McClatchy: In voiding suit, appellate court says torture is to be expected

[maddezmom]

By Greg Gordon | McClatchy Newspapers
Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 email | print tool nameclose
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WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court Friday threw out a suit by four British Muslims who allege that they were tortured and subjected to religious abuse in the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a ruling that exonerated 11 present and former senior Pentagon officials.

It appeared to be the first time that a federal appellate court has ruled on the legality of the harsh interrogation tactics that U.S. intelligence officers and military personnel have used on suspected terrorists held outside the United States since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The detainees allege that they were held in stress positions, interrogated for sessions lasting 24 hours, intimidated with dogs and isolated in darkness and that their beards were shaved.

The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the detainees captured in Afghanistan aren't recognized as ``persons'' under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act because they were aliens held outside the United States. The Religious Freedom Act prohibits the government from ``substantially burdening a person's religion.''

more:http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/24654.html

[ixion]

1. very sad

pathetic, in fact.

[Demeter]

2. That Just Makes No Sense

The Congress and the Dicktator may think that Habeus Corpus is suspended, but there are still international treaties that this torture violated.

There is no way, without bringing the entire legal system into anarchy, that this can be accommodated.

The Supremes will have to address it, and finally, FINALLY, we will either get our nation of laws back, or we will have the basis to impeach, convict and remove the Supremes.

[Briar]

3. So this is a licence

for Americans to torture. How utterly disgraceful. Fans of Jack Bauer will be punching the air (if no muslim is available) though.

"``It is an awful day for the rule of law and common decency,'' said Lewis, the detainees' attorney, ``when a court finds that torture is all in a day's work for the secretary of defense and senior generals. . . . I think the executive is trying to create a black hole so there is no accountability for torture and religious abuse.''

[Doctor_J]

4. Pretty soon someone will be murdered for having an anti-Bush bumper sticker

and eventually the appeal will reach a fascist judge who will release the murderer. The judiciary's packed with Anti-American fascists and must be cleaned out before we're ever going to reclaim the country.