Double Standards

In the torture memo dated May 10, 2005 Steven Bradbury noted that the "United States condemns coercive interrogation techniques and other practices employed by other countries.  Certain of the techniques the United States has condemned bare some resemblance to some of the CIA interrogation techniques."  In other words its okay when we torture by not when countries we despise do it.  This attitude is on display when President Obama and other leading administration officials declare their intention to look forward, and say they are not seeking to prosecute those involved in torture.

This week U.S. officials began deportation proceedings against John Demanjanjuk.  Demanjanjuk is an 89 year old retired auto worker who immigrated to the U.S. in 1951.  U.S. officials are seeking to deport him to Germany so that German authorities can prosecute him for being a concentration camp guard responsible for the deaths of 29,000 people at the Sobibor extermination camp.  

The United States government correctly views the Holocaust as being such a monstrous evil that it still works to bring forth any small measure of justice it can; even if it is 64 years after World War II ended.  However, it refuses to consider looking back 4 years to its own torture program and  prosecuting the government officials who participated.  Instead, government officials turn a blind eye and speak about "looking forward."

The double standard is shocking, disturbing and a little scary.