Is integrity ever futile?

Let's hope not:

I urge you to demand an independent prosecutor to investigate possible violations by the Bush administration of laws including the War Crimes Act, the federal Anti-Torture Act, and federal assault laws.

In a stunning admission to ABC news Friday night, President Bush declared that he knew his top national security advisers discussed and approved specific details of the CIA's use of torture. Bush reportedly told ABC, "I'm aware our national security team met on this issue. And I approved." Bush also defended the use of waterboarding.

Recent reports indicate that high-level advisers including Dick Cheney, Condoleeza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell and George Tenet were part of the National Security Council's "Principals Committee" that met regularly and approved the CIA's use of "combined" "enhanced" interrogation techniques, even pushing the limits of the now infamous 2002 Justice Department "torture memo." These top advisers reportedly signed off on how the CIA would interrogate suspects - whether they would be slapped, deprived of sleep or subjected to simulated drowning.

No one in the executive branch of government can be trusted to fairly investigate or prosecute any crimes, since the head of every relevant department, along with the president and vice president, either knew or participated in the planning and approval of illegal acts.

You cannot look the other way. You must demand an independent investigation and independent prosecutor.