The report entitled “Getting Away with Torture: The Bush Administration and Mistreatment of Detainees” discloses information on the practice of waterboarding, the use of secret CIA prisons and the transfer of detainees to countries where they were tortured, all of which were approved by George W. Bush, former Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and CIA Director George Tenet.
As a State Party to the Convention against Torture (CAT), the United States are obliged to investigate all acts of torture and ill-treatment. However, President Barack Obama has failed to thoroughly and impartially probe the claims. Therefore, HRW has urged foreign governments to prosecute Bush and the above-mentioned senior officials for war crimes. The allegations against the Bush administration are not new but growing evidence due to recently released classified papers and the lack of action by the Obama administration have revitalized the matter.
In February 2011, Bush decided to cancel a trip to Switzerland after alleged victims of torture announced that they would file a criminal complaint against him. Meanwhile, Spain has launched an investigation implicating US officials in torture.
HRW report: "Getting Away with Torture: The Bush Administration and Mistreatment of Detainees"
HRW: United States: Investigate Bush, Other Top Officials for Torture
Guardian: George W Bush should be prosecuted over torture, says human rights group
