From the New York Times of 9 Nov 2005
Quote:
Classified Report Warned on C.I.A.'s Tactics in Interrogation
A classified report issued last year by the Central Intelligence Agency's inspector general warned that interrogation procedures approved by the C.I.A. after the Sept. 11 attacks might violate some provisions of the international Convention Against Torture, current and former intelligence officials say.
... A list of 10 techniques authorized early in 2002 for use against terror suspects included one known as waterboarding, and went well beyond those authorized by the military for use on prisoners of war. ...
The report, by John L. Helgerson, the C.I.A.'s inspector general, did not conclude that the techniques constituted torture, which is also prohibited under American law, the officials said. But Mr. Helgerson did find, the officials said, that the techniques appeared to constitute cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment under the convention.
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It meets the defintion of torture even per a UN Resolution approved by the US. And yet somehow it is not torture?
The report continues:
Quote:
They said the report expressed skepticism about the Bush administration view that any ban on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment under the treaty does not apply to C.I.A. interrogations because they take place overseas on people who are not citizens of the United States.
... Among the few known documents that address interrogation procedures and that have been made public is an August 2002 legal opinion by the Justice Department, which said that interrogation methods just short of those that might cause pain comparable to "organ failure, impairment of bodily function or even death" could be allowable without being considered torture.
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It's not torture if we do it overseas. Therefore, we are not torturing people, according to George Jr in Panama. Reports of what constitutes torture and the existence of overseas interrogation bases are really nothing more than exercises? According to an honest president? Which part of that conclusion is not correct?