Bush Calls Freedom from Torture "Inalienable Human Right"

[Tinoire]

26 June 2005

Bush Calls Freedom from Torture "Inalienable Human Right"
President says U.S. committed to expanding democracy, freedom worldwide

In remarks commemorating United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture June 26, President Bush says freedom from torture is "an inalienable human right."

In a statement released by the White House the same day, Bush said the United States "is committed to building a world where human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law." He added that the United States is working to expand democracy worldwide and "will help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way."

The president acknowledged that many people throughout the world are "stand(ing) up for their right to freedom," but said that too many are "paying a terrible price for their brave acts of dissent" by being "detained, arrested, thrown in prison, and subjected to torture by regimes that fail to understand that their habits of control will not serve them well in the long-term."

Following is the text of the White House statement:

(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
June 26, 2005

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

On United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the United States reaffirms its commitment to the worldwide elimination of torture. Freedom from torture is an inalienable human right, and we are committed to building a world where human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law.

The United States is continuing to work to expand freedom and democracy throughout the world. We will seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, and we will help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way. Throughout the world, there are many who have been seeking to have their voices heard, to stand up for their right to freedom, and to break the chains of tyranny. Too many of those courageous women and men are paying a terrible price for their brave acts of dissent. Many have been detained, arrested, thrown in prison, and subjected to torture by regimes that fail to understand that their habits of control will not serve them well in the long-term. America will not pretend that jailed dissidents prefer their chains, or that women welcome humiliation and servitude, or that any human being aspires to live at the mercy of bullies. All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: The United States will not ignore your oppression or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005&m=June&x=20050626155951521elootom0.6794702&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html
=====


Unbeleivable! At the very same time, as whatreallyhappened.com points out, that the US admits torturing prisoners.

This comedy can get no sicker.

[BattyDem]

1. He probably thinks that "inalienable" means "imaginary"

:eyes:

[Tinoire]

3. Sadly, that could certainly be a reasonable explanation! n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

25. More likely he thinks it means extra-terrestrial.

[ole_evil_eye]

2. this has already been posted today

still a funny, if not hypocritical, read

[Tinoire]

4. Thanks, didn't see it. Was it in GD?

Mea culpa...

[ole_evil_eye]

6. yup

np

[NMMNG]

5. What a freaking hypocrite

Is he serious

I mean really, is he serious?:wtf:

Did he say that with a straight face?

[Tinoire]

8. That was my exact reaction.... No way! But indeed, way... n/t

[Raksha]

7. I'm speechless. I can't bring myself to read past the first paragraph.

I'm just sitting here with my mouth hanging open, unable to assimilate what I'm reading on this screen. I didn't think it was even possible, but Shrub has taken doublespeak to a whole new level.

[Tinoire]

11. Were you aware: Congress killed measures to ban U.S. use of torture

15 January, 2005

Congress killed measures to ban U.S. use of torture


Congress killed measures to ban U.S. use of torture
By Douglas Jehl and David Johnston The New York Times Friday, January 14, 2005

White House opposed including restrictions

WASHINGTON At the urging of the White House, congressional leaders scrapped a legislative measure last month that would have imposed new restrictions on the use of extreme interrogation measures by U.S. intelligence officers, congressional officials say.
.
The defeat of the proposal affects one of the most shadowy arenas of the war on terrorism, involving the CIA's secret detention and interrogation of top terror leaders like Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the mastermind of the September 2001 attacks, and about three dozen other senior members of Al Qaeda and its offshoots.
.
The Senate had approved the new restrictions, by a 96-2 vote, as part of the intelligence reform legislation. The restrictions would have explicitly extended to intelligence officers a prohibition against the use of torture or inhumane treatment, and it would have required the CIA as well as the Pentagon to report to Congress about the methods they were using.
.
But in intense, closed-door negotiations, according to congressional officials, four senior lawmakers from the House and Senate deleted the restrictions from the final bill after the White House expressed opposition to the measure. Two congressional negotiators said in interviews that lawmakers had ultimately decided that the question of whether to extend the restrictions to intelligence officers was too complex to be included in the legislation.
.
In a letter to members of Congress, sent in October and made available by the White House on Wednesday, Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser, expressed opposition to the measure on the ground that it "provides legal protections to foreign prisoners to which they are not now entitled under applicable law and policy."
.
(snip)

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/13/news/ban.html

(snip)

In addition to Collins and Harman, the lawmakers involved in the conference committee negotiations were Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., and Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich.

(snip)

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/10643525.htm (link now defunct but discussed here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1154757)

But you are so right, this takes doublespeak to a WHOLE new level. And more Abu Ghraib pictures coming out too!~

[Raksha]

20. No, I wasn't aware of that. Thanks for filling me in.

It's truly bizarre that the House scrapped this measure AFTER it had passed the Senate by 98-2. I wonder who the two dissenters were.

I'm still in shock over this statement, but then again I have to keep reminding myself: They create their own reality. Yeah, RIGHT!

[Tinoire]

23. I'm curious also. Maybe someone can educate us? n/t

[demdays]

9. Double Speak rules!

I personally do not understand how this administration gets away with the outright double speak all the time. Its amazing at how far our "independent" media has fallen. BBC is definitely the news source I find most independent and credible, and they are directly funded by their government.

[newyawker99]

24. Hi demdays!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[The Magistrate]

10. Satire, Ma'am, Is A Physical Impossibility Nowadays

One hardly knows where to begin, and when words fail me, there is definitely a problem....

[Tinoire]

13. ROFL! That was very well put/done

:rofl: :rofl:

My second DU laugh of the day! Thank you, I sorely needed that after reading that unbelievable statement! The mind simply boggles...

[The Magistrate]

17. A Pleasure To Be the Agent Of Your Cheer, Old Friend!

Be well, Ma'am!

[Tinoire]

22. Thank you - you too! n/t

[peekaloo]

12. Yippee free rides in corporate jets for the bestest freedom lovers.

:sarcasm:

[DanCa]

14. The bush crew tortures me daily

I have young onset parkinsons and I have had it with the sanctify of life crowd. Its all just a bunch of bull shit. Its bad enough that they would rather see me drill holes in my head with dbs surgery than pass stem cell laws no there witching about me seeing a psychitrist.
I really cant stand these people there so phoney that they need a two mirrors to see both faces on.

[Tinoire]

16. All very well put (but especially your last sentence)

Here's to you DanCa :toast: You're not alone.

Best of luck to you and thank you. People like you have a way of yanking me down to earth quickly about how much better a Democratic administration is. Thank you. & belated welcome to DU.

[DanCa]

18. I would rather be a democrat in a wheel chair

Than ronald regan on his high horse any day of the week. Thanks Tinoire its nice too meet you. Keep rocking the mid terms are going to be sweet.

[Tinoire]

21. Thanks DanCa

Keep me grounded ok? Sometimes I get too... idealistic and forget that the lesser of two evils is still a great improvement for a great deal of people. I'm glad you found DU.

[wtmusic]

15. The Rovian technique of "just call it the opposite of what it is"

is getting very, very old...

[EFerrari]

19. Oh, from TORTURE, but ask me about "mistreatment" n/t

[mopaul]

26. ----sucker

[Just Me]

27. Yeah, BUT, independent investigations into neoCON-approved torture,....

,...is useless according to Rumsbutt! :eyes:

It is quite stunning how these our own corporacratic tyrants always avoid personal responsibility by projecting that responsibility elsewhere, anywhere on anyone.