[Grovenet] The law

[Walt Wentz]

American laws state that American citizens shall not be tortured, but 
also that they shall not practice torture against others.
Walt

>Federal laws and the constitution affect citizens of the US. Unless Mr. Al
>Kahad is a citizen, how would the laws apply at all?
>
>>  -----Original Message-----
>>  From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com]On
>>  Behalf Of Steele, Mike
>>  Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 11:34 AM
>>  To: Forest Grove local interests list
>>  Subject: [Grovenet] The law
>>
>>
>>  News reports today offer the following little tidbit:   "The Justice
>>  Department
>>  <http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/U.S.+Department+of+Just
>>  ice?tid=informline>  sent a legal memorandum to the Pentagon
>>  <http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/The+Pentagon?tid=inform
>>  line>  in 2003 asserting that federal laws prohibiting assault, maiming
>>  and other crimes did not apply to military interrogators who questioned
>>  al-Qaeda
>>  <http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Al+Qaeda?tid=informline
>>  >  captives because the president's ultimate authority as commander in
>>  chief overrode such statutes."
>>
>>
>>
>>  Hmmmm...but here's the standard military enlistment oath for enlisted
>>  personnel and officers:  "I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I
>>  will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against
>>  all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and
>>  allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President
>>  of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me,
>>  according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So
>>  help me God."
>>
>>
>>
>>  Hmmm...let me see...the constitution comes first in line...the president
>>  only later...and the Uniform Code of Military Justice does not permit
>>  torture (waterboarding having been a prosecutable war crime in US
>>  charges against Japanese war criminals)...
>>
>>
>>
>>  One wonders if this created an allegiance issue for those who received
>>  the memorandum?
>>
>>
>>
>>  --Mike
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  GroveNet mailing list
>>  GroveNet at rdrop.com
>>  http://www.rdrop.com/mailman/listinfo/grovenet
>>
>
>_______________________________________________
>GroveNet mailing list
>GroveNet at rdrop.com
>http://www.rdrop.com/mailman/listinfo/grovenet