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Title: Obama: CIA interrogators won't face charges
Source:
USA Today
URL Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washin ... -04-16-cia-waterboarding_N.htm
Published: Apr 17, 2009
Author: Richard Wolf and Peter Eisler
Post Date: 2009-04-17 12:47:23 by Rotara
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Keywords: None
Views: 1004
Comments: 57
Interrogation techniques approved in 2002 by the Justice Department and detailed in memos released Thursday: Attention grasp: "Grasping the individual with both hands, one hand on each side of the collar opening, in a controlled and quick motion." Walling: A fake, flexible wall is built, and the suspect is pulled forward and "then quickly and firmly" pushed against the wall. "The idea is to create a sound that will make the impact seem far worse than it is." Facial grasp: "Used to hold the head immobile. One open palm is placed on either side of the individual's face." Insult slap: "The purpose of the facial slap is to induce shock, surprise and/or humiliation." Cramped confinement: The suspect is placed in a confined space that "is usually dark." Some spaces allow a subject only to sit down; confinement in those spaces "lasts for no more than two hours." Wall standing: Subjects are forced to lean with only their fingers for support against a wall 4 to 5 feet away from their bodies in a tactic "used to induce muscle fatigue." Stress positions: They include "kneeling on the floor while leaning back at a 45-degree angle" and "sitting on the floor with legs extended out in front of him with his arms raised above his head." Sleep deprivation: This is meant to "reduce the individual's ability to think on his feet and, through the discomfort associated with lack of sleep, to motivate him to cooperate." Insects placed in a confinement box: The subject is placed in "a cramped confinement box" and told a stinging insect will be placed in the box with him. Instead, a harmless insect, "such as a caterpillar," is placed inside. Waterboarding: The subject is placed on a board with a cloth covering his nose and mouth. The cloth is saturated with water to simulate drowning. It creates "the perception of 'suffocation and incipient panic.' " Source: Justice Department Responding to a deadline in a court case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Obama administration released four Justice Department memos providing a legal rationale for techniques the ACLU and other critics likened to torture — and that Obama has since ended by executive order. Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder said CIA interrogators would not be held accountable because their actions had been sanctioned by the Justice Department. Holder also said the government would defend them against any lawsuits and seek to indemnify them against monetary judgments. "This is a time for reflection, not retribution," Obama said in a statement. "We have been through a dark and painful chapter in our history. But at a time of great challenges and disturbing disunity, nothing will be gained by spending our time and energy laying blame for the past." Whether to release the memos had been the subject of debate for weeks. Obama decided to put them out because much of the information had been publicized. Even so, he still defended "maintaining the classified nature of secret activities." Many of the techniques used by CIA operatives against top 9/11 terrorism suspects, including Abu Zubaydah and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, had been acknowledged in recent years, some by President George W. Bush himself. However, the CIA destroyed videos documenting the tactics' use. The newly released memos shed light on approved tactics. For instance, they authorized interrogators to confine Zubaydah in a small box with an insect he believed could sting him — a technique intended to play on his fear of bugs. They allowed captives to be kept awake for up to 180 hours. The memos also set parameters for waterboarding, which simulates drowning; they discuss ways to avoid injuring captives when shoving them into flexible walls; and they detail limits on forcing prisoners into stressful positions and confining them in small, dark places. A March 2005 memo says 28 of 94 CIA detainees were exposed to enhanced interrogations in "varying degrees." A May 2005 memo cautions that using several techniques in tandem could, in some circumstances, violate prohibitions against torture. CIA Director Leon Panetta, in a letter to his employees, said the Justice Department "guided CIA's detention and interrogation program." Panetta noted it was approved by Bush and his top national security staff. Lawmakers who fought for the memos' release applauded. "The legal analysis and some of the techniques in these memos are truly shocking," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich. "Hopefully, these practices have been ended for all time." Marc Thiessen, former chief speech writer for Bush, called Obama's action "outrageous" because it gives al-Qaeda the chance to practice resistance. ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero criticized the decision not to prosecute those who authorized and conducted the interrogations. "There can be no more excuses for putting off criminal investigations of officials who … broke the law," he said. A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll in late January found that nearly two-thirds of Americans favored investigations into the torture allegations. Four in 10 wanted criminal probes. Contributing: David Jackson, Kevin Johnson, Jill Lawrence and Donna Leinwand Poster Comment: Change that can kill you.
