It’s the end of the year, and everyone’s offering lists, like the top 10 movies of the year, the top 10 video games, the top 10 gadgets.
Here at the ACLU, we’re offering a Top 10 of our own. In light of recent news of the CIA destroying tapes showing the torture and interrogation of al-Qaeda detainees in U.S. custody, today we present:
(The headline isn’t as catchy, but we think it’s more important than gadgets or movies.)
10. Congress and the Agencies Have Failed in Holding Torture Perpetrators Accountable
9. Further Delay in Criminal Investigations Could Put Some Crimes Outside the Statues of Limitations
8. Military Prosecutors Have Not Gone Up the Chain of Command
7. The Justice Department Has Failed to Bring Any Indictments Based on 20 CIA and DOD Referrals of Possible Crimes by Civilians
6. The Justice Department Wrote the Legal Opinions Authorizing Torture
5. The Past Head of the Criminal Division Reportedly Advised on Interrogation Practices, Possibly Including the Interrogation of Abu Zubaydah
4. The Current Head of the Criminal Division Was in Meetings on Interrogations
3. Attorney General Mukasey Still Refuses to Say Whether Waterboarding and Other Forms of Torture Are Illegal
2. Attempts to Shield Government Officials from Criminal Prosecution Were Pursued by the White House, Including by the President and Vice President
1. There Is Credible Evidence of Numerous Federal Crimes
We sent this Top 10 letter to every member of the House yesterday, asking them to stand up torture and the executive abuse of power. You can help by sending a letter Attorney General Michael Mukasey asking him to appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate the crimes that may have been committed by C.I.A. personnel or other top officials.
