Can we say "impunity," boys and girls? - updated with h/t (2x)

Main Entry: im·pu·ni·ty
Pronunciation: \im-ˈpyü-nə-tē\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French impunité, from Latin impunitat-, impunitas, from impune without punishment, from in- + poena punishment — more at pain
Date: 1532
: exemption or freedom from punishment, harm, or loss

--Merriam-Webster OnLine

Impunity means "exemption from punishment or loss". In the international law of human rights, it refers to the failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and, as such, itself constitutes a denial of the victims' right to justice and redress. Impunity is especially common in countries that lack a tradition of the rule of law, suffer from corruption or that have entrenched systems of patronage, or where the judiciary is weak or members of the security forces are protected by special jurisdictions or immunities.

--Wikipedia

Opening paragraph from an article by Scott Shane in tomorrow's NYT:

The Central Intelligence Agency withheld information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress for eight years on direct orders from former Vice President Dick Cheney, the agency’s director, Leon E. Panetta, has told the Senate and House intelligence committees, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said Saturday.

Remember, the CIA is required by law to brief certain members of Congress.

Let's just highlight this little paragraph also:

The disclosure about Mr. Cheney’s role in the unidentified C.I.A. program comes a day after an inspector general’s report underscored the central role of the former vice president’s office in restricting to a small circle of officials knowledge of the National Security Agency’s program of eavesdropping without warrants, a degree of secrecy that the report concluded hurt the effectiveness of the counterterrorism surveillance effort.

He's a criminal on practically every level, professionally corrupt, guilty of war crimes, actively subversive of the United States Constitution, and a traitor.

So why should I worry about obeying any laws? Do I get a free pass?

Update: h/t to AmbroseBurnside

Update 2:
I am very glad to see this front and center in the Google headlines this morning.
Cheney 'ordered CIA to hide plan'
BBC News - ‎1 hour ago‎
Former US Vice-President Dick Cheney gave direct orders to the CIA to conceal an intelligence programme from Congress, US media reports say.
Cheney Ordered CIA to Hide Operation From Congress, NYT Reports Bloomberg
Cheney kept CIA program from Congress, source says CNN


--the BB