Show 'torture' evidence, US politician Bill Delahunt demands

[struggle4progress]

Source: The Times


February 11, 2009
Tom Baldwin in Washington

... Last week David Miliband persuaded the High Court to suppress the publication of evidence that Mr Mohammed was subjected to cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment by US agents during interrogation in Morocco and Afghanistan. According to some accounts, British officials were complicit in his incarceration and torture that included beatings, being scalded with boiling water and having his penis cut by a razor blade ...

Mr Delahunt, chairman of the House of Representatives human rights sub-committee, told The Times he was writing to Eric Holder, the Attorney-General, with an urgent request to review the case.

“There seems to be no valid national security reason that would prevent full disclosure,” he said. “I know the President has concerns about this kind of affair and expressed a desire to be transparent. I believe he will act in good faith” ...

Mr Delahunt .. added: “The whole issue needs to be addressed at a much higher level. To restore the confidence of the world and the American people in the integrity of our Government, it’s absolutely essential to have a catharsis. We have made mistakes and we must acknowledge them” ...

Read more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5705127.ece

[babylonsister]

1. Rec'd. I saw the movie 'Rendition' recently; that's what this sounds

like to me. I'm very thankful for Rep. Delahunt for not letting this drop.

[corruptmewithpower]

4. On a lighter note

Try "Harold and Kumar escape from Guantanamo bay" for an indelible image of hollywood conjured torture.

[babylonsister]

5. I don't need Hollywood to conjure up torture for me. I sadly get the idea. nt

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. "having his penis cut by a razor blade ..." roh roh USA

.
.
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tough guys . .

[karynnj]

3. Yay, Representative Delahunt!

I was lucky enough to see Delahunt and Kerry at a campaign rally that they did in Hyannis the day before the election. This rally was one always done before elections by Kennedy but Kerry did it for him. Delahunt was great - as was Kerry. They were old friends from the day when both were prosecutors. http://www.johnkerry.com/multimedia/entry/barnstable_democratic_town_committee_election_eve_rally_video/

[Gregorian]

6. The momentum is building.

Except there is no Bush in the way. I am hopeful that there are enough people who see the truth. There are many high level lawyers who are not going to sit and watch these crimes go ignored. Another on Rachel Maddow's show tonight who used the words "war criminals" while referring to the Bush administration.

I don't think Obama knows just how to deal with it yet. That may be why we're sensing an unresponsive administration. Give it a little time.

[Piewhacket]

7. You need to do it, Mr. Pres! Clean up this despicable, festering mess.

(seething pot, ready to boil over)

[rgbecker]

8. Send Bill Delahunt an email and let him know you think he's doing the right thing.

He's my guy and sometimes I wonder, but in this case he is on mark!

Here's his email: [e-mail]

[Jefferson23]

9. Good idea, thanks.

[tan guera]

11. Just sent him an email thanking him

[iconicgnom]

10. The ball is entirely in Obama's court, now.

So we're going to discover how this plays out.

[EFerrari]

12. Delahunt was the one who had the presence of mind to get the Seton Hall study on the record --

the one that totally blew up the bullshit that released Gitmo cage prisoners were going back to some ficitional battlefield.

[DCKit]

13. I don't recall that any MSM outlets did a retraction.

Not that I ever expected actual journalistic responsibility or integrity. Dog knows how they're defining those terms these days.

Fortunately, a lot more people are paying attention than ever before, and business as usual isn't going to work for a lot of U.S..

[EFerrari]

14. They never did. Keith and Rachel reported on it but no one else did. n/t

[struggle4progress]

15. Thanks! I didn't know that!

Good on him! :)

[EFerrari]

16. In retro, that was an amazing hearing.

I was frustrated with it at the time, but Delahunt got A LOT of crucial information on the record. The Seton Hall study, Clive Stafford Smith's testimony about the State Department sabotaging releases and DoD trying to coerce cleared prisoners into signing onto their guilt before they'd be released. Iirc, Bugliosi also testified at that hearing. 5/20/08.

:hi: