UN: US officials, CIA agents who authorized or carried out torture must be prosecuted

Newser ^ | Dec 10, 2014 | JOHN HEILPRIN

[Mozilla]

All senior U.S. officials and CIA agents who authorized or carried out torture like waterboarding as part of former President George W. Bush's national security policy must be prosecuted, top U.N. officials said Wednesday.

It's not clear, however, how human rights officials think these prosecutions will take place, since the Justice Department has declined to prosecute and the U.S. is not a member of the International Criminal Court.

Zeid Raad al-Hussein, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, said it's "crystal clear" under international law that the United States, which ratified the U.N. Convention Against Torture in 1994, now has an obligation to ensure accountability.

"In all countries, if someone commits murder, they are prosecuted and jailed. If they commit rape or armed robbery, they are prosecuted and jailed. If they order, enable or commit torture — recognized as a serious international crime — they cannot simply be granted impunity because of political expediency," he said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hopes the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee report on the CIA's harsh interrogation techniques at secret overseas facilities is the "start of a process" toward prosecutions, because the "prohibition against torture is absolute," Ban's spokesman said.

[Mozilla]

Here we go folks. One World Government. UN wants Agenda 21 and hates our CIA for doing their jobs.

[wastedyears]

FUUN

[rktman]

Uh, NO! But maybe some of them u.n. folks would like to have a sit down to get their minds (?) right.

[Not now, Not ever!]

Uh, blow it out your bowl vent, remember blue helmets make for good targets.

[Politicalkiddo]

When is the UN going to be prosecuted for all the crimes against humanity they’ve perpetrated? HMM??

[Cowboy Bob]

We have an al Qaeda sympathize rat the UN trying to tell the US what to do...

Only Obama would agree with him.

[Argus]

Kick their freeloading commie asses out of New York, finally.

[Domangart]

The dem/rats on the committee should be charges with treason. Consider they benefited North Korea.

[Jeff Chandler]

It’s only one executive order away . . .

[RginTN]

Obama drones are killing civilians so I hope the UN will charge Obama with war crimes.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

You and what Army, UN?

[Vendome]

Really??

FOAD

[Uncle Miltie]

[gwgn02]

I wouldnt mind a shiny blue helmet, “collect them all” hobby

[Uncle Miltie]

[PieterCasparzen]

This is funny.

The UN is the creation of UK/American elites. Rockefeller Jr paid for the land the UN building sits on - he happily, publicly handed them a check for $8.5 million. You can search the innnermenet and find smiling pictures.

And now, they use the UN crazy talk to rally conservatives towards hating the UN.

But those same conservatives think American big business - is actually on their side !

When American big business is who is behind the UN.

Need pic of very confused kitty right here.

Actually, it makes great sense. Since the financial elites created the UN, they get to use it any way they want to. Woo-hoo !

[TigersEye]

Aaaaaa, shaddap!

[barmag25]

Ummm...NO

[healy61]

Doesn’t Sec. Gen. Moon-Pie have something in Ferguson to stir up?