May 16, 2004 2:38 PM
Newsweek documented (with leaked internal memos) the Bush administration's contempt for the Geneva conventions post-9/11, which led to the torture in Iraq.
White House legal counsel, Alberto Gonzales, in a memo to Bush on 1/25/02:
As you have said, the war against terrorism is a new kind of war. The nature of the new war places a high premium on other factors, such as the ability to quickly obtain information from captured terrorists and their sponsors in order to avoid further atrocities against American civilians ... In my judgment, this new paradigm renders obsolete Geneva's strict limitations on questioning of enemy prisoners and renders quaint some of its provisions.
That was all the legal authority Bush needed. He then secretly gave the CIA what it needed to set up secret detention facilities outside of the U.S. so as to question sources "with unprecedented harshness." This eventually led to systemic torture throughout the U.S.-run prisons in Iraq.
Prison abuse came straight from Bush (05.16.2004)
Next Entry: Michael Moore got three camera crews into Iraq (05.17.2004)
Previous Entry: The Klebolds: Don't forgive us (05.16.2004)
jaf:
The truth of the matter is that only an extremely small percent of US soldiers and prisoners was even involved in this so-called "prisoner abuse scandal." Plus the abuse we perpetrated is nowhere near what a terrorist or Sadam's followers would do to someone who was even an innocent bystander, let alone a prisoner, and the evidence for that is great. Finally, what's a little torture to a killer of innocent people compared to another 9/11? Which sounds better to you? Think about it!!! It's a no brainer to me.
Personally I don't think this went above a few angry American soldiers, certainly not to the White House. But even if it did, you know, it wouldn't bother me at all.
The worst part of the so-called "tortures" (ha) is that studidly pictures were taken and sent out, and the media blew it WAY out of proportion, and again the media has aided and abetted the enemy, resulting in the beheading of Nicholas Berg. Again the media is our worst enemy.
Fri May 28 2004 11:22 AM
Joe Welnack:
JAF, the only thing I can say to you is what our Vice President recently said to a member of the U.S. Senate.
The Geneva Convention is there to protect the rights of all combatants. We have a higher standard to maintain than the terrorists unless we are becoming what we claim to be fighting. The prison abuses are a propaganda goldmine for the terrorists.
Let me ask this rhetorical question; What would the reaction be among the Foxtrot Fascsists and Ditto-heads had American POW's been put in the same type of photos? I doubt it would be downplayed by the folksy fascists from Fox. Rush and all the "little Rush's" would be calling for war crimes trials etc. He who lives by the sword will die by the sword.
Mon Jul 12 2004 5:48 PM
KenMc:
How loud did you complain during Gulf War I, when captured US soldiers (POW's) were tortured, raped, and put on display by IRAQ? You probably said that that treatment "violated the Geneva convention."
As load as you complained then, complain now about America's treatment of its POWs. For they _are_ POW's, not terrorists.
Discover for yourself the truth of this fact:
Many of the prisoners in Al Gahraib and Guantanamo were handed over to the US command _for_ _money_. A stranger walking through town, captured by villagers and sold to the US command for a _huge_ sum of money. No evidence, beyond the villagers word.
Ask yourself this, oh patriotic defender of American anti-terrorist activities: Would your neighbors turn _you_ in, for a million bucks? Would the drug addict down the road, desperate for a fix, turn you in as a terrorist, for money? If he did, would it make you guilty? Would it make it "okay" to mistreat you. I mean, you _must_ be guilty, or you wouldn't be in Guantanamo, right?
THINK, Mr. Conservative, THINK! God gave you a brain: Use it!
We, America, love Freedom and Justice. We have let a moments anger divert us from our cause. THIS is our darkest hour. Let us return to our core values, hallowed words that we have so long lived by, like "Innocent until proven guilty".
Thu Jul 15 2004 4:26 PM
James:
What angry things people have said here. Why not learn instead of being angry?
The US should be held to high standards. Torture is not effective let alone ethical. It is used to increase anarchy and it is being encouraged on a wide scale by the US government and there allies who profit from war. Please see the story of Reuters workers subjected to humiliating sexual abuse by US troops. http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0518-11.htm
Mon Aug 16 2004 11:17 AM
Joe Welnack:
Well folks, FOX has given it's blessing to the appointment of Mr./Judge Chertoff to be the new director of "Homeland Security". Next he should get Baghdad Bob to be his Press Secretary.
Judge Chertoff put a lot of evildoers in jail like "Fat Tony" Salerno. He also penned the "Patriot Act" and basically signed off on using torture on our enemies. Seems to this observer that Judge Chertoff by his very presense at this agency will produce more work for the agency he is about to become head of......the ultimate irony.
In all fairness to Chertoff, he did speak out against some of the civil rights abuses that came about after the Patriot Act came into law. While not a strong supporter of our President I believe he should be able to appoint his accomplices.
Tue Jan 11 2005 10:10 PM
Ricky Neva:
Bush's control is quite evident considering the original article entitled "Put Bush In Prison" was written in 2004 a year ago and has circulated the Internet all year and yet Bush continues his carnage in Iraq and plans for even more wars against the bogey man "terrorism" his excuse to garner profit for his billionaire buddies in the corporate world! Part of the reason for this is obvious and that is a lame Democratic party that is just going along for the ride. When they endorsed that latest multi billion dollar military build up in Iraq that sealed the fate of the two party system in America! I think we need a new form of government and a new kind of leader. We are ripe for revolution!
Sat Jul 23 2005 11:49 PM
Anonymous:
when did the prison system begin
Mon Jan 30 2006 9:34 AM
Anonymous:
when did the prison system begin
Mon Jan 30 2006 9:34 AM
Ricky Neva:
Bush turned the whole fucking world into a prison for all dissidents. He is nothing but a fuck!
Wed Sep 20 2006 6:06 AM
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