We cannot allow the Jose Padilla story to die

[RagingInMiami]

In case you haven’t heard, Padilla, the accused “dirty bomber” who was never charged with terrorism even though he was arrested more than four years ago, was subjected to extreme torturous treatment by the hands of the US Government, according to his lawyers.

The New York Times reports that “he has been so damaged by his interrogations and prolonged isolation that he suffers post-traumatic stress disorder and is unable to assist in his own defense. His interrogations, they say, included hooding, stress positions, assaults, threats of imminent execution and the administration of ‘truth serums’.”

The Associated Press reports that he was “forced to stand in painful stress positions, given LSD or some other drug as a ‘truth serum’, subjected to loud noises and noxious odors and forced to endure sleep deprivation, extreme heat and cold, and harsh lights.”

If these allegations are true, it proves that our government has committed acts reminiscent of Nazi atrocities.

Padilla is an American citizen who was born in the United States. Even though he was a Chicago gang member at one point (and I have yet to see any substantial proof of that), he is still entitled to the same constitutional protections as the rest of us.

We need to make him the poster child of everything that is wrong with this administration. The story made the front page of the NYT, so it has credibility even if the rest of the media decides to ignore it.

We can do our part by keeping it alive in the blogosphere, writing letters to the editor and writing letters to our now-majority democratic congressmen.

For the sake of the U.S. Constitution, this story cannot die.


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/04/us/04detain.html?hp&ex=1165208400&en=02ab7b458c838c22&ei=5094&partner=homepage

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/1204-04.htm

[Dhalgren]

1. I completely agree. K&R!

[wicket]

6. And another

:kick:

[uberllama42]

2. The erosion of our justice system is unacceptable

I don't know why people aren't rioting in the streets yet.

[RagingInMiami]

4. Welcome to DU

[uberllama42]

11. Thanks n/t

[dogday]

3. Habeas Corpus RIP nt

[EFerrari]

5. kick

[immoderate]

7. K&R

--IMM

[riverwalker]

8. never forget

I hope someday those responsible will be brought to justice. Not just those at the top who gave the illegal orders, but those who carried them out. The doctors and nurses at Gitmo should never be allowed to practice medicine or nursing again, their licenses should be permanently taken away. If they supported this crime in any way, they need to be accountable. Think "just following orders" is going to cover your ass and cowardly sadistic compliance? I don't think so. It didn't work at the Nuremberg trials or at the trials of the East German border guards (which set many precedents of laws of a country v.s humanity).

[pberq]

9. Government trying to bolck disclosure of Padilla's prison conditions

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/04/1418208

Attorneys: Jose Padilla Unfit to Stand Trial After Years of Isolation

Lawyers for Jose Padilla are arguing that he is now unfit to stand trial because he has become mentally ill after years of imprisonment and interrogations. The government initially accused Padilla of plotting to set off a dirty bomb inside the United States. He was held as an enemy combatant in complete isolation. He wasn't allowed to see an attorney for 21 months. Padilla is now facing trial on less serious charges. His lawyers say he suffers post-traumatic stress disorder and is unable to assist in his own defense. His interrogations, they say, included hooding, stress positions, assaults, threats of imminent execution and the administration of “truth serums.” The New York Times today published two new photos of Padilla in detention. One showed him being escorted by three guards dressed in riot gear with their faces hidden by plastic visors. He is wearing blacked out googles and noise-blocking headphones. His lawyers say that for three years Padilla had little human contact other than with his interrogators. His cell was electronically monitored. His meals were passed to him through a slot in the door. The windows were blackened. There was no clock or calendar. He slept on a steel platform after a foam mattress was taken from him. The New York times reports the Government is now seeking to block Padilla's lawyers from telling the jury about the conditions of his confinement at his trial.

[Eric J in MN]

10. I'd like to see a law against putting a prisoner in that level of isolation,

...and administering any drug to a prisoner without consent.

But Bush would probably veto.

[countryjake]

12. kick

[951-Riverside]

13. I wonder if they call him the "dirty bomber" because he's hispanic? n/t

:puke: :mad:

[LibertyorDeath]

14. US Citizen or not

Subjecting a person to torture is ILLEGAL & IMMORAL Period.
No fucking wiggle room on that!! NONE!!
These bureaucratic sadistic shit weasel fuckers know it.
I hope the LAW catches up with them.

If they get away with doing it to Jose Padilla then they have a successful "test case" and no American citizen is safe from cruel and unusual punishment..

Rec!

[Maat]

15. You are SO right - we cannot let this story die ..

for so many reasons.

To me, a law school graduate, Padilla is an example of the DimSon Administration's willingness to subvert the Constitution of the United States (and the Bill of Rights and related jurisprudence), and deny a U.S. citizen (or a resident with 'sufficient ties to the U.S.' - i.e. a resident) his Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights, not to mention the unconscionable violation of the 8th Amendment.

The Padilla case also is symbolic of this Mis-Administration's willingness to violate OUR law - the Geneva Conventions (for treaties are as much the law as statutes, as well as the fact that our policies against torture and illegal spying are statutory at this point).

Moreover, the Padilla case is symbolic of psychopaths willing to torture through isolation and sleep deprivation (among the most horrifying and damaging tortures around)(sorry, I'm also have a Master's in Psych), and ignore the consequences of that. It is symbolic of how far they are willing to go.

End-of-rant (thanks for reminding me of how angry I am about this)!

[LibertyorDeath]

16. Kick... Kick...

[porphyrian]

17. He could be a bad guy, I don't know either, but his treatment has been unconstitutional.

We cannot allow those in the highest positions of our government to disregard the Constitution and break our laws if we are a nation of laws.