Investigation of CIA war crimes in Iraq underway

[Gandalf]

A federal prosecutor has launched a secret grand jury to investigate possible CIA war crimes at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, Time magazine reported.

Federal prosecutor John Durham, who was first appointed to probe the destruction of CIA interrogation videotapes by Attorney General Michael Mukasey in 2008, is now working on an expanded probe authorised by the Obama Justice Department that includes cases of alleged abuse of terror suspects in U.S. custody.

Time reported on Monday that one Durham-issued subpoena said the federal grand jury “is conducting an investigation of possible violations of federal criminal laws involving War Crimes (18 USC/2441), Torture (18 USC 243OA) and related federal offences.”

The case centres around the death of Iraqi prisoner Manadel al-Jamadi, who was known as “the Iceman” because after killing him, U.S. forces wrapped him in ice in an attempt to alter his post-mortem appearance. In a photograph that drew worldwide scorn, Army Spc. Charles Graner was photographed giving a “thumbs-up” sign while posing over al-Jamadi’s dead body.

Citing “those close to the case,” Time said the probe is believed to target CIA interrogator Mark Swanner, the last person to question al-Jamadi before his death.

Swanner has said he didn’t harm al-Jamadi and declined to comment to Time. The Justice Department also declined comment.

The investigation, should it result in war crimes charges, could explode into the political arena.

Already, former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.), who is seeking the GOP presidential nomination, has called for the probe to be stopped.

“This is a political prosecution … that would be ended with a political solution, that is the 2012 elections,” he said.

One Navy SEAL was acquitted on charges relating to al-Jamadi’s death, which was officially ruled a homicide. No one else has been charged.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/06 ... z1PIIfkrFQ

Fascinating stuff. Hopefully it sets a some sort of legal precedent for charging others involved in the Iraq mess.

[weemadando]

Swept under the rug and the instigators of this investigation have their careers buried in under six months.

Because murder, torture and war crimes are allowed. Speaking out against them isn't.

[Thanas]

I doubt this will ever go to trial because of the "awesome" state secrets doctrine.

[K. A. Pital]

Imagine if this goes far enough to also reach the prison in Bagram and other CIA torture sites. Heh. I doubt it will go far enough, precisely because of that reason.

Already, former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.), who is seeking the GOP presidential nomination, has called for the probe to be stopped.

Abu-Gharrab... Gharrub... This person is making me sad.

[Broken]

Swept under the rug and the instigators of this investigation have their careers buried in under six months.

Because murder, torture and war crimes are allowed. Speaking out against them isn't.

Unfortunately, this is the most likely outcome especially this close to the presidential race starting to go full swing. Politically, keeping this hush and low-key until Obama's (hopefully) second term would have been a better move, but the idea that even an investigation into these kinds of moral outrages must wait on political winds is sickening.

[Stark]

Swept under the rug and the instigators of this investigation have their careers buried in under six months.

Because murder, torture and war crimes are allowed. Speaking out against them isn't.

The blue wall benefits everyone.

I mean, it benefits absolutely nobody but criminals.

Sadly the criminals have identified themselves with the whole. CIA? Doing wrong? Get out!