| Now that the 9 secret legal memos have been released, I am reminded of St. Thomas University Professor Robert Delahunty's role in crimes of the Bush Administration. Delahunty helped write the infamous torture memo which rationalized why the Bush Administration could torture prisoners captured in the War on Terror. He also had a hand in crafting 2 of these 9 memos.
The Authority for the Use of Military Force to Combat Terrorist Activities Within the United States
The Authority of the President to Suspend Certain Provisions of the ABM Treaty
While rationalizing why the US doesn't need to abide by treaties we have signed is bad, it pales in comparison to the other memo. As Special Counsel, he helps John Yoo rationalize why the President has the ability to deploy US troops inside the US to do whatever Bush wanted against "international or foreign terrorists operating within the United States." The basic rationalization it seems to me is that we should be so frightened that the President should be allowed to put troops on our streets and in our cities if he decides it is the right thing to do.
Thankfully, Bush never deployed our military in to stop protesters which it seems that the memo would allow. That doesn't mean what Delahunty did was less wrong, it just means that he doesn't have any blood on his hands like with the torture memo.
I find it strange that a Catholic University like St. Thomas would continue to employ a man like this. Here's their mission statement:
Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely and work skillfully to advance the common good.
Didn't the Pope speak out against torture or something? Don't you think St. Thomas ought to have a moral and ethical problem employing someone with has blood-stained a past as Delahunty?
The University has absolutely no qualms about hiring a torture advocate like Delahunty. To them, everything is swell.
Criticism of Delahunty has been scarce in the St. Thomas community.
"I have received plenty of support from students," Delahunty said. "I offered to answer any questions that my students had about the memo, but most of my students are more interested in their (tort) study."
Students have expressed their support for Delahunty as well.
"I disagree with much of the criticism that has come against Professor Delahunty," sad Bryan Feldhaus, a St. Thomas School of Law student. "At a law school, more so than any other educational institution, it is vital to the community to discuss substantive issues and not base judgments upon politics, impression or misconceptions."
Dean of the St. Thomas School of Law, Thomas Mengler, has the same confidence in Delahunty as the students.
"[Delahunty] has a superb record and we are very pleased to have him," Mengler said. "Like the rest of our staff, he was drawn to our mission."
"Our faculty has a wide variety of views on this legal issue, as many others," Mengler said. "We have debated them vigorously and will do so in the future."
(The Aquin) |
