Legalization of Torture Part 1

Modern methods of torture are specifically designed NOT to leave any obvious visible marks. Less physical evidencein this regard. Primitive techniques included using blow-torches to sensitive parts of the body, or pulling out of finger nails, or gouging out an eye or two. Well, things have evolved since then.

The newer methods do not only include water-boarding (a simulated drowning), actually an ancient technique practiced during the Spanish Inquisition + also practiced in Asia (commonly referred to as Chinese Water-Torture), but also being caged in a small tiny box, with temperatures reaching 100 Fahrenheit for days on end, or equally stressful positions, such as being hooked up to a ceiling, being beaten occasionally, under the supervision of medical personnel, for MONTHS on end.

Various governmental sources have stated, that this type of treatment does not amount to torture, because major organs were either not damaged ( except for a few mistakes), and that furthermore, it poses no lasting harm to the prisoner in ANY way, not even psychologically. Here are the ACTUAL memos , which provide the LEGAL cover for this. I urge you to read them, slowly, and one by one. On a quiet night, with no tv or music in the background. One lawyer actually advocated the kidnapping of the children of a suspected terrorist, and then placing this kid amongst insects, which the child is afraid of, in order to gain information about relatives. And this same lawyer, Bybee is now a judge in one of the highest courts in our land, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Read these memos, and then tell mewhether we should just look ahead as Obama says, or that it amounts to retribution , when the laws of this nation should be applied to everyone equally, no matter how HIGH up they are.

Here are the memos:

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/olc_memos.html

These documents are publicly available, not just through the ACLU and for those of you, who have a beef with the ACLU these are actual DOCUMENTS without any commentary . I urge you to read these memos in DETAIL, and then imagine yourself or one of your loved ones, within this type of scenario. Wrongly accused, by some other country or nation.

Last, but not least, I am NOT against our troops or soldiers, what I am against, is that they are being used as cannon fodder. Just as the world silently witnessed the events of 1935, the entire world bears witness now not only to the facts of what is Guantánamo , Baghram and other secret detention centers, but more importantly, our response to this.
While we decried the same types of abuses in Communist Russia under Stalin and elsewhere, we remain silent, when our own officials provide legal justification for this.
Two wrongs do not make right and it is height of hypocrisy and arrogance, to let our own government off the hook on this.
At the opening session to the Nuremberg Trials, Justice Jackson, exclaimed, We must never forget that the record on which we judge these defendants today is the record on which history will judge us tomorrow.
The world is waiting for the American people to stand up for the right thing, even if our own government does not do it. Speak out, speak up. Torture is NOT a left wing/right wing issue or debate - it is matter of human decency it is morally indefensible and must NOT be condoned by people in ANY nation. Ever. No matter how persuasive some TV program, such as 24 might be, it goes completely against the very principles of our nation. It cannot be condoned or excused.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Torture
• United
• States
• Laws
• Violated
• Prosecution
• Warrants
• Bybee
• Yoo
• Bush
• Cheney
• Obama
• Justice
• War
• Crimes

[newbievamp2005]

Those who ever think of torture should be tortured for even considering it.

[55ella2007k]

@newbievamp2005 No. No torture, period.

[tenebroust]

My absolute bottom line on this issue is that if we legitimize torture FOR ANY REASON to ANYONE we are opening the door to having this applied here in America to our own citizens. There is much more to this issue of course, but that, in itself, is enough to give pause.

[55ella2007k]

tenebroust: yes, absolutely... I agree !

[mrgoodvibrations]

I am 48 and appalled at the mention of state sanctioned torture. I am surprised after taking a "straw" poll at work how many under 30 think it is acceptable. I expect torture to become "mainstream" in a short time look how the movies like "SAW" sell!(I never saw it, and won't) but soon speaking out will label you with the dreaded "T" word, and the torture van will hall you off. 1984 was 25 years late~

[55ella2007k]

mrgoodvibrations: I took a straw poll at work also: roughly 40% were ok with torture under certain circumstances. 10% saw no problem with it at all.

Very disturbing, to say the least...

[newbievamp2005]

How can you Torture a period?

[GOTTshua]

Justice will take place, however, it will be the justice of YHWH since mankind's justice only exists to "protect" the guilty and oppress the poor.

I'd be glad to see another Nuremburg but even that was imperfect justice.

[55ella2007k]

Exactly.

[brengale]

Well done Miss Ella! always good to hear your input and perspective on things taking place in our world

[KamikazeKoscki]

The use of torture deprives the society whose laws have been so egregiously violated of the possibility of rendering justice. Torture destroys justice. Torture in effect relinquishes this sacred right in exchange for speculative benefits whose value is, at the least, much disputed. Whistle blower are being killed by the elites, yet the news indicates their suicides, they know who the bonus money was given to, we know now too Diane Fienstein family.

[KamikazeKoscki]

Warrantless wiretapping certainly isnt mass disappearances of citizens, but it is a tool that keeps everyone in fear that they are next. It suppresses dissent and keeps people in fear for their basic safety, while around them their economic safety net is dismantled. America hadnt undergone enough of a shock to allow, for instance, Social Security privatization, but in Chile and the other Friedmanite regimes, torture and repression left people unable to fight back.