CONFIRMED: U.S. Hid Detainees From The Red Cross

McClatchy Newspapers:

The U.S. military hid the locations of suspected terrorist detainees and concealed harsh treatment to avoid the scrutiny of the International Committee of the Red Cross, according to documents that a Senate committee released Tuesday.

"We may need to curb the harsher operations while ICRC is around. It is better not to expose them to any controversial techniques," Lt. Col. Diane Beaver, a military lawyer who's since retired, said during an October 2002 meeting at the Guantanamo Bay prison to discuss employing interrogation techniques that some have equated with torture. Her comments were recorded in minutes of the meeting that were made public Tuesday. At that same meeting, Beaver also appeared to confirm that U.S. officials at another detention facility -- Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan -- were using sleep deprivation to "break" detainees well before then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld approved that technique. "True, but officially it is not happening," she is quoted as having said.

A third person at the meeting, Jonathan Fredman, the chief counsel for the CIA's Counterterrorism Center, disclosed that detainees were moved routinely to avoid the scrutiny of the ICRC, which keeps tabs on prisoners in conflicts around the world.

Read the whole story: McClatchy Newspapers

Comments

[StillAmused]

"True, but officially it is not happening."

George W. Bush's Amerika.

"I am shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!"

Captain Renault's Casablanca.

[ribe8g]

Jeez, what a surprise, but hey, we're at war, we're the sooperpower and bush gets
to call all the shots (literally). Complicit in this are: the corporate media, the gullible
american public and the greedy bastards in D.C.

[ProfessorDuh]

The U.S. hides its torture victims from the Red Cross, just like some slimy Third World thug government. Put that message in your skyrockets and fire it off on the 4th.
-------

[colinmeister]

You mean the government of the US is NOT a "Slimy Third World thug government"? You could have fooled me!

[jaschrod]

Makes you real proud to be an American doesn't it?

[Raymondf]

To me they haven't been treated harshly enough. These are people that don't care who they kill when they are released. They don't care whether they live or die, and who they take with them when they die. I think they should be released, given American Citizanship. Let them make bombs and walk through the streets of America, with home made bombs strapped on them. Then maybe just maybe you Idiots will understand what the Jewish people have been going through for years.

[laocoon]

I think you, Raymond, have not been treated harshly enough. I think you are a terrorist trying to deceive us by acting like you are against terrorism. We will soon lock you up with no appeal or review by any other and will torture you for the crimes I know you want to commit. You have no rights and will be given no opportunity to contest my determination of your status as terrorist. because I have determined that you are a terrorist and terrorists have no right to contest the determination.

[Beowolf741]

Geez, it's like all these guys watched movies like "Stalag 17" and thought the Nazis were the good guys.
Psssssst they are not.

[themodestagnostic]

As a non american, I am genuinely shocked, and I've seen a lot. Over the last 7 years my faith in America has declined precipitously, but I never beleived this kind of barefaced disregard for the rule of law was so prevalent. The people writing, signing and reading these memos should all be prosecuted and put on trial for war crimes. How did we descend into this dystopian nightmare?

America has GOT to be better than this. Surely?

[MNmommy]

Just think how we Americans feel.

I swear, it didn't used to be this bad, or maybe it just didn't used to be this blatant.

[dugan45]

Then do your part. Take action. Follow the link DutchBoy provides us and call for Michael Reagan's firing. I just emailed it along with a message to a number of people. Let's make this a viral affair.

Thank you, DutchBoy.

As to the moving of prisoners, most who have done nothing against the U.S. in its misnamed War on Terror, didn't Janet Karpinski, whom the military demoted rather than taking action against Generals Miller and Sanchez, tell us that was happening?

What we have now is official documentation on the part of a Congress that like Rip Van Winkle is finally awakening.

Signed,
American patriot, Vietnam Vet who turned during that war, political activist, and parent who wants to do his part to provide a better earthly home for his and everyone's child who will live in the world we leave them.

Please, do your part. Take action against Michael Reagan.

[vippy]

Nope, nothing to be proud of. If there is something to screw it up, it is the USA. We point fingers at countries with no human rights and yet are guilty ourselves. How disgusting. Plus we are the
bully of the world. But people here are so brainwashed they have no clue and we just call it
conspiracies.

