National Security & Defense

DallasNE

(7,850 posts)

37. Was The Westfal Act

Wed Aug 21, 2013, 01:22 AM

Aug 2013

Written to protect Cap Weinberger in Iran-Contra?

I know it was successfully used to protect Yoo for writing the legal opinion that torture was legal by simply renaming it as enhanced interrogation techniques. It is the law that prevents people from being held accountable for their actions that they should have known were illegal.

"acting within the legitimate scope of their employment" That sounds like if the President does it, it is legal but Richard Nixon found out that that was not the case back during Watergate. The Westfal Act may have stood that on its head.

What is unclear to me is how a law passed by Congress can trump International Law.

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Obama DOJ Asks Court to Grant Immunity to George W. Bush For Iraq War [View all] cactusfractal Aug 2013 OP

Theives of a Feather ... FreakinDJ Aug 2013 #1

Hmmmm, angling for immunity himself? HooptieWagon Aug 2013 #2

Absolutely. I hope this is merely pro forma... cactusfractal Aug 2013 #8

This is a fucking joke. Right? Autumn Aug 2013 #3

I fear not... cactusfractal Aug 2013 #5

I wonder how the BOG will spin this one. What a joke this man is. roguevalley Aug 2013 #38

You know how nobody would admit to voting for Nixon after Watergate? last1standing Aug 2013 #4

You got that right. Autumn Aug 2013 #6

A massive waste of potential. last1standing Aug 2013 #7

Not just Bush: JoeyT Aug 2013 #9

"Don't round up the usual suspects" cactusfractal Aug 2013 #11

By asking for immunity, they are admitting there WERE war crimes. dixiegrrrrl Aug 2013 #18

Except "THEY" didn't request it scooter rider Aug 2013 #27

Welcome to DU..... dixiegrrrrl Aug 2013 #49

Isn't that what the immunity request was? Oh, you might mean someone who is a member AnotherDreamWeaver Aug 2013 #25

I don't generally start threads... cactusfractal Aug 2013 #10

I would think it would fit in LBN. JoeyT Aug 2013 #13

Wilms cross posted it in GD with a link to your OP Autumn Aug 2013 #14

Thanks for the heads up :-) cactusfractal Aug 2013 #16

Hey welcome to DU. Autumn Aug 2013 #17

Thanks. Long time replier, first time poster. cactusfractal Aug 2013 #23

Your first OP was a big one. Autumn Aug 2013 #28

I guess I like to fire for effect... cactusfractal Aug 2013 #29

This doesn't just need attention, it needs world-wide protests!!!! calimary Aug 2013 #24

That was my immediate response. cactusfractal Aug 2013 #26

plus as high as I can count recommendations to your comment Mira Aug 2013 #41

Bringing Justice to Bush yeoman6987 Aug 2013 #51

I beg to difffer. historylovr Aug 2013 #56

Exactly! Immunity granted to the Iran-Contra thugs left them free to participate in the Iraq fiasco dougolat Aug 2013 #57

Welcome to DU, yeoman6987! calimary Aug 2013 #59

Without accountability, history is doomed to repeat itself. Baitball Blogger Aug 2013 #12

I guess they really are all in it together... n/t cactusfractal Aug 2013 #15

WTF you can't be serious gopiscrap Aug 2013 #19

W.T.F. n/t Catherina Aug 2013 #20

There are not enough swear words in any language Richard D Aug 2013 #21

Just wrote about it somewhere else in this post, but want to say to you, my friend Mira Aug 2013 #44

Thank you. Richard D Aug 2013 #58

This came down from corporate, I assume. nt silvershadow Aug 2013 #22

well put. nt navarth Aug 2013 #30

I'm not surprised at all. Democrats are STUPID.... Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2013 #31

Birds of a feather and all that. Arctic Dave Aug 2013 #32

un fucking believable. navarth Aug 2013 #33

And how is this not expected??? delrem Aug 2013 #34

un-fucking-believable 2 -- I'm at a loss for words. 99th_Monkey Aug 2013 #35

WOW Iliyah Aug 2013 #36

Was The Westfal Act DallasNE Aug 2013 #37

Eff this... dickensknitter Aug 2013 #39

... progressoid Aug 2013 #40

Oh joy.... blackspade Aug 2013 #42

That's fucked up. But it's a clear indication they *know* they committed crimes. gtar100 Aug 2013 #43

This is Teabag bacon that will never be sniffed. countmyvote4real Aug 2013 #45

I knew this would be coming. The Obama Administration has now looked forward so far that MotherPetrie Aug 2013 #46

Plus one...nt Enthusiast Aug 2013 #48

K&R idwiyo Aug 2013 #47

Time for a bump - GWB gets Immunity, Manning gets 35 yrs TBF Aug 2013 #50

I have one question spinning around in my head: "Why now?" snappyturtle Aug 2013 #52

I have no hope. I see no future. n/t Hotler Aug 2013 #53

I'm with you Hydra Aug 2013 #55

2 sets of laws Hydra Aug 2013 #54

my country is a joke Agony Aug 2013 #60

What is the current status of this? (January 2017) Equinox Moon Jan 2017 #61