Guantanamo Tapes Show Detainee Interrogations

NY Times:

The Defense Department is conducting an extensive review of the videotaping of interrogations at military facilities from Iraq to Guantánamo Bay, and so far it has identified nearly 50 tapes, including one that showed what a military spokesman described as the forcible gagging of a terrorism suspect.

The Pentagon review was begun in late January after the Central Intelligence Agency acknowledged that it had destroyed its own videotapes of harsh interrogations conducted by C.I.A. officers, an action that is now the subject of criminal and Congressional investigations.

Read the whole story: NY Times

Comments

[Kungfublood]

Look isn't that the infamous audience plant guy from the equally infamous "news" show.. and where are the dogs?

[GetoffMylawn]

The official line on US torture is that only three hardcore terrorists have been water-boarded. Now I'm going to risk sounding like a crazy conspiracy theorist and say perhaps more then three detainees in US custody have been tortured, and we are being lied too. What would lead me to think this.

[lancelotfl]

How effective can "interrogation" be when you put duct tape over someone's mouth? Is the "interrogation" held in sign language? This is yet another example of why "military intelligence" is an oxymoron.

Doesn't this, more or less, prove that the intention was torture and not seeking information?

[OneVoiceInACrowd]

Hold on everyone, wait for it, wait for it... The title now reads:

"Pentagon HAD FIFTY Tapes Of Detainee Interrogation"

[MissingAmerica]

Looking at these people in this awkward, uncomfortable position, saddens me. What concerns me is that the United States is the one responsible. Until this administration, we had been the leader in human and civil rights, the one to voice our opinions against any type of abuse against anyone, anywhere. We seemed to know that no one wins in war, and peace holds so much hope for all.

In the last few years, we've seen a resurgence of ignorant and hatred in this country which has stemmed from the highest office in this country. This is not America, and I seriously pray for the day when Congress will remember who elected them and why. I pray for the day they remember that this country is founded on a principle of human freedom, including the freedoms of speech and religion and, more importantly, the separation of church and state.

Once religion permeates the government, that country joins the rangs of sectarian terrorist nations. Sadly, through the machinations, ignorance and greed of so many in the highest seats of U.S. government, the American people must suffer that stigma. It's time to show the world that the American people still hold to the views that made this country great and respected, and it is time to show that we have impeachment for a reason. Use it, Congress, please, and stop this countries demonstration of mans' inhumanity to man!

[rwe]

oh no , a ranting terrorist suspect who is being interrogated was (horrors) forcibly gagged!!!!!!!!! Dammit Pelosi , put impeachment back on the table. Placing duct tape on the face of someone who only wants to rid the world of the evil infidel .. Where is the outrage from Olbermanson .. I will bet barack voted against this .

[Fightnmad]

It used to be true that evidence collected without a legal search warrant was inadmissible in court- the so-called "fruit from the poisoned tree". The rationale is, if it's wrong from the get-go, it's wrong all the time.

That's my take on the torture tapes. If a single tape clearly shows cruel, inhumane and/or unusual means to extract words from a person being interrogated, then ALL are proof that this is a common practice by the US government.

Torture is wrong. It is unethical. It is unquestionably and wholly un-American. It is evil.

Here's the real kick in the ass- true Americans don't find the need to torture, so who the hell are those government officials who condone it, and why do they wave MY flag while spouting American slogans, drive our cars, eat our food, and collect salaries paid for by We the People?

And who was the idiot who ordered the taping of torture? What? Did he think it could be used in court as a legal confession?

This is sickening to the nth degree.

[nunzia]

Wanna know why there are so few comments at this important bit of information?
Because the so-called left wing is busy elsewhere on this site, forming its customary
circular firing squad and destroying any unity they might have mustered for the general election.

[Dem02020]

Here we go again.

Just when I was beginning to think that people had successful seen through this ruse of the administration's, and not taken the bait on this phony issue, here it is, back again to bait Democrats into a knee-jerk reaction, and start getting them all worked up about tapes and interrogations that they don't truly know even exist (consider the source of this information)... tapes that were they to exist, are of such a high classification, that they can't possibly be made public.

But look at how someone in the Pentagon, a Bush/Cheney/Gates stooge no doubt, "divulges" this information to the media...

To bait you into taking (blindly) the side and the cause of detainees, perhaps even legitimate "terror suspects" (you don't and can't know for sure)... to get you all worked up, about something the details of which you don't know, and can't know, ever.


Here we go again... what, they got tired of trying to bait you with "secret prisons"?

[lochnessmonster]

You know there is more where this came from...will we really hear about it all?

[Macready]

probably not lochnessmonster . . . better still will pelosi act on this and finally put impeachment on the agenda . . .the orders for torture came from the WH ... and contravene the Geneva Convention . . .

[Macready]

so when does pelosi put impeachment on the agenda ... we now have documented evidence of torture and the breaking of the Geneva Convention .. the buck stops at the top . . .

[NickOhio]

It cannot happen too soon.

It's taken this long just because the sentiment on The Hill was not enough to support Impeachment. Even though many of their constituents wanted this to occur waaaaay back in 2003 or earlier, Congress needs the votes to make it stick and many in The House are still on Bush's side since they are Republican or Independent (Lieberman). Congress has, with the midterms now behind us and Dems in a slim majority, begun to hold the Bush clan accountable and have begun investigations. This new stuff on torture is enough to begin laying out the blame. Hopefully, in the process, a lot of other sordid items will hit the fan, allowing Congress to finally begin debate on articles of Impeachment against Bush and Cheney.

Pelosi is not a political newbie and she knows what fights she can win or lose. I would hope that whatever is discovered in any Congressional investigation, that it can eventually be used in indictments once the Bush clan leaves office. Some hold little hope for that to occur, and they may be correct. Our country should, once a Dem is elected to the White House, put the Bush years behind us. However, on the other hand, we need to show everyone that the US stands for JUSTICE and the RULE OF LAW!!! Which option is the one we should pursue? If left up to me, I'd choose the latter... indictment is the only way to make sure this kind of situation will never occur again. (Of course, indictment is only Step 1, as conviction and sentencing are the next steps that also need to occur, but only if found guilty.) If indictment occurs, Bush and Cheney will be living in Argentina, where extradition is not possible.

[VivaZapata]

Once there was this idea of America. It never was what is claimed. It never had freedom and justice for all, but it had an ideal to live up to. Now that too is gone. Gone with the native it poisoned with disease and alcohol or the land it cultivated with slaves or the industry it constructed on the backs of underpaid immigrants. Gone to the whims and wishes of a corrupt banking system and unscrupulous swindlers. Once there was this idea of liberty and justice for all. Bushonian plutocracy is what's left. Where do you plan on summering this year?