As a society, we have certain boundaries beyond which we do not cross. For most of us, we do not cross them because of empathy, our understanding of human dignity, and the moral codes we have learned or created. A small minority cannot be trusted to stay within those boundaries, so we create laws and a means to enforce them. But what happens when those we've entrusted with the power to enforce the laws step beyond the powers we've granted and become as bad as (or worse than) those whose transgressions demand prosecution? Our outrage is strong and justified, and they are made to pay for their crimes. What happens when this occurs - not at a local or state level - but at an international level?

This is a question that is becoming increasingly clear demands an answer. With a new president in office and FOIA information requests being granted once again, the documentation is startling, horrifying, and infuriating.

At the head of the list is documented evidence that two men were tortured to death just two days after Rumsfeld okayed the abusive treatment:

Just let that thought roll around on your tongue for a minute and see if you can keep from spitting it out in disgust - the U.S. tortured at least two men to death.

Another report says that with all the focus on waterboarding, the levels to which we've sunk are much lower, including slicing genitals with a scalpel:

Sexual deviancy seems to be a central component in the arsenal of brutality against prisoners, if the anecdotal evidence is any indication. Another prisoner reports:

To help ensure that their medieval tactics did not see the light of day, the Pentagon used several tactics, including running secret prisons, hiding detainees identities from the Red Cross, and delaying the release of prisoners when the attention of the press might be harmful. This shows that the Pentagon was complicit and worked with the CIA. THAT generally means that a higher body (ie: the Bush Administration) coordinated that cross-department cooperation.

So that brings us back to the original question: what to do? A recent poll shows that 2/3 of Americans want the abuses of the Bush Administration investigated. Despite the flow of information, however, the darkest secrets are still being held back. Even Obama is getting redacted documents. Meanwhile, KKKarl Rove is ignoring Congressional subpoenas while commentating on FOX News and torture policy architect John Yoo is teaching at Berkeley University.

This may take an international effort. The World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) based in Switzerland may be involved in this. In a report on torture in 2007, they did not specifically mention the U.S., but it's pretty clear who they meant:

OMCT is headed by Kofi Annan, the former head of the UN, so they do carry some weight. They can work with the UN to ensure that the criminals of the past Administration face up for their crimes against humanity at the Hague. Hopefully, the U.S. will cooperate and "rendition" these animals to The Netherlands for their trials.

One final bit of consolation: We've often speculated on where the Bush Administration criminals would run to avoid prosecution. Bush has a spot in Paraguay, and Halliburton moved to Dubai, so we always figured Cheney would fake his death and end up there. However, Dubai may not be a pleasant place to stay much longer; it is spiraling down in an economic free fall:

Whither now, Dick?