People can follow CIA torture case: Activist

Press TV has conducted an interview with Medea Benjamin, with the CODEPINK from Washington, on Human Rights Watch demand from the United States to investigate 21 former officials over CIA torture of terrorism suspects.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Don’t you think it’s ironic that the Human Rights Watch is calling on Obama to investigate human rights abuses while he in facts authorizes drone attacks that have killed dozens of innocent people women and children namely? And how about carrying out investigation into the massacre of millions in Syria and Iraq because of the US support for terrorism in those countries?

Benjamin: Well, certainly if the Obama administration has a ... duty with his own programs, but I think it’s important that the Human Rights Watch came out with this very well-documented report and who else that they are going to call on, but the head of this country to take steps to bring to account those people who were responsible for.

This program has ended in 2009, but continues to be covered up. So, yes it is ironic, but it’s all we have.

Press TV: Will anything come out of investigations like these? It doesn't ever look like anyone at the top is ever guilty of anything or even if it’s proven so, nothing actually happens to them.

Benjamin: Well, it seems like it only happens if it gets picked up by the grassroots and they create a movement.

We’ve seen for example in the Black Lives Matter movement when people get out onto the streets, that’s when we see police being investigated for their crimes.

But unfortunately we don’t have strong enough peace movements in the United States for human rights movements for people to get out on the streets then demand investigation or demand accountability for torture or the drone killings. It’s I think reflection of the media that covers up these things.

It’s very hard for us to build the kind of momentum we would need for these reports like the Human Rights Watch reports to get the extra push that we need from below.  

Press TV: And do you think what are the repercussions of these investigations before the criminals? Do you think there’s any hope that these criminals would be brought to justice?
Benjamin: Well, unfortunately no, not under the present conditions, we’re not going to see George Bush or Dick Cheney or any of his legal counsels be brought to trial right now.

But you never know what happens in the future. We’ve seen in Latin America people waiting for decades thinking they would never get justice against their torturers. And in some cases that happens many decades later.  

So, it’s important to have this documentation whether or not we’re able to use it in the court systems in the near future.

Press TV: Do you think President Obama will try to better his legacy in the United States and carry out an investigation into the former officials?

Benjamin: No, I don’t think he’s about to do that. I think he’s expanded some of his political clout in other areas like in Iran nuclear deal or opening up diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Right now, I think he’s trying to not get stuck into even wider war in Syria, while there are many folks in the US political establishment that are trying to push for even more US military involvement such as 10,000 troops on the ground.

So, I think Obama has his hands formed. He promised that he wants to close Guantanamo many times since the time he was running for office and many times since he’s been in office.

And he hasn’t been able to do that perhaps that might be something he would do before he leaves but even that is doubtful.

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