The Bush-Cheney Legacy: Serial Torture and Forced Disappearance in Manifest Violation of Global Human Rights Law

Abstract

This draft article focuses on nine false claims made during the Bush-Cheney Administration in an attempt to further an admitted “program” of “tough” interrogation tactics and secret detention that has actually served as a catalyst for reaffirmation of fundamental human rights and basic human protections under the laws of war. The article also identifies why there is a global reach of human rights law and obligations under the United Nations Charter, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention Against Torture. The article also provides an Appendix that sets forth a Torture Timeline 2001-2007 and addresses standards for criminal complicity that would be applicable concerning criminal or civil sanctions against members of the prior Administration who are clearly reasonably accused.

Keywords: Bush, Cheney, common plan, complicity, Convention Against Torture, cruel, dignity, global, human right, ICCPR, interrogation, laws of war, memos, necessity, reservation, torture, U.N. Charter, universal, war crime, waterboarding, Yoo