Human Rights Watch’s Joanne Mariner praised the decision: “Both the Italian and US governments should now be on notice that justice authorities will not ignore crimes committed under the guise of fighting terrorism.”

Now, if we could only get them to stop ignoring crimes committed under the guise of “humanitarian intervention” or bring “stability” or “democracy” or “American values,” we might really be on to something.  But sadly, the US elite ignore International Law and World Court judgments that stand in the way of their Empire.  A civilized society would be mortally ashamed at the dishonorable things done with our money, under our name.

The United States can put an end to the majority of terror by stop participating in it. 

p37
... what the Agency [CIA] does is ordered by the President and the NSC [National Security Council]. The Agency neither makes decisions on policy nor acts on its own account. It is an instrument of the President. (source: CIA Diary,
Inside the Company
by Philip Agee
Penguin Books, 1975)

I wonder how the Italian legal system retained some independence when the US legal system is sinking into barbarism like the rest of the US power system.  Gangsterism may be less prevalent in Europe than in the US in their power structures.

it would stand to reason since all the US bureacuracies have been eroded by private money.  Part of that Bushites plan that seemed to have worked, making goverement small enough to drown in the bathtub.  the notion appears to be alien to most of Europe, so much so they can tweak Uncle Sam’s beard. 

Neoliberalism appears to be ending up historically as gangsterism.  So it’s natural for Obama to stand up for the gangsters.

After 300+ years of self-delusion in the throes of our “exceptionalism” (biggest, freest, greatest, richest, most democratic etc. etc.) it is extraordinarily difficult to admit failures and short-coming.  Nobody wants to say it; nobody wants to hear it; everybody would just like to turn the page.
Unfortunately, it’s not going to happen. Somebody is going to have to confess, apologize, make reparations, and set us on a new path. And those most responsible for the “gross misdemeanors” are going to have to “face the music” somehow The longer it all festers, the more difficult it becomes. Otherwise, those who stand aside from justice become themselves guilty—as are we all, by this time—every one of us who have allowed it to happen, accepted it as a “necessary evil,” pretended it is all the fault of others. 
I absolutely hate to have to say this, but it’s at the core of our decay, and our pretenses are getting more and more pretentious at the same time our consciences get heavier.
Where is the key that can unlock our self-imposed prison of fear and the resulting conspiracies of evasion, unease and anger? What a relief it would be to both sore hearts and sore heads to “come clean” on this issue nationally, and make restitution in some significant way!

The most important story of the day, and even Truthdig buries it deep on a sidebar section.

And of course, the most important point for American voters to realize is that yet again the Obama administration has helped to defend the Bush era torturers. 

That the US gov just condemned a european court for prosecuting kidnappers and torturers is just amazing.  Almost as amazing as the Obama Justice Dept arguing before an appeals court that its perfectly ok to kidnap, torture, and horribly imprison an innocent Canadian citizen in the Arar case.

Just in case there’s anyone left too clueless to notice, electing Obama and the Democrats did not lead to change.  And, despite all the Democratic bull from people like Mr. Robinson on this site, the Obama administration fully supports and defends kidnapping and torture.  Just like Bush did. Just a different face and maybe softer rhetoric and some ‘we are ending torture’ bull thrown out to confuse the gullible.

Underlings are only a starting point. This move by Italian Justice may be only a show but I would lovce to see those who ordered the renditions and torture included in the indictments.

President Obama, planning on an Italian trip any time soon?

Craig Murray, the former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, cites one torture case involving a person being boiled alive.

The Italian case is just the tip of one torture stained iceberg. Rape using broken
bottles? Yikes, G. Bush had better not hire Berto Gonzales for his lawyer. Come on
International Criminal Court, do your stuff!

Hopefully that’s just the beginning; if the U.S.
continues it’s criminal ways a countable percentage of
it’s population won’t be able to travel.