Tuesday, 15 June 2004

Despicable crimes. Tim Dunlop at The Road to Surfdom reminds us that the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is coming up on June 26th.

He also links to this…

"Yet torture continues to be practiced around the world by rogue regimes whose cruel methods match their determination to crush the human spirit. Beating, burning, rape, and electric shock are some of the grisly tools such regimes use to terrorize their own citizens. These despicable crimes cannot be tolerated by a world committed to justice."

— George W. Bush, June 26th, 2003.

…and to this.

"You have asked for our Office's views regarding the standards of conduct under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or punishment as implemented by Sections 2340-2340A of title 18 of The United States Code. As we understand it, this question has arisen in the context of the conduct of interrogations outside of the United States. We conclude below that […] certain acts may be cruel, inhuman, or degrading, but still not produce pain and suffering of the requisite intensity to fall within Section 2340A's proscription against torture. We conclude by examining the possible defenses that would negate any claim that certain interrogation methods violate the statute."

— Alberto Gonzales, Counsel to George W. Bush, August 1st, 2002.

He knew that it was happening, and he knew that it was wrong. Read the whole thing.

- Posted by Scott Forbes at 11:40 am. comments.