Our Government Has Admitted to the Torture of Detainees

We in America have been subject to on onslaught of debate of late on the general subject of torture. Or as the current vernacular suggests, "enhanced interrogation techniques". Much of the general thinking pouring forth has to do with the effectivness of these "techniques". Any human, no matter how strong, and brave, and dedicated can be brought to say anything, to save unbearable pain, or threats to his family.

Indeed many now suggest that much of the information derived from the pain evoked had already been devulged at more common interrogation. Remember police and Federal investigators have been learning for decades how to extract information.

In any case, I present here some insight into the methods actually used by our government in their effort to react to the September 11 attacks.

In some instances, I read, the prisoner is subjected to emotional termoil - being told his children will die or are dead, this in conjunction with physical pain - long periods of forced standing, or of being strapped in unbearabe positions. There will be debate regarding the duration of this form of pain. Consider the photos of Zacharias Mousauri, hooded, chained to a wall, with arms outstetched to the side.

It is documented that in subjects in American Prisons have been forced to perform nude, or in Womens cloths. Included in my research was the mention of "forced transvestitism, and forced homosexual acts on other prisoners." This to deeply religious Muslims who in their private lives pray daily and dedicate their lives to the Supreme Being.

From the Chicago Sun Times: "...Mu hammed Al-Kahtan was forced to stand naked in front of a female interrogator, forced to wear women's underwear, and perform "dog tricks' on a leash, for 18 to 20 hours/day, for 48 of 54 days."

Friday, December 08, 2006 WASHINGTON - Outgoing Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld is asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit that would hold him personally responsible for allegations of torture in overseas military prisons.
The lawsuit, filed by two civil rights groups, describes the imprisonment of nine foreigners detained in Iraq and Afghanistan. The lawsuit contends the men were beaten, suspended upside down from the ceiling by chains, urinated on, shocked, sexually humiliated, burned, locked inside boxes and subjected to mock executions.

BREMEN, Germany (Reuters) : Murat Kurnaz "...Kurnaz (Murat Kurnaz - a Turk) was dubbed the "Bremen Taliban" because he was born in Germany and was in the process of becoming a German citizen when he was arrested in Pakistan in late 2001.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said an agreement on the release of Kurnaz had come after a long negotiations between the U.S. and German governments.
"He was tortured. We just found out yesterday that for nine months he was kept permanently under a bright light round the clock. This light was never switched off,"

As we have learned, waterboarding has been used to elicit information from suspected terrorists. The victim has his legs elevated to partially prevent water from entering his lungs and stomach. He is then brought to or near to unconsciousness (drowning). Then he is revived, allowed three of fout breaths, and drowned again. Memos recently released indicate that this is only allowable for about 20 minutes.

Also in those memos:
"..You have orally informed us that you would not deprive Zubaydah of sleep for more than eleven days at a time and that you have previously kept him awake for 72 hours, from which no mental or physical harm resulted."

There have been continued referrences to "rendition' - a suspect is transported to a foreign nation willing to participate, and the interogators are instructed to deliver the information, but don't tell us how you did it" These rumors may be unsubstanciated. Surely if the suspected terrorist survived, the truth will come out.

I have shared my limited research. James R. Lowell wrote:
"Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision, offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever, 'twixt that darkness and that light."