Shrub ordered the torture according to ACLU

[shraby]

FBI E-Mail Refers to Presidential Order Authorizing Inhumane Interrogation Techniques

December 20, 2004

NEW YORK -- A document released for the first time today by the American Civil Liberties Union suggests that President Bush issued an Executive Order authorizing the use of inhumane interrogation methods against detainees in Iraq. Also released by the ACLU today are a slew of other records including a December 2003 FBI e-mail that characterizes methods used by the Defense Department as "torture" and a June 2004 "Urgent Report" to the Director of the FBI that raises concerns that abuse of detainees is being covered up.

"These documents raise grave questions about where the blame for widespread detainee abuse ultimately rests," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. "Top government officials can no longer hide from public scrutiny by pointing the finger at a few low-ranking soldiers."

The documents were obtained after the ACLU and other public interest organizations filed a lawsuit against the government for failing to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request.

The two-page e-mail that references an Executive Order states that the President directly authorized interrogation techniques including sleep deprivation, stress positions, the use of military dogs, and "sensory deprivation through the use of hoods, etc." The ACLU is urging the White House to confirm or deny the existence of such an order and immediately to release the order if it exists. The FBI e-mail, which was sent in May 2004 from "On Scene Commander--Baghdad" to a handful of senior FBI officials, notes that the FBI has prohibited its agents from employing the techniques that the President is said to have authorized.

(more)
<http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=17216&c=206>

All right people, you know what to do..let this info spread. I notified Sen. Feingold so far.

[Zhade]

1. MAJOR KICK!

KICK!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

2. "You are either with us or against us"

Now I know he DID say that, and I also know that that is the kind of extremist, absolutist thinking which will lead to things like Abu Ghraib.

[crispini]

3. Wow.

Thanks, ACLU!

I put "ACLU Membership" on my Chrismas list and if I don't get it as a gift then I'm gonna for sure get it on my own now! They are real patriots and heroes!

[Walt Starr]

4. This would be direct documentation of a war crime

committed by the highest levels of the government!

[gWbush is Mabus]

8. bring 'em on TO THE HAGUE

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Is it time to impeach this idiot yet? n/t

[GRLMGC]

6. I have a feeling

his supporters don't have any problems w/ torturing the "enemy"

[merbex]

9. I have a feeling the only thing that would his supporters would desert

him for is for him to announce he was leaving Laura for Rumsfeld

[Karenina]

18. Nah...

For Rum the fundies would suddenly rally around GAY MARRIAGE!

Let his Schtick with Condi come out! O say can you see...

[Walt Starr]

7. Impeachment will be difficult with the current congress

let alone conviction in the Senate.

[Pepperbelly]

22. with Hastert and Delay controlling the Agenda, "impossible" is accurate.

No way they'd let anything happen to their boy Georgie.

[chomskysright]

10. I've moved it into the American Psychological Association

[Walt Starr]

11. Does the Gonzales appoinment as top cop prop make sense now?

Gonzales crafted the memo saying Bush had this authority.

It's all making sense now.

[rodeodance]

13. Has anyone heard this in the media yet? I haven't .

[mia]

15. There are a few articles so far

Google ACLU + FBI



ACLU: President authorized interrogation



Washington, DC, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- An FBI document suggests the president authorized inhumane interrogation methods against Iraqi detainees, the American Civil Liberties Union said Monday.

The document is among those obtained from the government by the ACLU in a Freedom of Information Act suit in New York.

A two-page FBI e-mail refers to "a presidential executive order," and contends President Bush directly authorized interrogation techniques that included sleep deprivation, stress positions, the use of military dogs and "sensory deprivation through the use of hoods, etc.," The ACLU said.

The FBI e-mail was sent in May 2004 from "On Scene Commander -- Baghdad" to senior FBI officials....

[Walt Starr]

17. Wow, what did * do to piss off Moon?

Moonie Times prints this!

[shraby]

16. Get it out to the media pronto!

[Warren DeMontague]

12. Yeah, not surprising, either-- any psychologist will tell you...

it's not such a stretch to go from frogs, to this..

http://www.all-creatures.org/aip/nl-3nov2000-frogs.html

[gottaB]

14. The executive order is the smoking gun

The DU archives are down at the moment, but when they come back look for "conspiracy to commit war crimes," also, posts by Spazito.

Here's the first I read of it:

http://www.interventionmag.com/cms/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=750

Found one thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1704513#1705362

[shraby]

19. Rawstory has it

and I sent it to Buzzflash. Get the story out!!

[Radical Activist]

20. When the hell is congress going to start impeachment hearings?!

Aren't there at least a few Republicans who don't like this guy enough to cover for his crimes?!

[Debs]

21. Not to mention

Bringing charges against him under the Convention against torture statute. Bush in prison has such a nice ring to it

[unblock]

23. well, they already said that it was a decision of low-level people

it's not like ROVE ordered it

:bounce:

[elehhhhna]

24. kick for the Terrorist -in -Chief