Most of his fingernails were missing when he arrived at Guantanamo Bay

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A60540-2005Feb28?language=printer

State Dept. Study Cites Torture of Prisoners
Rumsfeld Approved Similar Practices
By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 1, 2005; Page A10


The State Department's annual human rights report released yesterday criticized countries for a range of interrogation practices it labeled as torture, including sleep deprivation for detainees, confining prisoners in contorted positions, stripping and blindfolding them and threatening them with dogs -- methods similar to those approved at times by the Bush administration for use on detainees in U.S. custody.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld approved in December 2002 a number of severe measures, including the stripping of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and using dogs to frighten them. He later rescinded those tactics and signed off on a shorter list of "exceptional techniques," including 20-hour interrogations, face slapping, stripping detainees to create "a feeling of helplessness and dependence," and using dogs to increase anxiety.

The State Department report also harshly attacked the treatment of prisoners in such countries as Syria and Egypt, where the United States has shipped terrorism suspects under a practice known as "rendition." An Australian citizen has alleged that under Egyptian detention he was hung by his arms from hooks, repeatedly shocked, nearly drowned and brutally beaten. Most of his fingernails were missing when he later arrived at Guantanamo Bay.

Bush administration officials have said they never intend for captives to be tortured and seek pledges from foreign governments that they will treat detainees humanely.

Human rights advocates said yesterday the widespread reports of harsh interrogation techniques by the U.S. military and the CIA during the war on terrorism have undermined the moral authority of the United States to comment on human rights abuses in other parts of the world.

[Erika]

1. Bush has killed our moral authority

Rubber stamped by the House and Senate Republicans. I am so ashamed to be an American now. My pride is gone.

[NNN0LHI]

2. kick n/t

[Red Right and BLUE]

3. No words.

i don't know what to do anymore.

[Solly Mack]

4. The State Department is criticizing other countries?

That's rich

America's hypocrisy is infuriating

[Eric J in MN]

7. Maybe it's good. Maybe the State Dept criticisim will prod..

...Americans with conscience into wanting to change our policies even more to be less like Egypt, etc.

The choice is between hypocritically continuing to write a world Human Rights report, or stopping the report, and I think it's better if they keep writing it.

I want an end to degrading, humiliating, and pain-inflicting treatment by the US of prisoners. I've written Congress about that.

But the State Dept can't decide that. They can only decide to write their report or not.

[Solly Mack]

8. If it gets through the disconnect

which I'm doubting


Too many Americans think whatever America does, it does it for the good...so they excuse America's actions while condemning anothers

and reports like this one only feeds that thinking

America uses extraordinary renditon knowing full well the people they send to other countries will be tortured. Then America not only pretends they didn't know this would happen, they actually criticize these countries the day after a compromise on allowing torture is reached between Bush and members of Congress...

the mind reels

just venting...sorry

[Eric J in MN]

9. That Washington Post article emphasizes the disconnect,

fortunately.

[stepnw1f]

5. What a Friday!

Damn.... wow.

[mod mom]

6. what have we become under this monster?

[spooked]

10. This can't be happening...

Tell me this isn't happening...