Press TV
December 23, 2014
Obama won’t heed calls on torture prosecution: Rozoff
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Rick Rozoff, manager of the Stop NATO International Network, told Press TV on Tuesday he was “highly skeptical that the White House will do anything substantial,” in regard to calls by human rights organizations and a New York Times editorial for the prosecution of those responsible for use of torture at the CIA, as shows a report by the US Senate.
“Cries are emanating from different sectors that he (Obama) do just that,” Rozoff said, adding, the “horrors” torture has caused are “enough to really offend the moral sensibilities of humanity.”
“The US has always managed to dampen the fire, if you will, and quash any real demand for investigation and as a result they’ve allowed stories to die a natural death until they surface again.”
According to the Senate report, released on December 9, the CIA misled Congress and the White House about the harsh methods such as rectal feeding, waterboarding, sleep deprivation, mock executions and threats that the relatives of the prisoners would be sexually abused.
“They have these horrors perpetrated not only on the individuals… but on the conscience of the world community,” said the Chicago-based activist.
On Sunday, the New York Times said in its editorial, titled Prosecute Torturers and Their Bosses, that “At the very least, Mr. Obama needs to authorize a full and independent criminal investigation.”
Rights organizations Human Rights Watch, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Physicians for Human Rights have also made similar calls.
Rozoff noted he was not optimistic for a response from either the US House or Congress, especially now that they are both “in the hands” of the Republican Party.
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