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Archive for the 'Torture' Category

Obama Opposes Release Of Additional Abu Gharib Photos?

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Barack, Bush, Obama, Torture, Transparency

A surprising reversal and one I obviously disagree with. This also seriously undermines Obama’s message of transparency and openness…at least in the eyes of Dems. From Wash Post: President Obama has decided to oppose the release of several dozen photos depicting abuse of detainees held in U.S. military custody abroad, reversing his previous position on [...]

May 13th, 2009 | Permalink| 17 Comments »

Bush’s Own Anti-Torture Memo To Be Released

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Bush, Cheney, History, Torture

We all knew this had to happen sooner or later, and it looks like the White House wants to put this issue to bed once and for all. From Wash Post: Government officials familiar with the CIAâ€™s early interrogations say the most powerful evidence of apparent excesses is contained in the â€œtop secretâ€ May 7, [...]

May 11th, 2009 | Permalink| 2 Comments »

Torture and Secrecy

By Mark Thompson | Related entries in The War On Terrorism, Torture

A couple nights ago, the original Post-Modern Conservative James Poulos, Scott Payne and I spent a few dozen minutes discussing torture – how our thoughts on the issue have evolved, why prosecutions and/or truth commissions aren’t such an easy call, and most importantly why the aspect of the torture program that is most troubling is [...]

May 1st, 2009 | Permalink| No Comments »

Fox News: Khalid Sheik Mohammed Not Waterboarded THAT Much

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Media, The War On Terrorism, Torture, Transparency

Just for future reference, what you’re seeing above is considered a “pour.” You’ll need that information to weave your way through the mine field presented here by Fox News. Let the apologizing begin… A U.S. official with knowledge of the interrogation program told FOX News that the much-cited figure represents the number of times water [...]

April 28th, 2009 | Permalink| 9 Comments »

Torture Works? Not So Fast…

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in History, Law, Torture, Transparency

When I read the following I have to ask, “Who’s lying here?” Because haven’t we heard from some pretty high profile folks that these techniques worked, most notably former VP Cheney? I guess maybe Hillary was right. First, from NY Times, what traditional interrogation tactics gave us: Along with another F.B.I. agent, and with several [...]

April 24th, 2009 | Permalink| 8 Comments »

Certainty About Torture

By Mark Thompson | Related entries in Civil Liberties, Law, Terrorism, The War On Terrorism, Torture

First, let me say that I respect Sonny Bunch. A lot. I rarely agree with Sonny, but he is clearly and genuinely interested in engaging those with whom he disagrees. That said, the posts (and subsequent responsive comment) with which E.D. and Mr. Schwenkler take issue is emblematic of something that has been particularly frustrating [...]

April 22nd, 2009 | Permalink| 5 Comments »

Obama Won’t Close the Door on Torture Prosecutions, But We Have to Kick It Open

By Brad Porter | Related entries in Civil Liberties, Obama, Torture, Video

There was some question, with Obama’s statement on the release of the OLC memos, whether he was making a blanket declaration that there would be no prosecution of former torturers or torture-enablers, or whether he was being wishy-washy. Today he was asked again. Wishy washy it is. I take this as, more or less, reassuring. [...]

April 21st, 2009 | Permalink| 36 Comments »

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Was Waterboarded 183 Times In One Month

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in History, Torture, Transparency

That means he was made to feel as if he were drowning an average of 6 times and day for 30 straight days. Kind of puts that whole ticking clock scenario to rest. From Emptywheel: Iâ€™ve put this detail in a series of posts, but it really deserves a full post. According to the May [...]

April 18th, 2009 | Permalink| 34 Comments »

Quote Of The Day – Intelligence

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Law, Quotes, The War On Terrorism, Torture

[...] imagine if an American operative out of uniform were captured by the Iranians tomorrow. Imagine he were put into a coffin for hours with no light and barely enough air to breathe, imagine if he were then removed and smashed against a plywood wall by a towel tied around his neck thirty times, imagine [...]

April 18th, 2009 | Permalink| 13 Comments »

Quote Of The Day – Torture

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in History, Law, Torture

“The United States is a nation of laws. My Administration will always act in accordance with those laws, and with an unshakeable commitment to our ideals. That is why we have released these memos, and that is why we have taken steps to ensure that the actions described within them never take place again.” – [...]

April 16th, 2009 | Permalink| 38 Comments »

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