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Dead Constitution See other Dead Constitution Articles Title: U.S. Explains Itself to U.N. on Torture Charges GENEVA, May 5 — A delegation of American officials came before a United Nations panel on torture today to account for the conduct of the United States in the fight against terrorism since Sept. 11, 2001. The American officials, who were part of an unusually large group sent to deliver a report on the country's compliance with the Convention Against Torture, offered a careful and familiar set of responses to questions that the panel posed. Despite abuses in places like the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, the American officials denied that the government systematically mistreated prisoners and they reiterated a commitment to a global ban on torture. John B. Bellinger III, the legal adviser to the State Department, who led the delegation, said that criticism of United States policy has become "so hyperbolic as to be absurd." He added: "I would ask you not to believe every allegation that you have heard." Speaking before the United Nation's Committee Against Torture, he also reiterated the "absolute commitment" of the United States to eradicating torture globally and said the abuses that took place at Abu Ghraib were isolated incidents that have been, or will be, investigated and punished. But the United Nations legal experts charged with ensuring that nations keep their commitments under the Convention Against Torture appeared skeptical. Fernando Mariño Menéndez of Spain cited data from human rights groups that of 600 United States personnel alleged to have been involved in the torture or murder of prisoners, only 10 received prison terms of a year or more. The 10-member committee raised a number of other concerns, which the delegation is to respond to in detail on Monday. They include Washington's reported policy of sending prisoners for questioning to countries with poor human rights records, and the role of controversial interrogation techniques like "waterboarding," in which prisoners are led to believe they are going to drown. By sending its delegation here, the Bush administration was trying to restore credibility to its program for treating prisoners by affirming support for the Convention Against Torture, a treaty outlawing prisoner abuse that was signed by Washington more than a decade ago. Under provisions of the treaty, the 140 signatories must periodically submit reports and appear before the United Nations to show they are applying the rules. "The timing of our report comes at a difficult time for the United States," Mr. Bellinger said, referring to recent prisoner abuse scandals, reported kidnappings and the severe treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. "But we did not shy away from coming." However, Gabor Rona, legal director for Human Rights First International, a nongovernmental group, said the American delegation "failed to resolve serious questions about the U.S. commitment to fully implement Congress's recently enacted ban on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment." Among concerns of human rights watchdogs, who are watching the Geneva meetings intently, Mr. Rona said, was the American delegation's reiteration that it does not feel restricted by the convention from sending prisoners for questioning in countries where they could face torture. Investigators for the European Parliament said last month that they had evidence the C.I.A. had flown 1,000 undeclared flights over Europe since 2001, in some cases transporting terrorism suspects kidnapped within the European Union to countries using torture. The practice is known as "rendition." Mr. Bellinger said it was an "absurd insinuation" that all of these planes carried terrorism suspects. In cases where the American government has sent prisoners to countries with poor rights records — a policy the administration defends, saying it helps to get dangerous individuals out of the United States — it seeks assurances they will not be tortured, Mr. Bellinger added. The panel was dubious. "The very fact that you are asking for diplomatic assurances means you are in doubt," said the committee's chairman, Andreas Mavrommatis. Mr. Bellinger gave an hour-and-a-half response to specific questions raised by the committee late last year in a 59-point report, in which he defended the decision of the United States not to grant prisoners held in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and in Afghanistan and Iraq rights under the Geneva conventions. Terrorist suspects could pose a threat to security if allowed to meet with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, as stipulated by the Geneva Conventions, Mr. Bellinger said. The delegation from the four government departments did not include anyone from the Central Intelligence Agency. Mr. Bellinger said he was not authorized to talk about any intelligence activities that the Committee Against Torture inquired about in its report. The committee said it had received evidence the United States "has established secret detention facilities, including on-board vessels, and holds unacknowledged detainees with no access to I.C.R.C., no notification of families, no oversight with regard to their treatment and, in most cases, no acknowledgment that they are even being held." An expert from Senegal, Guibril Camara, said it was the committee's interpretation — not that of the United States — that would set the global definition of torture. "One of the parties is going to have to give way," Mr. Camara said. "And I think it's probably going to have to be you." Other experts pressed the United States to be more explicit on Monday in defining torture. "Where would you put 'waterboarding' or other forms of inhuman treatment?" Xuexian Wang of China asked. Mr. Bellinger did not go into detail about specific interrogation techniques used by American personnel, but said: "All components of the U.S. government are required to act in compliance with the law."
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#1. To: Zipporah (#0)
Pathetic. The delegation from the four government departments did not include anyone from the Central Intelligence Agency. Odd, when we sent so many. I suspect they just won't admit any are.
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. – George Washington "If the president made us go to war with Iraq, why doesn't he go over there and fight the war?" Christian May [6th grader] We all know that the US conducts "joy rides" all the time. Just pickup anyone, "bag" 'em, inject 'em, and give them a "ride." What's the problem? They even like it!
...another Mogambo day
I'd like to know if he'd let me "waterboard" him. Just for for the hell of it. I'm sure that he'd find it to be not an unusual experience. I don't what to discover any "information:" I'd just like to do it. For fun. I mean, it ain't torture, right?
...another Mogambo day
They admitted that they tortured 29 people to death. Which means there are hundreds they will never admit. Anyone who tortured someone to death should be hanged in public. Period.
and they tortured the children of detainees too
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. – George Washington "If the president made us go to war with Iraq, why doesn't he go over there and fight the war?" Christian May [6th grader] |
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