Rumsfeld torture suit dismissed

[cyberpj]

Source: BBC News UK

Rumsfeld torture suit dismissed

A US court has dismissed a lawsuit against former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld over claims prisoners were tortured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

snip -
But Judge Thomas Hogan ruled the five Iraqis and four Afghans did not have US constitutional rights, and also that Mr Rumsfeld was immune from such suits.

snip -
In a ruling stretching to nearly 60 pages, the chief judge of the US district court for the District of Columbia said the allegations of torture were "horrifying".

Details of abuse
The nine men suffered abuse including being:
hung upside-down and slapped until they lost consciousness
stabbed with knives
subjected to electric shocks
deprived of sleep by loud noises and bright lights
grabbed by aggressive dogs
They also were subjected to sexual humiliation.



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6501499.stm

---

None was ever charged with a crime.
All were released after detentions of one month to one year.
Some were detained multiple times.

"Mr Rumsfeld has apologised for the abuse scandals."

Oh, well, then it's all ok Rummy.

[Eric J in MN]

1. It's a horrible gap in our legal system that people suffer worldwide...

...from the actions of men like Donald Rumsfeld, but he can't be held liable.

Congress could fix this, but I'm not expecting them to.

[cyberpj]

2. It's an intentional gap. nt

[cureautismnow]

3. Hogan's a Reagan Appointee, naturally.

No U.S. constitutional rights? :wtf: Has this Cro-Magnon ever heard of HUMAN RIGHTS? :mad:

[cyberpj]

4. In the AP article it does sound like he was bothered by having to rule this way:

But that could all be window dressing, who knows?

Funny (not) how they use the constitution when it suits them and trash it when it doesn't.

Your HUMAN RIGHTS response is the correct response.



WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld cannot be tried on allegations of torture in overseas military prisons, a federal judge said Tuesday in a case he described as "lamentable."

snip -
Hogan appeared conflicted during arguments last year. On one hand, he said he was hesitant to allow allegations of torture to go unheard. On the other hand, he said the case was unprecedented.

[Matariki]

5. "Mr Rumsfeld has apologised for the abuse scandals"

He apologizes for the scandals (read: leaks), not for the actual abuse.

[cyberpj]

7. That's their standard apology format. They apologise for everything but the act itself. nt

[Canuckistanian]

6. It's open season from now on

Any American official who wants to abuse a foreigner is now officially OK.

As long as they give an "after-the fact" apology. Or not.

Trust me, the world is going to rise up in unison against the US one day.

And this is one ruling that everyone will quote.