The State Department has issued a document that endorses the findings of the Senate report on the CIA’s interrogation and detention practices after the 9/11 attacks. The document notably avoids references to “torture” but discussed now the CIA brutalized suspects and misled Congress. Putting aside such word substitutions of “brutalizing” for “torture” and “misleading” for “lying,” there remains one glaring omission: not a single CIA official was disciplined, let alone criminally charged. One official even publicly admitted to destroying evidence to avoid its use in court in a torture prosecution. He was allowed to retire with honors and accolades. The Bush and Obama Administration steadfastly refused to prosecute such officials. Indeed, soon after coming to power, Obama went to the CIA to assure officials that they would never face prosecution.
The document states to its credit that “This report tells a story of which no American is proud.” However, it then adds: “But it is also part of another story of which we can be proud. America’s democratic system worked just as it was designed to work in bringing an end to actions inconsistent with our democratic values.” Is this really how the system “was designed to work”? We are bound by treaty and federal law to investigate torture — a standard that we have applied to other nations. However, Obama kept his pledge to the CIA and moreover leaks have shown how the U.S. government threatened both Spain and England not to investigate American torture.
Now we have a celebration over the fact that we are willing to admit that the CIA committed such violations, including lying to Congress, while ignoring that no one was punished for these acts. Indeed, as we saw with the false statements given Congress over surveillance by James Clapper, there remains a pattern of protection for intelligence officials committing what many allege to be criminal acts like perjury.
I am impressed by the openness of the State Department under John Kerry on such issues. However, the disconnect with the absence of any accountability continues to erode the credibility of the country on human rights and civil liberties.
Notably, the State Department affirms again that no life-saving intelligence was actually produced from our torture of suspects. It still however refuses to call it by its proper and legal name: “[The Senate report] leaves no doubt that the methods used to extract information from some terrorist suspects caused profound pain, suffering and humiliation. It also leaves no doubt that the harm caused by the use of these techniques outweighed any potential benefit.”
The report does acknowledge obvious questions that continue to lack any real answer from the Administration:
“Doesn’t the report make clear that at least some who authorized or participated in the RDI program committed crimes?”
“Will the Justice Department revisit its decision not to prosecute anyone?”
“Until now the (U.S. government) has avoided conceding that the techniques used in the RDI program constituted torture. Now that the report is released is the White House prepared to concede that people were tortured?”
“Isn’t it clear that the CIA engaged in torture as defined in the Torture Convention?”
The mere fact that these questions even appeared in such a report is a triumph for Kerry and a positive development. It also admits that some ambassadors who were informed of the use of torture at black sites were instructed not to tell their superiors at the State Department.
I do believe that the State Department and John Kerry deserve credit for this frank discussion. It is the type of action that will help to restore our position in the world. However, we will never regain our position as the world’s leader on human rights and civil liberties if we continue to shield our own officials for accountability for such actions.
Source: Fox
Annie, Maybe waterboarding is happening right now, under Democratic President Obama. Why yes, it is! I wonder if he considers it a form of baptism or if his “more normal” religion just doesn’t have anything to say about it?
We’re discussing international relations. It’s not comparing apples to apples. Of course, it is designed to look like your example.
Maybe waterboarding is similar to baptism, ala Sarah Palin.
Carol, I am reading you correctly? Are you saying that waterboarding is very much like your attempt to wash your child’s hair? Would you let me know if that is the correct reading of your post? Thanks!
Did you know that torture is about the last thing you want to do to a person if you want information, even in an emergency? Torture has been extensively studied by this and other nations (studies taken from real life experience too). Torture is best used to extract a confession. If you don’t have any ethical or legal stance and if that’s all you want, you’re good to go. If you want information to save people’s lives, you’ll want a skilled interrogator, not a torturer.
Finally, if you torture someone because you sincerely believe this is the right thing to do, as a moral choice, then wouldn’t you also, as a matter of ethics and respect for the rule of law, turn yourself in for punishment as accorded by our law against torture? You know, I never see torturers doing that. You’d think such honorable people would account themselves before a court of law, immediately.
Jill- if I used something that others considered torture, but I did not, then I would not be obligated to turn myself in. I do not have to confine myself to your definition of torture. You can only sin if you think it is a sin to begin with. I think it is a sin to abort babies. If I accept your definition of torture, will you accept my definition of murder by abortion?
slohrss29 – what “variables” would stop you from doing anything you had to do to get your child back safely?
Lots more variables to this story Carol. In the end, the people involved may not have been tortured for the reasons we have assumed they have been tortured for. Look into former President of France Sarkosy. We assumed we had an air war to liberate Libya. Looks like it may have been a hit to take out their leader who welched on a deal. These situations are seldom what we think we see.
John, you might want to take a look at Dredd’s link above.
II’m pretty sure my daughyer thought I was torturing her everytime I washed her hair when she was a toddler – she absolutely hated getting water in her face. No matter how I tried to protect her face, she pitched a fit and screamed. I dreaded washing her hair.
Just an observation.
Now, a hypothetical: Assume your child has been kidnapped by known child murderers, and one of the perpetrators is captured. The police are pretty sure this person knows the whereabouts of your child, and that your child is still alive. Would you have a problem with the police using “extraordinary measures (torture)” to force the perpetrator to divulge the whereabouts of your child? In such a situation, would you expect them to judiciously second-guess themselves, and ponder all of the legal niceties, or would you expect the police to do everything and anything in their power to save your child?
Just asking.
Be prepared to man up and fight fire with fire.
Putin just shot down 298 innocent civilians subsequent to an invasion of Crimea that would have been as violent and brutal as Israel’s campaign against the Palestinians if Putin’s effort hadn’t been conducted with such impulse and resolve that it stunned and immediately overwhelmed Ukraine.
I’m willing to bet that the passengers on MH17 thought it was torturous for the plane to violently disassemble before their very eyes, to experience the instantaneous loss of pressure and temperature and to feel the infliction of fatal wounds to their flesh and bones, if even for only a second.
The Chosen executed the most effective military strategy – to kill every living thing, man, woman and child – in Jericho to assure there were no enemy forces behind them in the juggernaut to the promised land.
Does the fetus think abortion is torture? Does the child think spanking is torture? Does the soldier hit by a mortar round think it’s torture? Does the hiker viciously attacked by the Grizzly Bear think it’s torture?
To be “opposed to torture” is to be honorable.
To stop employing proportional and commensurate torture is a foolish, fatal flaw.
Decide if you want success or failure.
We’re living in ‘Russia’ USA…………. Maybe Putin will be our next President, After “Spineless” leaves office………….
I agree Darren. That is the problem. Too many in the political class have their hands dirty. Torture goes to the top of the food chain.
Rafflaw, I must disagree with you. Obama ran on a campaign to end torture. The majority of US citizens had turned against torture by that time. The very sad thing to me is that Obama was so freaking popular that he could have called on legions of Americans to stand with him and face down the past administration on torture. Instead of using that popularity for the good, he worked to relieve everyone involved in torture of responsibility for their crimes. Now, he also commits torture.
Below is a link to but a few stories of torture from this govt. As a citizen I want people held to account for these crimes. I know they will not be, but they should be. The US has certainly done many horrifying actions in its past but the systemic use of torture is one of the worst. It would restore faith in this govt. if people were held to account for torture. It would begin to bring back some of the good which our nation could be in the world.
And as others point out above, we are going to get some amazing blowback for these crimes. I also agree this report is more an attempt to sweep things under the rug, not bring things out into the light of day.
http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/sites/default/files/globalizing-torture-20120205.pdf
Dredd, thanks for the link. http://www.anderweltonline.com/wissenschaft-und-technik/luftfahrt-2014/shocking-analysis-of-the-shooting-down-of-malaysian-mh17/
JT, excellent article.
