I noticed the incoming US president has distanced himself from the pro-torture policies of Bush administration. This is a wise decision and supports the US constitution (Fifth Amendment) and Universal Declaration of Human Rights (which was partly US authored). He has fallen short by not investigating crimes – including war crimes – perpetrated in the so called “war on terror”. Those who authorised torture and other abuses will probably say “we did it to defend the interests of the US”. But who are they to decide what whose interests are? Obviously, they are not particularly well qualified if they violate their own founding principles! Again, political expediency has overcome justice:

“If there was any effort to have war-crimes prosecutions of the Bush administration, you’d instantly destroy whatever hopes you have of bipartisanship,” said Robert Litt, a former Justice criminal division chief during the Clinton administration, Newsweek

Regarding Guantánamo Bay,

…[Obama's] advisers are wrestling with what to do about the remaining 250 detainees there, especially those considered dangerous. Newsweek

The only options are due process under the law or release. Since the procedures used to apprehend and detain them were illegal, no prosecution could ever be fair. They must be release and further harm they might inflict is the fault of those who used illegal procedures. Before anyone criticises me for being naive, remember the 5th amendment agrees with my interpretation (not to mention the second sentence of the US Declaration of Independence – but that is too “natural rights” for me).

In other news,

A Christian nurse from Weston-super-Mare has been suspended for offering to pray for a patient’s recovery.

Community nurse Caroline Petrie, 45, says she asked an elderly woman patient during a home visit if she wanted her to say a prayer for her. BBC

Although this is not the first complaint against the nurse for this behaviour, I feel her managers are acting as if “through the looking glass”. One woman’s spiritual view is not particularly threatening or offensive, particularly when compared to much more significant issues. If we want to remove Christian bias in the health care system, perhaps we should have a discussion on euthanasia, gene therapy, etc without resorting to spiritual arguments? That would be more worthwhile then martyring this one person. Incidentally, Kierkegaard probably would say being victimised in this way is a necessary part of being a Christian.

Anti Citizen One