Obama Embraces Nazi Nurermberg Trials Logic: "They Were Only Following Orders"

by: Paul Rosenberg

Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 09:00

In releasing these memos, it is our intention to assure those who carried out their duties relying in good faith upon legal advice from the Department of Justice that they will not be subject to prosecution.

From Wikipedia on the Nuremberg Principles:

The Nuremberg Principles were a set of guidelines for determining what constitutes a war crime. The document was created by necessity during the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi party members following World War II....

The Principles

Principle I

Any person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefor and liable to punishment.

Principle II

The fact that internal law does not impose a penalty for an act which constitutes a crime under international law does not relieve the person who committed the act from responsibility under international law.

Principle III

The fact that a person who committed an act which constitutes a crime under international law acted as Head of State or responsible government official does not relieve him from responsibility under international law.

Principle IV

The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him.

See also: Nuremberg Defense and Superior Orders....

More precisely, Principle IV was specifically embodied in Article 8 of London Charter of the International Military Tribunal At Nurmberg, the same charter which clearly encompasses the crimes that Obama now wishes to sweep under the rug: