Hip! Hip! Hurray!
The birds are coming home to roost!
The ACLU has successfully brought a lawsuit against Donald Rumsfeld for his part in the systematic torture against hapless prisoners in this interminable "war on terror". It will now be held in federal court.
Gods, I've needed this! You've needed this! America has needed this!
More after the bump!
I don't normally revel in someone being taken to trial, but I couldn't dance a jig harder for this one (Links to Amicus Briefs are on their page)!
The Case Against Rumsfeld
On July 21, 2006, then-Secretary Rumsfeld reasserted his argument (PDF) that he is immune from responsibility for acts of torture and abuse committed under his watch. The lawsuit, together with three other suits filed by the ACLU, sets forth the legal basis for holding Rumsfeld and other high ranking members of the armed services responsible for torture and abuse of civilians detained by the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Retired military officers and military legal experts filed an amicus brief (PDF) in support of the ACLU's and Human Rights First's suit, arguing against Rumsfeld's position on the basis that allowing the federal case to proceed would not be an intrusion into matters of national security and military decision-making. Two of the world's foremost scholars on the international laws against torture and abusive treatment have also filed an amicus brief (PDF) in support of the lawsuit.
Two of the plaintiffs in this lawsuit -- Thahe Mohammed Sabar and Sherzad Kamal Khalid -- recently visited the United States to help our leaders and the public learn from firsthand accounts about the atrocities committed in our name. President Bush has declared to the world, "We don't torture."
Seems this sleazy, smarmy, disgusting example of a human being will finally be held to account. Considering the treatment of Jose Padilla today, I hope that this is successful in stopping such treatment against other detainees, that members of the military who order such things will think twice.
Maybe if the fed court finds him guilty, we will also see him being taken to court in Germany?
Thank you ACLU for protecting our liberty. I'm going to finally join!
(Shoulda years ago!) Are you?
Finally, will we see some justice?