U.S. torture makes mockery of liberty

[struggle4progress]

Web Posted: 02/04/2005 12:00 AM CST

San Antonio Express-News

This week's Arab euphoria over the Iraqi elections turned sour as the sexual torture at Guantanamo Bay became public. The Arab street is bewildered at the immorality of the Bush administration.

During the Iraq invasion, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld accused the Qatari television network Al-Jazeera of violating the Geneva Conventions by showing the faces of dead American soldiers. That was followed by a Pentagon propaganda campaign to smear the network and force Qatar to censor the broadcasting of material perceived by the administration as having anti-American content. <snip>

The irony was that while the Bush administration was accusing the network of violating the rights of the dead, it sanctioned acts that violated the rights of the living. Contrary to American values and civilized behavior, U.S. interrogators were ordered to commit atrocities, including physical and mental torture, against detainees at Guantanamo Bay as well as Abu Graib Prison in Baghdad. <snip>

The Bush administration has ushered in a new era of disrespect for international law and civilized behavior. In the process, it has put the lives of many Americans in jeopardy. But most important, posterity will constantly remind humanity that this administration cannot serve as a shining example to any society of freedom and democracy. <snip>

http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/columnists/melkikhia/stories/MYSA020405.07B.mansour.7202cf24.html
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[Matriot]

1. We're so bent

on inspecting other countries that the United States will not allow the United Nations to inspect Guantanamo Bay

http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/NewsRoom?OpenFrameSet

Here's the complaint process to make a difference

http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/detention/contact.htm

It all boils down to the fact that we are not giving civil liberties to the "detainees" (they have not even been charged with crimes), that we ourselves are entitled to. In the United States, if charged with a crime the police have one day to bring charges and 72 hours for arraignment on said charges. These people have been deprived of their civil liberties for going on 4 years.

Let's complain to the UN and do something about it. Atleast have the UN inspect the facility to know that there is humane treatment and to have the actual names of who are being held and have their family notified. After all, we all are entitled to our "one phone call" aren't we?

I'm thoroughly disgusted with the way we are keeping our "concentration camp" secretive. We never used to be this way but I guess since the isolation of Asian-Americans during WWII we've learned our lesson. Better to keep it from the public as much as possible, huh?

According to Geneva convention all detainees "POWs" are to be released after the conflict is over. The end of the "war" was declared 18 months ago. Why are we still holding prisoners?

I remember having this wonderful owner of a convenient store down the street where I would always purchase my basic needs items. My brother had a drinking problem and he would always remember to count how much alcohol my brother would buy and tell me when I came in. He was like that for everyone who came in. Always friendly, always remembered who you were. He actually cared about his customers. Only after 9/11 his shop lost a lot of money almost to the point of closing for the simple fact that he was middle eastern. But you know now that I'm paranoid, he was probably trying to gather intelligence on me and the rest of his customers so he can wage a massive terrorist attack that would hurt us all the most. I probably could have gotten him sent to Guantanamo Bay and had him "detained" there so he wouldn't pose some unrealistic threat.

I'm sure you all have your personal experiences with one of a different color that made a positive impact on your life. Not because of their color but because of who they are. We are detaining persons because of race, just like WWII. Delve within and find your personal story, get angered and write to the UN for either the release or prosecution of these detainees. Their families shouldn't be made to suffer because we're paranoid.

Demand that justice be served, that these people are entitled to our own inalienable rights.

[newyawker99]

2. Hi Matriot!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Matriot]

3. Thanks newyawker99

Glad to be here.

[dbeach]

4. CHERTOFF {author of Pat Act }OKs TORTURE

Mikie big bro may not get the approval if any sane Repubes get wise to his treason...

http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/chertoff_oks.html
"CHERTOFF OKs TORTURE
Controversy continues to swirl around Michael Chertoff, President George W. Bush’s pick to replace Tom Ridge as chief of the Homeland Security Department. As the Senate began considering Chertoff’s nomination on Feb. 2, news broke that Chertoff had been implicated in advising the CIA on the legality of various means of torturing detainees held in U.S. prison camps in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay."