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They should have been prosecuted. Instead, Obama gave a blanket pardon for everyone involved and the US has threatened sanctions against the ICC if they attemp

They should have been prosecuted. Instead, Obama gave a blanket pardon for everyone involved and the US has threatened sanctions against the ICC if they attempt a prosecution.

sofixa 5y ago
> the US has threatened sanctions against the ICC if they attempt a prosecution It's worse than that, they have sanctioned ICC prosecutors and there's a law allowing the US to invade The Hague if a war criminal of theirs is under detention or trial there. It's not even vague, it's blatant hypocrisy and refusal to adhere to international treaties and war crimes definitions ( which the US itself helped shape, but has never applied to itself).
ncmncm 5y ago
Obama did not issue anything binding on future administrations, unlike formal pardons. He just expressed his intention not to act as the law required. A good first step would be to stand aside and let ICC prosecute, which even actual pardons would not block.
- lazide 5y ago
  My guess? In exchange for Osama bin Laden, he agreed to turn a blind eye.
- themolecularman 5y ago
  > A good first step would be to stand aside and let ICC prosecute, which even actual pardons would not block. Who would they prosecute? Obama or Bush? It seems like the implication people have when talking about this is that the CIA agents or CIA directors should be charged. From my perspective, would they have done any of these illegal activities if they hadn't been given the green-light from the top? If Bush/Obama said we will let the ICC prosecute, would any CIA agent/director have done it? Probably not. I'm not disagreeing about prosecution, I'm just wondering where the buck stops and where the true responsibility lies.
  - ncmncm 5y ago
    We need no buck. "Following orders" is not an excuse. So, everybody up and down the line who knew they were involved in illegal activity is guilty of that, and also of conspiracy. Many are also guilty of obstruction of justice, which is normally punished more harshly than the crime covered up. Obama halted the torture program, but could be prosecuted for other crimes involving use of drone strikes on civilians, along with underlings who organized or performed the strikes.

They should have been prosecuted. Instead, Obama gave a blanket pardon for everyone involved and the US has threatened sanctions against the ICC if they attempt a prosecution.

sofixa 5y ago

> the US has threatened sanctions against the ICC if they attempt a prosecution It's worse than that, they have sanctioned ICC prosecutors and there's a law allowing the US to invade The Hague if a war criminal of theirs is under detention or trial there. It's not even vague, it's blatant hypocrisy and refusal to adhere to international treaties and war crimes definitions ( which the US itself helped shape, but has never applied to itself).

ncmncm 5y ago

Obama did not issue anything binding on future administrations, unlike formal pardons. He just expressed his intention not to act as the law required. A good first step would be to stand aside and let ICC prosecute, which even actual pardons would not block.

lazide 5y ago
My guess? In exchange for Osama bin Laden, he agreed to turn a blind eye.
themolecularman 5y ago
> A good first step would be to stand aside and let ICC prosecute, which even actual pardons would not block. Who would they prosecute? Obama or Bush? It seems like the implication people have when talking about this is that the CIA agents or CIA directors should be charged. From my perspective, would they have done any of these illegal activities if they hadn't been given the green-light from the top? If Bush/Obama said we will let the ICC prosecute, would any CIA agent/director have done it? Probably not. I'm not disagreeing about prosecution, I'm just wondering where the buck stops and where the true responsibility lies.
- ncmncm 5y ago
  We need no buck. "Following orders" is not an excuse. So, everybody up and down the line who knew they were involved in illegal activity is guilty of that, and also of conspiracy. Many are also guilty of obstruction of justice, which is normally punished more harshly than the crime covered up. Obama halted the torture program, but could be prosecuted for other crimes involving use of drone strikes on civilians, along with underlings who organized or performed the strikes.