US denies torture allegations

[sabra]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1632094.htm

US denies torture allegations

The United States has firmly rejected allegations that it has tortured people as part of the war against terrorism.

American officials have made the comments in an opening statement to the United Nations Committee Against Torture, where they are being questioned for the first time since the September 11 attacks.

...

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Manfred Nowak, says the US will also have to answer questions about the long detentions without trial or charge at Guantanamo Bay.

"By establishing detention centres outside the territory of the United States, they try to circumvent their international obligations by arguing the war against terror, international human rights law including the UN convention against torture would not be applicable," Mr Nowak said.
"And our common position is very clear, of course it is applicable."

[babylonsister]

1. Fer crying out loud, can you say Abu Ghraib?

It's not working, asshats!

[rpannier]

2. Okay I'm satisfied

The administration said it, so it must be true.

Kinda like the
WMDs
The al Qaida-Sadaam link
That scrub was on top of the Hurricane Katrina situation
They had no idea who the leaker was

[azurnoir]

3. I's NOT torture

it's stress positioning:sarcasm:

[Grateful for Hope]

4. Yawn...

The Bushco denials are becoming boring.

:boring:

[Jack Rabbit]

5. BBC Link

From the BBC Online
Dated Firday May 5

US denies terror suspect torture

The US has defended its treatment of suspects detained in its "war on terror", telling a UN committee that it considers the use of torture as wrong.

US Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights Barry Lowenkron told the Committee Against Torture in Geneva that US law prohibited such practices.

Senior US officials are testifying before the committee for the first time since the 11 September 2001 attacks.

Rights groups accuse the US of flouting the UN Convention against Torture.

Read more.

What Lowenkron doesn't say is that according to the Gonzales memos, it pretty much has to be the rack or the iron maiden in order to be torture.

[0007]

7. Thanks for the link

"What makes this so remarkable is that this is the first time the United States is accountable for its record on torture with regard to some of the practices implemented after 9/11," said Jennifer Daskal of Human Rights Watch.

Amnesty International, which submitted a report to the panel, said US public statements contradicted its practices.

"The US government is not only failing to take steps to eradicate torture, it is actually creating a climate in which torture and other ill-treatment can flourish, including by trying to narrow the definition of torture," said group official Curt Goering.

Ten legal experts will cross-examine the US team until Monday and the committee will publish its recommendations at a later date.

The US is obliged by the UN convention to implement the recommendations, although there is no enforcement mechanism.

But a damning report from the committee would clearly add to the administration's difficulties in defending its approach to terrorism suspects, our correspondent says.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. "There is no enforement mechanism"

If the Bush regime doesn't implement the panel's recommendations, then an special international tribunal for war crimes in Iraq and crimes against humanity arising out of the war on terror should be convened.

[OneBlueSky]

6. U.S lies . . . (it's what they do) . . . n/t

.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Please, let's get the handle right

The US The Bush regime lies.

[OneBlueSky]

11. my bad . . . n/t

.

[bdamomma]

9. we all know that torture is being

conducted, they really have no respect for anyone/anything. Rummy knows all about it.

[TheWatcher]

12. It won't be long before the administration denies we even invaded Iraq

The photos from Abu Ghraib speak for themselves.

[struggle4progress]

13. UN body wants US prisoner data

GENEVA -- The U-N Committee Against Torture insists U.S. envoys provide more information about a series of issues, including prisoner interrogations at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo.
The panel rejected U.S. arguments against discussing intelligence matters and pressed for information about reports of secret CiA prisons and flights. The chairman says, even with intelligence activities, the committee has a duty to investigate, and it's America's "duty to answer," the committee chairman said ... http://www.krqe.com/expanded.asp?ID=15008

[genieroze]

14. Ummm

http://www.salon.com/news/abu_ghraib/2006/03/14/introduction/

[moondust]

15. What's wrong with a little torture?

The important thing is getting what you want. The means don't matter. Greed rules! :sarcasm: