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Interrogation Memos Reveal Rough Treatment of Detainees
The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday released four Office of Legal Counsel opinions that describe interrogation techniques used by the Central Intelligence Agency during the Bush administration.
Politico reported that White House senior adviser David Axelrod said President Barack Obama spent a month trying to decide whether to release the memos about the techniques.
In a letter to the officers of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), posted on the agency's Web site, Obama thanked them for their service to the country. He said he made the decision the night before to allow the Justice Department to release the memos.
"I did not make this decision lightly," he wrote in the letter. "As you may know, the release is part of an ongoing court case. I have fought for the principle that the United States must carry out covert activities and hold information that is classified for the purpose of national security and will do so again in the future. But the release of these memos is required by our commitment to the rule of law."
Obama said that while he has prohibited use of the interrogation techniques described in the memo since he took office, he and Attorney General Eric Holder would "protect all who acted reasonably and relied upon legal advice from the Department of Justice that their actions were lawful." Holder affirmed this in a Thursday news release from the Department of Justice.
The individuals in the CIA who carried out the harsh interrogation actions will not be prosecuted, or so Obama says. Will anyone?
Although most of the information described in the memos was already known in general terms by the public, reading the details about interrogation methods is chilling.
One of the memos is signed by Jay S. Bybee, a Justice Department official at the time, and addressed to CIA attorney John A. Rizzo, dated Aug. 1, 2002. The memo states that the proposed interrogation techniques described in the memo would not violate U.S. law prohibiting torture.
The prisoner being discussed is Abu Zubaydah, believed to be a high ranking member of al Qaeda. "The interrogation team is certain that he has additional information that he refuses to divulge," the memo says. In order to obtain this information, the CIA desired to move the interrogations to the "increased pressure phase."
The interrogators wished to use 10 techniques, the memo says, including cramped confinement, placing insects in a confinement box, facial slapping and and escalation to waterboarding. I think everyone knows what waterboarding is by now. "Walling" is a new one I haven't heard of, but it involves a flexible false wall and the interrogator pulling the prisoner forward, then quickly pushing him back toward the wall, which will make a loud noise to shock the individual, thereby creating a sensation which seems like it would be akin to being in a car crash.
The memo concluded that walling was okay, and that this technique, like the nine others listed in the memo, did not qualify as torture: "You have informed us that the sound of hitting the wall will actually be far worse than any possible injury to the individual. ... While it may hurt to be pushed against the wall, any pain experienced is not of the intensity associated with serious physical injury."
CIA Director Leon E. Panetta sent a letter to CIA employees Thursday reaffirming that he would oppose any efforts to punish those members of the CIA who followed the guidance of the Justice Department.
"Although this Administration has now put into place new policies that CIA is implementing, the fact remains that CIA's detention and interrogation effort was authorized and approved by our government," Panetta wrote.
This is true, but at some point, shouldn't someone have stood up to say, this is the United States? This isn't right?
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Gregory Dittmer
5:20PM 5:20PM Apr 17th 2009
Sure Saddam Hussein was vicious, perhaps he was even the Devil incarnate... but just how does HIS evil make it right for US to do the same thing!?!
Why did we prosecute and hang members of the Nazi for some of the very same things that Bush/Cheney have done!?!
Why is it wrong for OTHERS to do something, yet it is fine and dandy when WE do the same thing!?!
I'm sorry, but if we charge others with a crime, WE should also be charged if we do the same thing... what so many people propose is akin to a police officer killing someone in cold blood or stealing or selling drugs getting a nod and a wink!
Bush43 was a man that saw EVERYTHING in black and white, good or evil, right or wrong with no gray areas or considerations... so why is it bad for Saddam Hussein to torture a person, yet its fine and dandy if Bush43 orders the same thing? Wrong is wrong no matter WHO does it!
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Annee
8:46PM 8:46PM Apr 17th 2009
To the headline I say - so what? These little terrorists should know that if you lie down with dogs you wake up with fleas.
The question Obama, or anyone for that matter, should answer is " If we get a tip that a high profile family is going to be murdered and we catch one of the suspected gang members, how far are you willing to go to save your wife and children?" How about someone else's family? How about a whole city? or the Senate?
Even bad information can produce leads.
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Annee
8:45PM 8:45PM Apr 17th 2009
I heard some dimwit on Fox today say, Well, if torture worked, we would have Osama. and I say, BS. If the people they persuaded didn't know where he is, then we wouldn't have Osama would we?
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Ed
8:46PM 8:46PM Apr 17th 2009
Beheading isn't torture?
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fed up
9:25PM 9:25PM Apr 17th 2009
You bunch of cringing cowards! I went thru worse in basic training and college! You stinking lefties have the gall to ask "why is it OK for us but not for them? Turn it around, you bunch of cringing freaks! Every response from you chicken shit punks concerning your abhorrent behavior is the same old mantra: Bush did it first! If you losers truly believe that two wrongs don't make a right, then be consistent. If you are unhappy with America, then leave. I'm sure the thugs you so vigorously defend would love to have you. Your parents should be ashamed of you cowards!
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Gregory Dittmer
10:32PM 10:32PM Apr 17th 2009
fed up
9:25PM 9:25PM Apr 17th 2009
You stinking lefties have the gall to ask "why is it OK for us but not for them? Turn it around, you bunch of cringing freaks! Every response from you chicken shit punks concerning your abhorrent behavior is the same old mantra: Bush did it first! If you losers truly believe that two wrongs don't make a right, then be consistent. If you are unhappy with America, then leave. I'm sure the thugs you so vigorously defend would love to have you. Your parents should be ashamed of you cowards!
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Do you feel this way about EVERYONE with which you disagree?!
What would be the point of turning it around? Do you actually believe two wrongs make a right?
Who is claiming "Bush did it first" and about what?
WE are consistent, torture is wrong no matter WHO does it!
You know what? I don't have to leave if I don't like it, that is why I vote. Besides, I have a constitutional right to speak my mind even if you don't like what I have to say.
NO ONE here is vigorously defending ANYONE. There is a distinct difference between thinking torture is wrong no matter who does it and defending or advocating for any individual or their ideals and goals. The acts of the "thugs" has nothing to do with our moral values and how we choose to treat even the scum of the earth.
Defending a belief and standing your ground in the face of adversity is not cowardice. A cowardly person would shrug from a conflict rather than state their case and stand their ground despite the vitriol that flows from people like you... and, BTW, my parents were very proud of me.
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fed up
9:34PM 9:34PM Apr 17th 2009
Gregory Dittmer, FoCK YOU, you stinking coward!!
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Gregory Dittmer
10:45PM 10:45PM Apr 17th 2009
fed up
9:34PM 9:34PM Apr 17th 2009
Gregory Dittmer, FoCK YOU, you stinking coward!!
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You call me a coward, yet you hide behind some half assed moniker like "fed up!"
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Gregory Dittmer
10:55PM 10:55PM Apr 17th 2009
fed up
9:34PM 9:34PM Apr 17th 2009
Gregory Dittmer, FoCK YOU, you stinking coward!!
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You call me a coward, yet you hide behind some half assed moniker like "fed up!"
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Gregory Dittmer
11:31PM 11:31PM Apr 17th 2009
fed up
9:34PM 9:34PM Apr 17th 2009
Gregory Dittmer, FoCK YOU, you stinking coward!!
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You call me a coward, yet you hide behind some half a$$ed moniker like "fed up!"
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Gregory Dittmer
10:34PM 10:34PM Apr 17th 2009
fed up
9:34PM 9:34PM Apr 17th 2009
Gregory Dittmer, FoCK YOU, you stinking coward!!
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You think I am a coward, yet YOU hide behind some half assed moniker!?!
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The User
10:52PM 10:52PM Apr 17th 2009
This whole thing is a bit of a farce. Are our enemies suddenly going to decide that we're not so bad after all?
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BJV
11:37PM 11:37PM Apr 17th 2009
WONDER WHAT THE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S LAST THOUGHTS WERE WHEN THEY DIED ON 9/11?
WHAT WAS DANIEL PEARL'S LAST THOUGHT BEFORE HE WAS BEHEADED? WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK OF LIVING IN A COUNTRY THAT'S NOT BOMBED DAILY-WHERE YOU CAN WORK FREELY- GO TO SCHOOL FREELY-PROTEST FREELY?
THOSE MONSTERS WERE'NT TORTURED ENOUGH!
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TRogers
1:36AM 1:36AM Apr 18th 2009
Listen to all these big macho tough guys on this board mouthing inanities about being tough. America means more than your inadequate manhood. America is about fair-play and being above tactics used by Nazis. Read George Washington's orders banning torture.
When those two journalists were arrested by North Korea, and we asked if they were tortured, the North Koreans replied- Guantanamo.
AL Qaeda uses anger about our torturing to recruit suicide bombers to kill our men and women.
If you think torture is a good idea, you are a Bad American and should leave.
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Hank
2:47AM 2:47AM Apr 18th 2009
Tanya>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You are the personification of ignorance. If you make a statement be prepared with evidence to prove it. Otherwise, it is merely words that mean nothing but your ignorant opinion.
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Oil Lover
8:04AM 8:04AM Apr 18th 2009
I am sure people are lining up to work for our country at the C.I.A. after seeing that the Executive branch will throw them under the bus at a moments notice.
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Gregory Dittmer
7:10PM 7:10PM Apr 18th 2009
Where did I say a Nazi was hung for slapping a prisoner? Your attempt to minimize and downplay the actions our people have done is demeaning in itself! If ALL we did was slap one or two of them, it really wouldn't amount to torture.
Article 1 of United Nations Convention Against Torture, to which this nation has signed and ratified describes torture as... Any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him... information or a confession, punishing him for an act he... has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him.
As far as I am concerned I believe the use of isolation, tightly confined spaces for prolonged periods and forcing someone to hold a painful position for long periods are mild forms of torture. Whenever these tactics were used against Americans, it was considered torture. However, water boarding is definitely getting into real torture just as beating someone to death, as was done to some in Abu Gharaib. Urinating on a prisoner, beating with metal batons, pouring acid on prisoners, sodomizing with a baton, punching so hard the prisoner required CPR to revive... all of these things have been done by OUR people and ALL of this IS torture!
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Oil Lover
8:24PM 8:24PM Apr 18th 2009
Please read the entire UN Convention Against Torture... These are not prisoners of war. Water boarding... lions and tigers and bears oh my... These are not our friends and should be treated accordingly
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Gregory Dittmer
8:46PM 8:46PM Apr 18th 2009
Oil Lover
8:24PM 8:24PM Apr 18th 2009
Please read the entire UN Convention Against Torture... These are not prisoners of war.
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OH... so since Bush43 labeled them "enemy combatant" torture is okay?
Well isn't that just so convenient... all anyone need do is CALL someone ANYTHING other than a soldier and they can do whatever they want to them.
Well then, I guess it was okay for the Iraqis to mutilate and hang the burned bodies of "contractors" since they were not soldiers wearing a uniform.
Your attempts to use ANY method possible to justify the torture of people is disgusting and incredibly shameful for anyone calling themself an American!
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Gregory Dittmer
8:50PM 8:50PM Apr 18th 2009
Oil Lover
8:24PM 8:24PM Apr 18th 2009
These are not our friends and should be treated accordingly
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Well using THAT "logic," everyone should stop whining about those klilled on 9/11... after all, those killed were not the friends of the hijackers so they were justified in doing anything they please.
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