Red Cross: CIA Tortured, Officials Could Be Guilty Of War Crimes

Red Cross investigators concluded last year in a secret report that the Central Intelligence Agency's interrogation methods for high-level Qaeda prisoners constituted torture and could make the Bush administration officials who approved them guilty of war crimes, according to a new book on counterterrorism efforts since 2001.

The book says that the International Committee of the Red Cross declared in the report, given to the C.I.A. last year, that the methods used on Abu Zubaydah, the first major Qaeda figure the United States captured, were "categorically" torture, which is illegal under both American and international law.

...

The book, "The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals," by Jane Mayer, who writes about counterterrorism for The New Yorker, offers new details of the agency's secret detention program, as well as the bitter debates in the administration over interrogation methods and other tactics in the campaign against Al Qaeda.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[dansama]

So the Red Cross has found evidence that American torture prisoners, where is the out rage? Where are the protests? The lowest point in American history and the news can't get it head out of the butts of its corporate masters, how truly sad for us all. Sad because this president has made us all guilty of atrocities, and war crimes; and worse it will take a foreign court to try this administration because the GOP thinks blow jobs are bad but torture is ok. Even the Huffington Post has it page 2.

IMPEACH BUSH NOW!

[LillianB]

In international media torture performed by CIA and American soldiers has been reported since 2001 (imprisoning people in Guantanamo, Cuba). The stories have multiplied during the Iraq war, where the expamles of torture against Iraqi people are MANY. This "policy" is a main reason Bush is so disrespected, even despised, within Europe, where media outlets in all countries have told about this. I don't know the Asian and African parts of the world very well, but I know that their media outlets have reported this, too. And that this is a reason rage against America among (non-American) Muslims reaches such levels. Most of the PoWs in question, that is, PoWs tortured, are Muslims. The fact that everyone, except Americans, know about this, endangeres Americans travelling abroad.

It's long past time that Americans are told about this, too. These are the kind of news that should be yelled out, leading the morning & evening shows, the kind of news all newspaper editors should clean their front pages to publish, making sure that no American voter can avoid knowing, no American politician can avoid taking a stand against. No American President should get away with this kind of "policy", and Bush has.

Had people known about these atrocities, bills like the FISA would never get through. It did.

But today, I'm willing to bet, Brangelina's twins will get more news coverage than this. And that's a disgrace, too.

[ThermoChemist]

Washington had it right back during the Revolutionary War about the treatment of prisoners -- and he STILL has it right!

Washington made it a point of fundamental HONOR that the Americans would not only hold dearly to the laws of war, they would define a new law of war that reflected the HUMANITARIAN principles for which the new Republic had risen. These PRINCIPLES required RESPECT for the DIGNITY and worth of every human being engaged in the conduct of the war, whether in the American cause or that of the nation's oppressor.

In 1776, Washington said of prisoners "Treat them with humanity, and let them have no reason to complain of our copying the brutal example of the British Army in their treatment of our unfortunate brethren who have fallen into their hands".

Washington sought to SHAME his British adversaries, and to demonstrate the MORAL SUPERIORITY of the American CAUSE. But Washington makes clear that he took this approach in the end because of his EXPERIENCE in the wilderness, and the LESSON he LEARNED there: soldiers who mistreated prisoners, who took up cruel practices, were BAD and unruly soldiers - the DISCIPLINE and MORALE of the entire fighting force was UNDERMINED by such CONDUCT. For Washington, the issues were clear on both a MORAL and PRACTICAL level.

The consequences of Bush's departure from America's foundational VALUES have been exactly what Washington foresaw in the 1770's: SHAME, DISGRACE, and RUIN.

[totaldisbelief]

Have we become no better than the people we demonize ?

[Rosanneofpgh]

Yes we have. To our everlasting shame, that is, it would be if we HAD any shame. The fact that this criminal administration hasnt been impeached says a lot about our principles or lack thereof.

I never thought that I would be ashamed to be an american. american citizenship is nothing to be proud of. George Washington must be spinning in his grave.

[ThinkForYourself2]

Look into what the CIA did at Jonestown.

The propaganda pushed by the criminal media is that people who fled the country in order to practice their religion decided once they got there that they would just kill themselves. Children, mothers, everyone. Truth is that the mothers, children and anyone else who tried to run was gunned down. People were injected with poison in places they would never be able to reach themselves. A couple questions to ask yourselves... How is it that the only survivors of Jonestown where also CIA operatives who infiltrated this group? How did the same drugs which were used in the infamous CIA MK Ultra mind-control experiments found in the bodies of many of the dead? Why were hundreds of body bags already on their way to Jonestown before the massacre happened?

It wasn't a mass suicide, it was mass murder.

[Bobrobert]

ROFLMAO

Bu-ll-sh should be tried after he is out of office - it will not look as bad as convicting a sitting President.

Remember to vote all!!!

:-)

PS Remember the troops in your prayers.

[bayside]

I and many others may not want to know about the terrible things this govt has done but its vital that we hear it ,so the world and us can start the accountability and start healing. This dark cabel in charge is not above our constitution...They do not speak for most americans..

[LillianB]

Stories like these should be cried from the rooftops, dominating the morning & evening news, headlining the front pages in all newspapers, and so on. Stories like these are IMPORTANT, and they should be changing politics.

