Amnesty hails Mukasey comments with caveat

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Amnesty International welcomed U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey's statement that no pardons would be offered for officials implicated in torture.

Mukasey said earlier this week U.S. President George Bush would not offer pre-emptive pardons for any official linked to alleged instances of torture of suspects held in U.S. custody, saying, "There is no occasion to consider prosecution, and there is no occasion to consider pardon."

Amnesty welcomed the statements from Mukasey but took issue with his justification that harsh interrogation techniques were used for national security reasons.

The rights group said that historical legal precedence had established such defense as unjust, adding ignorance of the law does not permit its violation.

In regard to the classification of the simulated drowning technique known as water-boarding, Mukasey was evasive in categorizing the method as torture, a move Amnesty took grave issue with.

"Water-boarding -- simulated drowning -- is torture," the group said. "Torture can never be justified -- by war, threat of war or an emergency of any kind -- and is a crime under international law."

Amnesty International called on the administration of President-elect Barack Obama and the new Congress to take steps to remedy the abuses perpetrated under the Bush White House.

"There is not a single fix that will bring the U.S.A.'s actions on counter-terrorism into compliance with international law," said Amnesty. "A holistic approach is necessary."