I’ve wondered what the country and much of the world would be like if the new DoJ had prosecuted those who ordered the war crimes, starting with an unprovoked invasion, torture, black sites, use of phosphorus in Fallajah, etc. What if, instead of continuing the war and the building of the massive embassy, real effort went into rebuilding the infrastructure of Iraq? What if Obama realized that Osama bin Laden was already dead and stopped using him as a patsy for continuing the war in Afghanistan? Such a president would probably have been assassinated. But still…..
Perhaps one of the reasons for no prosecution of the CIA operators is they would sing like a canary and this would percolate upward with additional managers being implicated who would sing a similar tune. Then, the accusation would arrive at the political class of our country and they would individually be held responsible. That is what the politicians fear and that is why they have assured the operators nobody would be prosecuted. It is the only way to protect their necks.
President Obama was not obviously responsible for approving any torture before he gained office but he allowed the program to continue and then he himself because subject to the same scandal and trappings.
The first order of business for politicians in America seems to be self serving interests. The second is protecting their political party at all costs.
Thanks for the post Anon. Looks like our fears may be more magnified than we imagined in the end. I am sure this corporate entity will start to dole out military exercises anywhere in the world to keep its share price up. Is this the ultimate Darwinian moment?
Putin has to go. He doesn’t want to conduct business in dollars, which our economy desperately depends on. When Russia, China, Kazakhstan, and India start trading based on gold–as they plan–things will get bad. Russia is the weakest one right now, so we will make an example by rolling Putin first (as seen from the minds of the DC elite). The big question is–what will Germany do? Germany does more business with that part of the world than here, and the Germans are getting pretty tired of the big stick Americans. Look for Germany to begin to be villified like Putin soon. Germany gave in on the last sanctions, but don’t expect that to last.
Squeeky – they were still shooting down a plane, cargo or passenger. It is still an international crime. I did see that polls show that if the last election were held today, Romney would bury Obama.
I don’t understand why we are sooo mad Russia about the plane. It was an accident from all accounts. And here we are flinging sanctions around and rattling sabers.
I wish we could do like that TV show and swap presidents for a few weeks. Of course we wouldn ‘t want Obama back and Putin would like it here where everybody isn ‘t a vodka drunk.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl
“This combination of companies shares our core values of integrity and transparency, ensuring our clients of our ongoing dedication to oversight and good governance through our award-winning compliance practices,” said former U.S. Attorney General and current [Constellis Holdings] Board member John Ashcroft.
“Academi, Triple Canopy and 5 other Companies Merge forming the Largest High Threat Security Group in the World”
http://www.your-poc.com/academi-triple-canopy-5-companies-merge-forming-largest-high-threat-security-group-world/
“A press release from Constellis Holdings signals major news in the High Threat Security Industry. Academi, the company formerly known as Blackwater and Xe, will join Triple Canopy along with a handful of other high threat security companies under a new management structure named Constellis Holdings.”
“The transaction brings together a global team of industry leaders, including: Triple Canopy, Constellis Ltd., Strategic Social, Tidewater Global Services, National Strategic Protective Services, ACADEMI Training Center and International Development Solutions.
Operating under the oversight of a distinguished Board and an experienced management team, the combination of these companies will enable a significant expansion of services within the global security market, delivering mission support, integrated security solutions, training and advisory services at home and abroad.
Professional Overseas Contractors
Constellis Holdings’ Board of Directors includes: Red McCombs (Chairman), former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, former White House Chief Counsel Jack Quinn, Admiral Bobby Inman (Ret.), Russ Robinson, Jason DeYonker, Dean Bosacki and Triple Canopy co-founder Tom Katis.
“This combination of companies shares our core values of integrity and transparency, ensuring our clients of our ongoing dedication to oversight and good governance through our award-winning compliance practices,” said former U.S. Attorney General and current Board member John Ashcroft.
“Terrorists” everywhere.
The Secret Government Rulebook For Labeling You a Terrorist
By Jeremy Scahill and Ryan Devereaux 23 Jul 2014
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/article/2014/07/23/blacklisted/
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/document/2014/07/23/march-2013-watchlisting-guidance/