Obama and torture
Ok so Obama's administration decided not to prosecute the people who had been torturing the alleged terrorists in Guantanamo Bay (sp?). People are understandably offended and upset. They argue that those people should be punished - quite severely I gather - in order to send a message to others.
This is misguided and frankly, unfair. I think his administration made the right decision. The Bush administration called for torture. Someone was going to fill that position. No matter what. You do what the government asks of you, especially since they would specifically ask you to do it (this isnt some workopolis advertisement, they had to carefully select people). Now they didnt have to do it (I think.... assume they did for this argument), they decided to anyway. Yes it's terrible. But its also stupid to punish them. The Bush administration called for it. THEY are the dangerous loons to authorized it (and many other subsequent frak ups).
If they truly wanted to set an example, they would need to punish those in power who ordered the torture and legalized it. Dont go after the henchmen, that is a waste of time. Henchmen are fodder and do the bidding of others.
It's like.... a person trains a dog to be a killing machine then lets it loose. Someone dies. Dog is put down to send a "message" to other dogs? Please.
Of course, the person walks away...
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8006597.stm