Sunday, December 25, 2011

The Unending Legacy of Torture

THE USUAL SUSPECTS: the gangs all here!
by: Jonathan Hafetz, Truthout | 
News Analysis 
One of the most troubling legacies of 9/11 is the United States' decision to resort to torture to fight terrorism. Torture has tarnished the United States' reputation and undermined the rule of law. Although the worst abuses may be in the past, it will be a long time before the United States can regain the legitimacy and credibility it has lost.
The United States' systematic use of torture has been extensively documented.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, human rights organizations and the United States Senate have all detailed the gross mistreatment of prisoners in US custody as part of the "war on terror." Interrogation methods included not only such infamous tactics as waterboarding, but also extreme sensory deprivation, prolonged isolation and sleep deprivation. Although these tactics may not leave physical marks, they cause profound pain and suffering. In their own way, these tactics are as barbaric as the rack and screw of medieval torture chambers. READ MORE

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