevertheless, he ordered torture.”
The UN torture official earlier in an interview with Germany’s ZDF television had said that “I think the evidence is on the table.”
Nowak said that the United States had an “obligation” to probe former President George Bush’s Administration for their involvement in torture.
More at Press TV
January 28th, 2009 at 9:06 am
Ok here you go: (a preview)
Rumsfeld: You want answers?
Nowak (Tom Cruise): I think I'm entitled to them.
Rumsfeld: You want answers?
Nowak: I want the truth!
Rumsfeld: You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Obama? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for AbuGreb and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that AbuGreb and Gitmo, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives...You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall.
We use words like honor, code, loyalty...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use 'em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to!
Nowak: Did you order the code red?
Rumsfeld: (quietly) I did the job you sent me to do.
Nowak: Did you order the torture?
Rumsfeld: YOU'RE GODDAM RIGHT I DID!
Enter arresting officers...
January 28th, 2009 at 9:09 am
As Runsfeld is being led away, His last statement ..."Sieg Heil".
January 28th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Daboater, I've riffed on that one before - I think Cheney and Addington are especially tempted to say, "Yes, I did!" But in practice, Addington, Rumsfeld, Rove, Gonzales, Hayden and others have given deceptive or non-responsive answers. They've been bullies with political opponents and other members of their own administration, but they're gutless at heart. Cheney has admitted to felonies on TV - but not under oath, so he may be a special case.