U.S. Bars Use of Torture in Interrogations

[Sydnie]

GENEVA - The U.S. government told a U.N. watchdog Monday that all American officials — including intelligence agents — are barred from using torture in interrogating terror suspects and other prisoners.

American officials acknowledged, however, that there had been past mistreatment of detainees, and members of the U.N. panel expressed concern about how the United States defines torture as well as the U.S. delegation's refusal to give details about interrogation techniques used by the CIA.

<snip>

Nora Sveaass, an expert from Norway, said the U.N. committee had seen U.S. documents that allowed techniques regarded as torture by human rights groups, such as forced nakedness, stressful positions and threats.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Charles Stimson conceded to the panel — the U.N. watchdog for the 1984 anti-torture treaty — that the United States had failed to protect detainees in Iraq.

More at link - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060509/ap_on_re_eu/un_us_torture_5

They are admitting that they have tortured detainees ... finally!

[Kutjara]

1. I suppose we now have to figure out what's meant by...

..."American officials." Do subcontractors count? Officials of foreign governments? Employees of 'private' detention facilities?

I'm sure no 'American officials' are engaging in torture. Instead, they resign from their jobs at 9am every day and are rehired at 5pm, after a full day of 'private enterprise.'

[BadgerKid]

5. So one is torturable if

one is neither a terror suspect nor a prisoner?
:crazy: :scared:

[saigon68]

15. lol

[laheina]

16. They just sub them out to foreign regimes.

It's semantics (and lies) all the way with these fucknuts.

[Zorra]

2. Translation: "We got caught torturing people, and we're sorry we

got caught. We will continue to torture people, but we won't get caught again."

[laheina]

17. lol!

Doesn't that sound like the bushie's M.O.?

[Robbien]

3. That is what the US says. The UN report will come out next week

I don't think that is what the UN will say. The UN panel was not impressed with the US excuses.

[Up2Late]

4. No more Torture, but "Painfully Coerced Persuasion" is O.K.!

I don't believe anything these criminals say any more.

[struggle4progress]

8. "An Aug. 1, 2002, memo from the Justice Department's Office of Legal ..

.. Counsel, addressed to Gonzales, said .. physical torture 'must be equivalent in intensity to the pain accompanying serious physical injury, such as organ failure, impairment of bodily function, or even death.' For a cruel or inhuman psychological technique to rise to the level of mental torture, the Justice Department argued, the psychological harm must last 'months or even years'" ...

Memo on Torture Draws Focus to Bush
Aide Says President Set Guidelines for Interrogations, Not Specific Techniques
By Mike Allen and Dana Priest
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, June 9, 2004; Page A03
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26401-2004Jun8.html

[pinniped]

6. del.

.

[azurnoir]

7. They are admitting

they tortured detainees, are they going to stop? Does *co even care what the UN says on this? We are not (for the first time ever) on the UN human rights council, remember what alot of people here said Bolton was sent to the UN to do? Could be he's doing it.

[Up2Late]

10. You make a good point, now if we get a congress with some...

...balls, who will impeach, it's not a matter of IF, but How many are going to prison?!:argh:

[rodeodance]

9. If bush wre a real commander in chief he would have put an end to this

a long time--JUST SAY NO! The mentality comes fromt the very top!

[0007]

11. I guess that means no more Interrogations, 'eh? Wonder

what they're gonna call 'em now? The "Examination Phase"

[Robeson]

12. My guess is "Freedom Examination".

[0007]

13. That'll fly.

[noel adamson]

14. U.S. bars torture? We all know what BushCo thinks of laws

Torture already is and has been illegal in the U.S. and in the international community and it sure hasn't stopped them here or abroad in decades if ever. No doubt John Negroponte will realize his past indiscretions in this matter and not use the NSA files Hayden collected on us to select people to disappear and torture. Now how do you plan to finance your purchase of the bridge I am selling in Brooklyn?

[laheina]

18. With the money that we're all going to save after

they overhaul our medical insurance! :crazy:

[dipsydoodle]

19. Torture isn't a matter of degree.

If you torture someone a little bit then you have tortured them and in doing so acted against the Geneva Convention. What is it about the word torture that they don't quite grasp ?

[OneBlueSky]

20. liars . . . n/t

.