Question for the lawyers on my flist/reading circle...

...American or otherwise. I'm aware the US never agreed to the International Criminal Court, even before 9/11, but it did sign to uphold the Geneva Convention (I remember this being brought up back when the Abu Ghraib news exploded) , and even if you postulate this "only" counts for prisoners of war, this article mentions that Reagan signed and the US ratified the United Nations convention against torture, which covers every human being, pow or not. So, in theory, shouldn't it be possible to sue Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld et al for authorizing and encouraging torture? Even within the US itself? I mean, I'm aware it would never come to any convictions. I'm not that naive. But it could maybe make it more difficult for a while longer for these guys to rewrite the past.

Also, there's some legal precedent. In 2003, Abu Omar, an Egyptian cleric who had been granted asylum in Italy, was kidnapped in Milan. The CIA then secretly transported him to Egypt. In November 2009, an Italian court convicted 22 CIA agents, one US military official and two Italian intelligence operatives to at least five years imprisonment for their role in the kidnapping. The CIA agents were convicted in absentia and never extradited, but they were convicted, and presumably can't work in Europe anymore for a while. Would it be too much to at least limit Rumsfeld etc.'s ability to travel in the same way?

December Talking Meme: Fannish 2015 Hopefuls

Or, as lonelywalker put it, "what media/fandom things are you looking forward to in 2015"? Let's see which ones I know about....

Penny Dreadful, season 2: yes, please! More Gothic crossover with interestingly messed up people and Victorian costumes. Bring on the Helen McCrory season, I say.

Related through the main writer, John Logan: the next Bond movie, Spectre. Yes, I'm going to miss Dench!M dreadfully, but I do look forward to more Craig!Bond, more Eve, am curious about how the relationship of both to Mallory will be, Lea Seydoux is always good to see and she'll be in it, and I'm sure Christoph Waltz is going to have fun as the main villain. (Given the title of the movie and which organisation it means in Bondlore, will he be Blofeld?) I'd also like to have Felix Leiter back, Mr. Logan, sir.

The Americans, season 3: talking about spies, I just saw the first proper trailer, and yes, so much looking forward to this.

Agent Carter, the miniseries: bring on Peggy in the late 40s and early 50s! Now I suspect canon, while including some moral ambiguities, will avoid the heart of darkness that is the MCU equivalent to the rl Operation Paperclip and we won't get an episode where Peggy rationalizes herself into hiring Armin Zola for SHIELD, but that's what fanfiction is there fore, and mainly I just hope for some female centric spy shenanigans and celebration of the fact that life goes on and no, losing someone you loved doesn't mean angsting for the rest of your life is the only viable option.

Aka Jessica Jones: see earlier entry on Sunday, though I'm not sure they'll have the show ready by 2015, that wasn't mentioned. But hooray for Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones!

Avengers: Age of Ultron: bring on the bickering superheroes, now with not-allowed-to-be-called-mutant dysfunctional and intensely close twins! And may I manage to remain unspoiled until I watch it, which is increasingly difficult.

BBC filmed version of Wolf Hall and Bringing Up The Bodies: I had some nitpicks about the books, but by and large, I found them impressive, and the casting is great, so chances are I'm going to enjoy the miniseries. Also, I'm curious whether the difference in media and thus the fact we're not solely confined to the point of view of him, Cromwell, will make for subtle or not so subtle differences in characterisation. (Doesn't mean I don't think he, Cromwell, makes for a fascinating pov to explore, and that's part of the book's allure because in the gazillion former Tudor fictions, he's never been the pov character before, but I do think Hilary Mantel is a bit too much in love with him, Cromwell, at times.) (And now I'll stop making fun of one of the novel's notorious mannerisms.)

Speaking of Hilary Mantel: I haven't heard whether or not she'll have the third part of the Cromwell saga finished and published in 2015, so I'm not sure whether I can list it, but if it does get published in 2015, I am very much looking forward to it. In a somewhat masochistic way, since she'll have to bring Mr. Supersecretary into that frame of mind who writes "most gracious prince, I cry for mercy, mercy, mercy" from the Tower despite having better reason than most to know Henry won't listen.

Doctor Who season 9: definitely. As mentioned before, season 8 was my favourite Moffat season so far, and I look forward to more Twelth Doctor.


Things I might enjoy or might not, so am cautious but hopeful about:

- Better Call Saul. I didn't feel the need for a Breaking Bad spin off, and while Saul was a fun character I'm not burning with curiosity as to his backstory, but Vince Gilligan & creative staff have earned a lot of advance trust from me by now, so who knows?

- Orphan Black, season 3: I thought s2 had some sophomore season problems, but then so did s2 of Elementary. I do love the characters and the concept and the amazing actors, so I'm hoping for a great season 3, but at the same time, a bit concerned it might decline in quality.





December Talking Meme: The Other Days