December 21, 2004
US Torture of Detainees Back in the News
Printable Version | [eMail this article!] |Reports of the US torture of detainees and prisoners in the "war on terrorism" are back in the news as new reports come to light. From Guantanamo, to Afghanistan, to Iraq - if the US is there then there is torture. When all this first broke last year many, including myself, have argued that torture is an approved policy of President George W. Bush. The most recent evidence certainly confirms that perception that Bush directly ordered the use of torture.
As we look at reports, investigations, and new evidence, it is clear that every the military, CIA, FBI, and hired mercenaries of all three, engaged in torture of prisoners. That same evidence indicates clearly that authorization came from the highest levels of the administration - including Bush. Further, that Bush, through Gonzales, advised the CIA on the acceptability of torture techniques.
It is also important to counteract the myth that such abuse and torture stopped in the wake of the exposure of Abu Ghraib - it did not.
The question remains as to whether any of this will the smallest effect on the Bush administration or their policies. I just heard Bush on the news, essentially giving the old line of "these are bad guys and we have to deal with them." In other words, he is continuing to support and project "Anything Goes" in his war. Unbelievable.
Below is a list of recent articles and sources on this topic.
Records Released in Response to Torture FOIA Request
12/21/04 American Progress, Abusive Power
12/21/04 Lewis & Johnston, NYT, New F.B.I. Files Describe Abuse of Iraq Inmates
12/21/04 DemocracyNow, Attorney General Nominee Gonzalez Advised CIA on "Acceptable" Torture Techniques
12/21/04 Serrano, LA Times, FBI Agents Complained of Prisoner Abuse, Records Say
12/21/04 BBC, New jail abuse allegations hit US
12/20/04 ACLU, FBI E-Mail Refers to Presidential Order Authorizing Inhumane Interrogation Techniques
12/17/04 Priest & Higham, Wa. Post, At Guantanamo, a Prison Within a Prison
12/15/04 Serrano, LA Times, Details of Marines Mistreating Prisoners in Iraq Are Revealed
12/14/04 Ricks, Wa. Post, Detainee Abuse by Marines Is Detailed
12/15/04 Dunham, CHB, More Prisoner Abuse Uncovered in Iraq
12/14/04 Jehl, NYT, C.I.A. Order on Detainees Shows Its Role Was Curbed
12/14/04 Reuters, Rights Group Puts Rumsfeld on Spot Over Afghan Deaths
12/14/04 BBC, US admits more Afghan jail deaths
Posted by rowan at December 21, 2004 09:04 AM | TrackBack | Printable Version | [eMail this article!] |These linked articles (especially the one at Truthout.org) contain information that SHOULD be extremely distressing to the American public. Yet, I don't think it is. I am coming to believe that no amount of revelation of our brutal methods or utter hypocricy matters, because so many powerful elites (and average Joes) buy into a "means justifies the ends" ethic.
The association seems to be that detainee = terrorist, and that "terrorist" (as we define this) = suspended humanity.
I am again, entirely unsurprised by any involvement of the Bush administration - it is utterly naive of the public to believe these are isolated, non-sanctioned incidents, orchestrated by renegade, low-level enlisted. It's simply ridiculous to feel that these activities somehow go unnoticed by the administrative levels.
Posted by: Pamela at December 21, 2004 12:19 PMTo track this topic without leaving a comment enter your email address: