READ (1/4): "The Nuremberg Defense is a legal defense that essentially states that the defendant was 'only following orders' ('Befehl ist Befehl', literally 'order is order') and is therefore not responsible for his crimes. The defense was most famously employed during the Nuremberg Trials, after which it is named."
READ (2/4): "Before the end of World War II, the Allies suspected such a defense might be employed, and issued the London Charter of the International Military Tribunal (IMT), which specifically stated that this was not a valid defense against charges of war crimes."
READ (3/4): "Thus, under Nuremberg Principle IV, 'defense of superior orders' is not a defense for war crimes, although it might influence a sentencing authority to lessen the penalty."
READ (4/4): "The United States military adjusted the Uniform Code of Military Justice after World War II. They included a rule nullifying this defense, essentially stating that American military personnel are allowed to refuse unlawful orders."
WATCH (1/1): "Torture Details Released"
Cenk Uygur discusses the difficult issue of American-sanctioned torture and his "generosity" towards the torturers, at the "expense" of their superiors, including George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, et al. - whose prosecutions are legally required in any event - is forgivable pending due correction: there is no risk in training all soldiers to both recognize and refuse illegal orders, such as committing a war crime (e.g. torture).LINK (1/1): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu4ZPdrRrsg
