Torture ban does not affect U.S. military, says Rumsfeld

[lovuian]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=1593846ed977afed

During an interview on the Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor," Rumsfeld said the arrangement has no implications for the Department of Defense because the military always has maintained the amendment's standards. The military has had rules requiring humane treatment of detainees "from the beginning," he said.

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I feel like I'm in Bush land where the Truth is just buried over and over again ...

but eventually it floats to the Top Rumsy...Abu Ghahib...

[ellenfl]

1. it doesn't affect the military because

they are in the process of amending their torture rules.

ellen fl

[spindrifter]

2. What no one is talking about is the obvious.

Americans may not be able to employ torture, but I haven't seen anything that says we can't outsource it. Of the contracts DoD has signed for overseas work, a huge number are with companies headquartered elsewhere. A huge number are British--lords and masters of torture.

[lovuian]

5. Its freakin unbelievable... These guys WIll DO what they DAMN

well want to do even if Congress puts a ban on it...

[spindrifter]

7. It's all part of the neocon superiority

complex. Remember, they know what is best for everyone else. Kinda like people who think their religion is the only one that has it right.

[leftchick]

18. I think the neocons LIKE torture

much like saddam did. It is not for our good, have they ever done anything to make us more safe? No, I believe they just enjoy knowing that they can and are torturing people.

[IChing]

9. They opened a new monument in NY for Rumsfeld

[lovuian]

13. LOL!!! that says it all

Thanks great pic

[The Wielding Truth]

24. Oh that is so sad .Our great america through the eyes of many.

[bluestateguy]

3. The Bush Administration gets to interpret the law

Which is to say that they'll say it isn't torture if they only knaw off two fingers, as opposed to three.

I'm not excited about this McCain amendment because it's meaningless as long as the Bush team has the administrative power to interpret the law.

[lovuian]

6. Its just republicans scrambling for cover... Rumsfeld is scrambling

too...

[primavera]

10. That's my main concern as well

So we outlaw "cruel and unusual" treatment of detainees, but who decides what constitutes "cruel and unusual," who monitors to see whether those standards are being upheld, and who enforces the law against violators? The administration? They'll just say that roasting a person on a spit over an open fire while tearing out their fingernails with pliers doesn't rise to the level of "cruel and unusual." Besides, all of their actions are top secret, so how is anyone ever going to know about it?

[mike_c]

4. that's why the military intelligence guys always leave the room...

...after they help the CIA guys get the prisoner into an "interrogation position." They aid and abet torture, but they try to maintain professional standards-- and avoid direct culpability.

[Porcupine]

8. America!! We're the torture people.

Brand America is living large I'm telling you. Somebody should really tell Don Rumsfeild that the citizens of the nation he mangles are now pariahs overseas.

Your rich friends may have noticed that nobodies buying the "I'm Canadian" ploy anymore either. As long as this continues U.S. citizens have to either walk around foriegn countries babbling anti-Bush invective or get treated as lepers.

Thanks Guys!!!

[cliss]

14. Can you imagine?

I'm supposed to go on a trade tour next spring. This will be as a group traveling with the State Department. We're going to India to market "American agricultural products", like fruit, nuts, things that we produce here in the U.S.

We'll be going to other countries, as well.

What are they going to think of us? Are they going to spit on us, hurl insults as they walk by, ignoring our really nice quality products. Because we're god-damned torturers.

Damn that Bush to hell.

[Porcupine]

16. Nah, they'll just hear just a little bit less than what you say.

The reports I hear are that when people have a chance to talk to you and find where you stand they are ok with you. If you are in the position of being a generic American where political discussion isn't topical that's another thing.

You will wait for everthing just a bit longer than the people around you. Then you will be hurried to the door when transactions are complete. If you are trying to sell a product that depends upon quality, brand identification or value-added factors to make sales expect resistance.

You are BTW probably representing items from my region; almonds, walnuts, pistachios and rice from Butte County CA. Get us a good price please.

[cliss]

22. Thank you for the awesome tip.

Yes, I will do my best. We'll be going to 3 countries; India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Thanks also for the encouragement. Our products are awesome. I just wish that we had better leadership.

I'll check into Butte County!

[Occulus]

15. In most places, saying his name and then spitting would seem to be

a good way to get the point across, quickly.

[Wordie]

11. It's this kinda stuff that makes me feel unsafe. Why wouldn't a terrorist

hate us, given these kinds of statements and actions.

[rodeodance]

12. excuse me Rummy===but as I recall- all this torture crap STARTED

with the military.

[TheGunslinger]

17. If Rummy were to take a polygraph test...

they'd need a dozen backup needles and a 55-gallon drum of ink to handle the lies.

[Solly Mack]

19. The rules are already in place, yes. It's the following of the rules

that's the problem.

Rummy - the truth torturer.

[oneinok]

20. I can't believe this is America

I feel like I am in Nazi Germany.

[54anickel]

21. McCain-Bush “anti-torture” measure gives legal cover for continued abuse

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/dec2005/tort-d17.shtml

snip>

The basic aim of the agreement reached between McCain and Bush is to provide a new legal and public relations cover behind which Washington will continue to abduct individuals and hold them indefinitely, maintain a network of secret prisons, and torture and abuse detainees.

This is underscored by both the language of the “compromise” amendment and other measures taken in conjunction with it. In working out the agreement with the White House, McCain agreed to include a provision to allow CIA officials accused of torture to argue in court that they had a reasonable belief they were following legal orders. This will serve to undermine any attempts to prosecute those who carry out torture.

There are other loopholes in the amendment. The only language that places explicit limits on the methods allowed states that no person under the control of the Department of Defense “shall be subject to any treatment or technique of interrogation not authorized by and listed in the United States Army Field Manual on Intelligence Interrogation.”

Even as the agreement between McCain and the Bush administration was being negotiated, the Pentagon was busy revising the Army Field Manual, undoubtedly to give a green light to torture and other abusive measures. The New York Times reported December 13 that the Pentagon had approved a secret addendum to the manual concerning interrogation procedures. Army officials have refused to release details on what methods are authorized, however “some military officials said the new guidelines could give the impression that the Army was pushing the limits on legal interrogation,” the Times wrote.

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[lovuian]

23. Bingo... In other words there is the Appearance that we are not

for torture but business goes on like before which Rumsfeld is saying...
Being in the Military sucks right now... following these evil men

its like being put in a terrible position...

I feel for our men and women there and my nephew just signed up for the marines...

what a bittersweet moment... He goes to serve his country but his leader is like hitler...I so know how the Germans felt...

and don't tell me Bush isn't
He has his Gestapo SS and his secret prisons... and no country is stopping him either...