EnlargeBy Manuel Balce Ceneta, AP Protesters demonstrate waterboarding, an interrogation technique that simulates drowning, Nov. 5, 2007, on volunteer Maboud Ebrahim Zadeh in front of the Justice Department in Washington. 
By Richard Wolf and Peter Eisler, USA TODAY
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 55.
#10. To: Rotara (#0)
If this logic is reasonable for government officials, then we should be able to use this defense in any court.
good catch. can you imagine any one of us peons using the let's just move on defense? ;)
Of course not - it's only the 'president's club' defense. Good God, America, WAKETHEFUCKUP.
That giant sucking sound you hear..
is the Zionist Jews in my tagline killing America.
It takes an enemy within to make it happen.
The Zionist Jews in my tagline are the enemy within.
They are part of the universe of deceit in ameriKa but by no means are they all of it.
I shall not necessarily disagree with that "all" part. How about about this: America and Americans would be a hell of lot better off without the influence and presence of my tagline cabal. Do you agree with that?
I can't totally disagree with you. In fact I almost universally agree with that statement in context of the facts we stare at daily. May I empathize with the CZ sheeple ? Many have no idea what they support and have paved the path to hell with good intentions. ;-)
Do what you will. I, conversely, shall never empathize with traitors to America espousing spiritual delusion.
You aren't a Christian I take it.
Now, why would you assume that?
Because you seem oblivious to what most Christian "Zionists" really understand ?
Do tell-- What do most Christian "Zionists" really understand ?
They know the good Jew of the Bible and support Israel as you would support your loving brother. They have no idea and have been brainwashed that America first is a bad thing when it comes to Israel. I could go on, but do you get where this goes ?
Yes, straight to my tagline.
Are you a Christian ?
Are you a Zionist ?
Why do you ask? What do my personal spiritual preferences have to do with Zionist Jews running America into the sewer?
Because you'll never be a part of the solution if you don't understand the dynamics of the problem. Specifically, if you aren't a Christian, then you don't know how to persuade them to truth. Now, are you or are you NOT a Christian ?
What?!? One must be a Christian to persuade Christian Zionists that they are being conned by Zionist Jews for earthly political purposes? Who made that rule? Agnostic.
How much success have you had thus far ?
#56. To: Rotara (#55)
I've done well. I can fully explain and discuss the detrimental effects of each of the groups in my my tagline and combined agenda therein. More Americans are now aware of the true threat and danger represented by the influence and control exercised over American culture, society, and government by the cabal in my tagline and many more are becoming aware everyday. Does that concern or trouble you?
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest"This is a time for reflection, not retribution," Obama said in a statement. "We have been through a dark and painful chapter in our history. But at a time of great challenges and disturbing disunity, nothing will be gained by spending our time and energy laying blame for the past."
#12. To: Pinguinite (#10)
#15. To: christine (#12)
can you imagine any one of us peons using the let's just move on defense?
#16. To: lodwick (#15)
Good God, America, WAKETHEFUCKUP
#20. To: Rotara, lodwick (#16)
That giant sucking sound you hear..
#22. To: wbales (#20)
They aren't the only ones.
#25. To: Rotara (#22)
It takes an enemy within to make it happen.
#27. To: wbales (#25)
The Zionist Jews in my tagline are the enemy within.
#30. To: Rotara (#27)
They are part of the universe of deceit in ameriKa but by no means are they all of it.
#33. To: wbales (#30)
#35. To: Rotara (#33)
May I empathize with the CZ sheeple ?
#36. To: wbales (#35)
#39. To: Rotara (#36)
You aren't a Christian I take it.
#42. To: wbales (#39)
Now, why would you assume that?
#45. To: Rotara (#42)
Because you seem oblivious to what most Christian "Zionists" really understand ?
#46. To: wbales (#45)
What do most Christian "Zionists" really understand ?
#47. To: Rotara (#46)
I could go on, but do you get where this goes ?
#49. To: wbales (#47)
I've answered your questions.
#50. To: Rotara (#49)
Are you a Christian ?
#51. To: wbales (#50)
Interesting but not surprising you won't answer (but expect everyone else to).
#52. To: Rotara (#51)
#53. To: wbales (#52)
#54. To: Rotara (#53)
Specifically, if you aren't a Christian, then you don't know how to persuade them to truth.
#55. To: wbales (#54)
Replies to Comment # 55. How much success have you had thus far ?
End Trace Mode for Comment # 55.