“Let’s review some ancient history: WW-2.”

Please, let’s do, as you clearly have no idea what you’re talking about.

“After our enemies were defeated, some of those in command positions in the Nazi regime were tried as war criminals.”

Yes, many were.

“Some of those that were found guilty paid with their lives for their crimes. Others were confined to prison to serve long terms of incarceration.”

True that.

“The Nazi government was charged with violating the law prohibiting “pre-emptive military assault” against other nations.”

Not quite. Certain Nazi organizations were prosecuted and convicted at Nuremburg, most notably the Gestapo, SS, and Corp of Political Leaders of the Nazi Party. Others were not. And there was and is no such thing as a law against “pre-emptive military assault”. The Nazis were charged with waging agressive war. There’s a world of difference between the two concepts, not that someone who gets their information from feverswamps like DailyKos would know any better.

“The Japanese Empire was charged with violating international law that forbade torture of military captives.”

Er, not really, but I see what you’re trying to say.

“One particular case stands out: A Japanese officer was tried for the crime of torturing a U.S civilian. His punishment was 15 years at hard labor. His crime? A practice quite similar to water boarding.”

Really? The ones that got Japanese officers hanged were a heck of lot more brutal than that. Water boarding is kids stuff compared to say, having your intestines cut out and your genitals smashed with a stick while hanging from a pole.

“Now scroll down to the present situation in Iraq.”

Present as in December 2008 or present as in 2004?

“Records of enemy combatants captured by the American and allied military forces revealed that the crime of water boarding was committed by the CIA at undisclosed locations.”

Hate to break the news to you, but waterboarding at that time wasn’t a crime. The grand total of terrorists waterboarded is three. None of them have suffered any long lasting ill effects. I would guess they recieved less water on their faces than have fallen Bush/Cheney hater’s crocodile tears..

“Which division of the American government authorized this criminal torture?”

You mean the non-criminal at the time non-torture? Congress.

“Recent news items have revealed that not only did Vice-president Dick Cheney approve this specific torture, but also that even today he has no regrets and has said that, given the same circumstances, he would
not hesitate to authorize this again.”

How dare he do all he can to stop the mass murder of thousands of fellow citizens. The cur! But why stop you’re outrage with the VP? He was only doing what several members of Congress, including current speaker Pelosi, already concurred with. Your faux outrage telling.

“It has been reported that, if the United States does not try and punish those government officials found guilty, reportedly, more than 20 nations of the world now have the universal jurisdiction laws that would allow them to indict U. S. officials on the charge of torture, try them and punish them if found guilty.”

And do you know what most lucid people who understand the concept of sovereignity have to say to that?

“Only through the American justice system can we collectively have this stain on our national character removed.”

The only stain I see is hysterical liberals soiling their diapers in the throes of with BDS.

“Our shame will only be exacerbated if we leave this responsibility to the rest of the world.”

You think Percy is ashamed now, wait till he finds out the next president does the exact same thing. I’d buy stock in Pampers if I were him.

Percy Pascoe:

“Only through the American justice system can we collectively have this stain on our national character removed. Our shame will only be exacerbated if we leave this responsibility to the rest of the world.”

Don’t let the culprits scatter to the winds, form Percy’s Posse and perform citizen’s arrests while they’re easy to find. Others may consider this a horrid preemptive action that you find so offensive but I for one would enjoy the plu-perfect hell out of you getting what you deserve from the Secret Service during your foray into law enforcement.

Your idea of honor and decency might include letting the villain take the first shot and I hope his aim is excellent in your case but I appreciate a President who does everything in his power to keep the entire nation safe, including simple minded leftists that protest our failure to buss the posterior of our enemies on the battlefields.

By the way, the stain isn’t on our national character, it’s on your ruffled pink panties.

Mr. Pascoe,

If the first two responses to your post are any indication, be prepared for an onslaught from the right wing recliner Rambos. It is curious that a faction used to seeing the world in terms of black and white/right and wrong can find so many grey areas in justifying their own vagaries. “We didn’t torture nearly as many detainees as the Nazis did,” is cold comfort to the tortured. Torture, regardless whether it is “water-boarding” or disembowelment, whether done a little or done a lot, whether to save countless innocent lives or to satisfy one’s own sadism, whether in the name of religious zeal or patriotic fervor is universally looked upon as morally indefensible, no matter how many flags are used to wrap it in. As far as legal recourse goes, I’m just so relieved to finally see the Bozo In Chief and Vice-Bozo out of office, I have little interest in such pursuits. Besides, wars and human rights violations go hand in hand. An argument could be made against Roosevelt for his treatment of Asian Americans during the second world war (I believe Eleanor would’ve been the prosecutor). I would prefer to see the new administration issue a recommitment to the basic rights of all wartime internees, in uniform or not, simply because we believe in the value of a single human being.

By the way, do all conservatives have underpants fetishes?

Commander Horsefeathers:

“By the way, do all conservatives have underpants fetishes?”

Trolling again Commander? I would hope your continuing disappointment would have discouraged you by now.

I believe that some investigation should occur. In present law, there are specific statutes in American law that are pretty clear on what is or is not a war crime. Our courts are perfectly able to sort these things out.

If folks accused of war crime activities are cleared, so be it. If not, we have some prison space for those guilty.

Perhaps part of the new “Stimulus” program can be to build new prisons if needed for these folks.

Percy, Not sure I get the “pre-emeptive” claim. Isn’t pre-emptive putting down a threat before it is actualized? It seems that the Nazis were expanding rather than defending.

To Percy Pascoe,

Nice to see you’re still around fighting the good fight. You won’t remember me, but we met a few times back in the 60’s and 70’s and shared some political fights. Does the Free Press still exist or have you moved on to other pursuits? Best wishes for a Happy New Year to you. Hang in there, an engaged citizenry (of which you are a fine example) is what makes this country great.

Ah Percy, another victim of the media brainwashing scheme. Hey isn’t that torture also?

How is it considered a war crime to exterminate a Muslim when they attacked us on 9/11/2001 for now valid reason, except their extreme hatred for anything western?.