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ACLU Obtains More Documents Evidencing Torture

By Jeralyn, Section Terror Detainees
Posted on Wed May 14, 2008 at 10:28:32 AM EST
Tags: torture, detainees (all tags)
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President Bush says the U.S. does not engage in torture. The ACLU has new evidence from documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act that it does.

These documents provide further evidence that the torture of prisoners in U.S. custody abroad was not aberrational, but was widespread and systemic," said Amrit Singh, a staff attorney with the ACLU. "They only underscore the need for an independent investigation into high-level responsibility for prisoner abuse."

The newly obtained documents are available here.

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    ACLU Obtains More Documents Evidencing Torture | 7 comments (7 topical)

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    I have a question (s) I would (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by BevD on Wed May 14, 2008 at 11:02:25 AM EST
    love to have answered.  During the Nuremburg trials lawyers and judges were tried for crimes against humanity and were found guilty.  The tribunal ruled (and this is a very superficial reading of the ruling) that lawyers and judges were particularly guilty because they cloaked the wrong doings of others in judicial opinion and consensus.  Another part of the ruling stated that by doing so, they demonstrated a "consciousness of guilt" because they atteempted to hide or hid crimes from the German people and that hiding evidence of guilt may be considered a factor in finding guilt on the part of the defendent.

    So my question is whether certain members of the defense department can be tried for war crimes since what they knew what they were doing was wrong, Douglas Feith told Phillipe Sands in the article in Vanity Fair (May 2008) that he told General Myers that, "Obeying the Geneva Convention is not optional...it is a treaty in force.  It is as much part of the supreme law of the United States as a statute."  So getting a legal opinion is not the same as a ruling that a statute is unconstitional is it?  Can a statute be overturned secretly and is it possible for a lawyer in the justice department to essentially give permission for certain persons in an administration to disregard statutes and then immunize them from prosecution?  

    "My friend in the Legal Dept told me" (none / 0) (#4)
    by LHinSeattle on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:01:35 PM EST
    "that it'd be OK."

    Hmmm. I'll have to try that if I get pulled over for not obeying the speed limit. Somehow I don't think it's gonna work for me.


    Parent

    Sad (none / 0) (#1)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed May 14, 2008 at 10:45:34 AM EST
    The Bushes have stolen America's pride and the Democratic "Creative Class" has stolen the party.

    Not a good time for the reality based (shaking head).

    We have so much work to do... (none / 0) (#2)
    by madamab on Wed May 14, 2008 at 10:49:16 AM EST
    to restore the good name of our country.

    The tragedy of Bush-Cheney just keeps getting worse and worse. Their lies are legion.

    Oh, how I would love to see those monsters in orange jumpsuits and arm and leg chains, marching to their cells in the Hague! (We'd need to put Powell, Rice, Rove and Rumsfeld next to them, of course.)

    sick (none / 0) (#5)
    by LHinSeattle on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:10:47 PM EST
    I could only look at a few pages.

    Something about "evidence consistent with strangulation"  and above it "nothing reported suggested abuse of prisoner."

    America, America?

    I WANT THEM ALL ACCOUNTABLE.

    Sickening (none / 0) (#6)
    by eleanora on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:36:49 PM EST
    and heartbreaking to see our America fallen so low. I can't believe it only took the neocons seven years to bring us to this pass, the Constitution crumpled and tossed aside like so much garbage. I know some of those prisoners were likely guilty of crimes, but they still deserve due process and humane treatment. We destroy who we are when we act against decent, ordinary human values. And those who had done nothing wrong will never forgive us, never. Neither will I, so ashamed.

    Apathy Is The Real Enemy Here (none / 0) (#7)
    by ToughOnCrime on Wed May 14, 2008 at 03:54:08 PM EST
    Most Americans simply do not care because they do not think that it will happen to them or affect them personally. That is why outrages like torture persist in this country, and why even worse outrages are on the way.

    ACLU Obtains More Documents Evidencing Torture | 7 comments (7 topical)

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