[MNmommy]

Is there a reason that HuffPo has zero coverage of the Senate Armed Forces committee hearing yesterday on torture? Former DoD General Counsel Haynes got his ass handed to him.

[CLEDUC]

and McCain continues to deny these incarcerated people their right to a fair hearing ?? That used to be one of the things that I thought separated "us" from "them". I hope those responsible are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Two wrongs don't make it right.

[highlyamused]

You can hope.........it won't happen. I've given up........they'll ride off into the sunset in a few months....none the worse for the wear. Unless we find out one of the is molesting interns....ain't gonna happen.

[Beowolf741]

They will find a way to pardon each other. Bush will resign an hour before (hopefully Obama takes office) having already pardoned Cheney and the rest of his(bush's) pirate crew. Cheney will officially be President long enough to pardon Bush.

[1differentdrummer]

Well, so much for the moral high ground.

[VOTER]

Can't wait to hear McCain's response to this report.

[HansB]

He'll blame the messenger. McClatchy has gotten away with (gasp!) journalism for far too long, when all the other MSM duly transformed themselves into spineless opinion article recyclers.

[Yvaughn]

I don't want the USA of Franklin and Adams and Jefferson (and FDR and Kennedy) to be the bad guys anymore. I want to somehow help return us to our former, idealistic, LAW-ABIDING greatness. And I fear that just electing a Democrat to the presidency may be not only 7 months too late, but 7 years too late.

[JeanPaulSatire]

But this ISN'T the America of those patriots. It is the Amerika that Nixon's secret actions hinted at, that Reagan brought into the open in small ways, and Bush openly and enthusiastically embraced.

I dare say that the statesmen you named would be shocked and outraged at what Bush has done to this nation and its constitution.

We should be ashamed. Very ashamed.

[atomic]

Why haven't Americans stormed and surrounded the White House in the millions and demanded this criminal go to jail? Bush is a traitor and he still walks around free and having the time of his life. Bush is a murderer. No one who has committed the crimes he has should be allowed to get away with it.

[sytgrl]

" . . . if someone dies while aggressive techniques are being used, regardless of cause of death, the backlash of attention would be severely detrimental. Everything must be approved and documented."

So where are those missing video tapes....?

If congress decides not to impeach, we may be subject to prosecution from the international community.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/15/1010/24597/728/536258

[UncleJimbo]

F-ing NAZIS! I'm so ashamed!

[DerAmi]

The problem with expecting Congress to take serious action against the crimes of the B U S H regime is that is will be impossible to ignore the dereliction of duty by so many members of congress.

The Constitution clearly states that it is the duty of The House of Representatives to impeach.

[dugan45]

Dereliction, or complicity? Why do you think Pelosi and Reid refuse to hold impeachment hearings? Can you imagine what would come out as a result of that process?

First we wipe out neocons and conservatives at the ballot box. Then we go after Dems.

[piul05]

Yes, that's been the reason all along, many Democrats would be equally tarnished by what would come out. By the look of it , impeachments are only viable when pertaining a limited number of actors, frolicking in a particular room, and with the creative use of a cigar....(Reminds me of Cluedo)...any chance of uncovering such a scandal on Bush, with a painbrush for evidence; or Cheney with ducks? No, I thought not.

So conivance and omission will just ally themselves with criminal behavior and nothing will get done. What a sorry state of affairs.

[booksnmore4you]

Way to go U.S.! That's the way to respect basic global conventions of war! In this way, our own troops can have no expectations that a neutral party will be there in case of their own internment and detention. Awesome!

;-)

[Viper]

What worries me most is after the past 7 years is not people who have reasons not to be as proud of America as we would all like to be... but those who still shout how proud they are after what our poor country has been dragged through the past 7 years. It is their patrotism and love of country I question most. The country they appear to love and see no wrong in, is not the country we were meant to be and have now become.


Regards

[sisterdebmac]

The insane patriotism of the Right is indeed baffling. But I do think it's still possible to be incredibly ashamed of our "leaders" and yet still love our country. One thing I do love about us right now is that we will most likely elect Obama as our next president based on the content of his character, rather than refuse to do so based on the color of his skin. That's a step forward.

What I cannot abide is people who still defend Bush --- even after all the evil that this criminal cabal has wrought.