Zero-tolerance on torture: How hard is that?

[gottaB]

By Helena Cobban

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. - It is good that Congress and the military are seriously investigating past abuses at Abu Ghraib and other US-run detention centers around the world.

However, simply investigating past abuses isn't enough. Beyond that, President Bush and Congress need to declare - and then verifiably implement - a policy of zero tolerance for torture.

Zero-tolerance on torture: How hard is that?

[struggle4progress]

1. Makes sense to me.

:kick:

[Briar]

2. "A clear announcement

by President Bush that no form of torture or physical abuse by US employees or contractors will be tolerated is the only way, today, for the US government to step decisively off this dangerous slope."

This is exactly what we want. Yet we haven't had it or anything like it. In its absence, I for one believe that Bush, Bliar and co are tacitly approving torture - though doubtless behind a thick veil of deniability. After all, the whole "end justifies the means" moral climate of our new century is directly attributable to them.