Instead, huge attention is brought to nutty comments and nonsense knucklehead non-stories like those of Jesse J. & the fist bump & Scarlet Johansson's e-mails. I wonder if we would have gotten to hear about the March on Washington had it happened today - if the media would have brought us MLK's "I have a dream" speech - or if news that day would had been dominated by some story about the Democratic Nominee's wife buying herself some new earrings.

People, you should demand these important kinds of stories from your newspapers & tv-channels.

[StillAmused]

Next time you're stopped for speeding, ask for a 'secret' summons.

[watchingthings]

But...but...but.....they tortured them over there.....so they wouldn't have to torture them over here.

[hugs4u]

Bush and cheney need to face a trail in the World court.

[funwithwarcrimes]

well, we've already put them on trial.
come on over and see
http://www.funwithwarcrimes.com

[funwithwarcrimes]

You'll totally appreciate this: www.funwithwarcrimes.com - putting the Bushies on trial

[LillianB]

War crimes aren't and can never be funny. People thinking they are, are the people allowing them to happen.

[dr4Will]

Gutless Dem's will do nothing--rotten repugs went after Clinton for sex and Dem's have so much on bush and friends its a keystone kops comedy in our Congress!

[watchingthings]

Many of the Dems in power now are in bed with the Reps.
http://finance.sympatico.msn.ca/investing/insight/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5750084
You may have to type it out....page may not open.

[Mercedes]

I hope that this news is in every newspaper and every news report on TV and the Internet in BIG headlines on the front page, the first story of the newscast and Internet sites.

Sadly, I think that it will just be a talking point for Repubs to 'whine' about.

It looks as though the International Court may have to bring Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Rove, and all those Neo-Cons who believe and signed onto the Project for the New American Century (PNAC) to the Hague to be tried for war crimes.

I have no doubt there will be members of Congress on trial there, too, for the same thing.

What happened to our US Congress and our US Constitution? How did we let this get so crazy these past 7+ years? Why did those who had the influence to stop this just sit by and let it happen? Money, power, prestige, what?

The worst part of this are the DEATHS of our Beloved Soldiers and Innocent Iraqis, all for NOTHING except the greed of men to get their hands on that damn OIL!

[111]

You forgot Pelosi, she was in the meetings where the use of torture was discussed and she approved. Other Dems were probably in those meetings, too.

However,

http://www.hrw.org/press/2002/08/aspa080302.htm
U.S. President George Bush signed into law the American Servicemembers Protection Act of 2002, which is intended to intimidate countries that ratify the treaty for the International Criminal Court (ICC). The new law authorizes the use of military force to liberate any American or citizen of a U.S.-allied country being held by the court, which is located in The Hague. This provision, dubbed the "Hague invasion clause," has caused a strong reaction from U.S. allies around the world, particularly in the Netherlands."

There is more that talks about what we are willing to do to countries that ratified the ICC.

I wonder if O will order our military to attack the Hague if the International Community decides to arrest US war criminals - I suppose he will.

[aurora57]

I think a preemptive strike on the Hague is in order before bush leaves office. The ICC is a t threat to our security.

[Mercedes]

111:

I am positive that Pelosi will be there at the court.

I read the ASPA of 2002 and I believe that even though Bush and Co. will try to use this as a reason for them to 'ignore' the World Court, the sheer anger and justice that will come from those of us in the US and throughout the world will make this Act null and void.

I pray to God that Bush and Co. are brought to justice and that the people of Iraq can realize that there are those of us who have been against Bush and his 'selection' since he walked into the White House in 2001 and have been wishing and hoping Congress and the Supreme Court to do something. Only a few brave souls have even discussed war crimes--namely Dennis Kucinich.

What I would like to know is: what about those fools that voted for him, what do they feel, knowing that they allowed this man to practically destroy Iraq and try to destroy US, just because of a Neo-Con PNAC agenda of world domination by the US. I wonder how they can sleep at night, or if they even care what Bush has done to us...

[truthynesslover]

Dubia has no extradition treaty maybe thats why cheny has built a house there.just saying.

[aurora57]

Will any member of the bush cabal be able to travel abroad as non-diplomatic civilians without risk of being charged with war crimes? Any possibility they might be extradited... I wonder what our extradition treaties say about US citizens charged with war crimes.

[truthynesslover]

They can go to chenys new house in Dubia which has no extradition treaties.

[111]

Those criminals in the military, like Rumsfeld, can go anywhere they want because in 2002 we made a law in the US that we can use military force against the Hague to free any military person held there for war crimes.

http://www.hrw.org/press/2002/08/aspa080302.htm

[aurora57]

Thanks for the link.

I wonder if those countries that ratified the International Criminal Court would actually be intimidated by US law. It would be an interesting standoff.

Where would we find allies to fight that one?

[jdfast]

I don't kow why anyone would think this is a great suprise. Data mining from telecoms, torture on prisoners, lying to the American People. This is indeed a proud monent from the Bush administration. I can hear it now. We did it all in the name of national security. See, we haven't been attacked since 2001. Is it worth ripping the constution up and taking a crap on the citizens of this country. I think not. But now that Lady Nancy has had her say, we must depend on someone else to hold this administration liable for their actions. The congress sure won't. The best money can buy.

[coloradosiren]

"could make the Bush administration officials who approved them guilty of war crimes"
What a joke. It's obvious they are guilty of war crimes.