Psychologists Face Guantanamo Abuse Claim

[Elmore Furth]

Source: Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Two Army psychologists helped perpetrate abuse of detainees at Guantanamo Bay including sleep deprivation and sexual humiliation, according to complaints filed Wednesday by human rights groups trying to have the psychologists' state licenses revoked.

The San Francisco-based Center for Justice & Accountability filed a complaint against Dr. John Leso with the New York Office of the Professions, alleging professional misconduct. Leso led a behavioral science consultation team at Guantanamo in 2002 and 2003.

In June 2007, 350 members of the American Psychological Association signed an open letter to its then-President Sharon Brehm requesting an investigation of James and other members of the association who served at Guantanamo Bay.

The association didn't investigate, but in 2008 it voted to ban its members from taking part in interrogations at the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and other military detention sites where it believes international law is being violated.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/07/07/us/AP-US-Guantanamo-Psychologists.html?_r=1&ref=news

---

Torture is torture.

[Angry Dragon]

1. They did nothing more than bush

How come bush and cheney are not behind bars??

[rpannier]

2. This is not a criminal trial

This is an administrative hearing before the Board to revoke their licenses

[Angry Dragon]

3. I understood that

My question was if it is not illegal for the president and vice president why should it be a problem for anyone to do torture.

Why should anyone be held to a higher standard than the president?? That is all I am asking.

[rpannier]

4. My apologies

There are many here who read the Subject line, never bothering to read any further and then make a comment

I apologize for having put you in that category

Again, my apologies

:fistbump:

[Angry Dragon]

5. Nothing to apologize for

I just want the people who work for us(our employees-the government) to take a stand for humanity.

[No Elephants]

17. No one said it was not illegal for Bush and Cheney to torture, only that

no one was going to take any action against them or their lawyers, esteemed law professor Yoo and esteemed U.S. Circuit of Appeals Judge Bybee, not even a complaint the respective bar associations of Yoo and Bybee.

[No Elephants]

16. I saw nothing in the OP about an admin. hearing, either, only a complaint by a human rights group.

[roguevalley]

7. because Obama said we must reflect on this and ... he did. He

just believes reflection ends at the rank of five star general. The independent boards out there will do what the white house doesn't have the balls to do.

[Divine Discontent]

9. preach it, RV! totally spot ON n/t

[cstanleytech]

14. Thats your opinion.

I'm not defending Bush though so keep that in mind please, I think he should be in prison with Cheney personally but Obama is in no win position.
He gets gets derided for not doing anything about Bush and Cheney by some people here like you who claim its because he doesnt have the balls but if he had ordered an investigation that led to a prosecution the republicans would have been able to use it as a lightening rod to decimate the democrats and ride it all the way to the whitehouse in 2012.

[No Elephants]

18. five+ things:

1/ Courage is not a synonym for testicles, or vice versa.

2 AFAIK, most here who criticize Obama for not prosecuting crimes against humanity that at least one treaty to which our nation is party REQUIRES us to prosecute do not claim it was lack of courage that motivated Obama.

3/a/ By not prosecuting, we've set a precedent that Presidents can violate domestic and international law with impunity, a very bad preceden By not prosecuting, we've set a precedent that Presidents can violate domestic and international law with impunity..

3/b/ I'd cut off my arm before marking a ballot for a Republican. And I never took an oath at my inauguration to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Yet, I value the rule of law and our Constitution above all else in this nation.

4/ "if he had ordered an investigation that led to a prosecution the republicans would have been able to use it as a lightening rod to decimate the democrats and ride it all the way to the whitehouse in 2012."

Fine, as long as you get that the above quote from your post is only your speculation about Obama's reason for not prosecuting and your assumption about what would happen if he did prosecute. That does not make it either (a) Obama's actual reason for not prosecuting or (b) an accurate prediction if what would actually happen if he did prosecute.

As to what would actually have happened if an investigation and prosecution would have occurred, if handled properly, we might have had Independents tarring and feathering Bushco and all their apologists, as well as gathering respect for Obama and other Democrats. (Remember, Cheney had a 9% approval rating when he left office and it has risen since.)

As long as we're both only speculating, I choose the scenario that shows up in my crystal ball.


5/ No matter what, honoring Dummya in any way, including by appointing him and Clinton to go to Haiti was, IMO, beyond the pale.

[Divine Discontent]

19. #5 is so painful to reflect on - I cannot believe that was done, thinking back. ICK

I know there's much more troubling issues in the world, but giving honor and notoriety to B*sh as a Humanitarian, when he is nothing of the sort, was one of the worst symbolic actions done yet by the WH.

[EFerrari]

20. Before he can green light DOJ, he needs to shut down the blacks sites

still in operation under his administration.

[Divine Discontent]

8. you know the answer... I don't wanna say it... but I must.

we need to look forward.


:rofl:

[Angry Dragon]

10. i am sorry you had to say that ... I know it took a great deal of inner strength

However, most people know that if you do not deal with the garbage from the old relationship
you are bound to screw up the new relationship.

Time to throw the garbage in jail.

Otherwise people will use the bush defense. I believe this may turn into a legal precedent.
If someone has information you need then you are free to torture them and use the bush defense
as a legal defense. Works for me. :evilgrin:

[defendandprotect]

6. "Above all do not harm" --- They should face prosecution . . .!!

[avaistheone1]

11. +1000

[Capitalocracy]

12. American Psychological Association ftw

I'm glad to see they're at least doing their job even if our government won't. Now that they've decided that being homosexual isn't a psychological disorder and being a woman doesn't automatically make you crazy, they're starting to look pretty good.

[EFerrari]

21. Actually, Reisner led an insurgency within the APA

against the APA's providing cover for torture. The APA and the Pentagon are in bed together.

ETA: Reisner is the one who filed the suit in New York.

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/7/8/military_psychologists_face_complaints_with_licensing

:hi:

[Solly Mack]

13. k/r

[Drops_not_Dope]

15. OUTRAGE these 2 still have a license

Do a google of Dr. Trudy Bond + James if you want a lot of information and background on some of the origins of this case.


And yes, Torture is Torture regardless of where it takes place.

[Elmore Furth]

22. AP: Psychology Board Back CIA Detainees Abuse Claim

In the first letter of it's kind in history, the American Board of Psychologists stated that the allegations against Dr. James Mitchell represent "patently unethical" actions inconsistent with the organization's ethics guidelines and constitute a basis for expulsion from the APA.

Mitchell is a retired Air Force psychologist allegedly advocated severe cold, food and sleep deprivation, confinement in a narrow box and a simulated form of drowning known as waterboarding, according to the complaint filed with the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- U.S. psychologists have been warned by their professional group not to take part in torturing enemy combatants.

Now the American Psychological Association has taken the unprecedented step of supporting an attempt to strip the license of a psychologist accused of overseeing the torture of a CIA detainee.

The APA has told a Texas licensing board in a letter mailed July 1 that the allegations against Dr. James Mitchell represent ''patently unethical'' actions inconsistent with the organization's ethics guidelines.

If any psychologist who was a member of the APA were found to have committed the acts alleged against Mitchell, ''he or she would be expelled from the APA membership,'' according to the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. APA spokeswoman Rhea Farberman confirmed its contents.


Psychology Board Back CIA Detainees Abuse Claim