The Danger of Bush's Torture(d) Stance

Segregation cells at Abu Ghraib, August 2005

"Vice President Dick Cheney argued that techniques like simulated drowning (water-boarding) didn't amount to torture."

"The Administration says its firm, absolutist assertions are designed to protect U.S. troops in case they are captured: by insisting the U.S. doesn't torture, the hope is others will feel compelled to refrain from doing so. But in practice, the administration's declarations have exactly the opposite effect.

It's not just that Washington has very little credibility on the issue, given all the evidence linking the U.S. to torture that has surfaced in recent years, including the opinion of the international body charged with observing detainee treatment. More importantly, by continuing to battle with the ICRC and other international organizations over the definition of torture, the Bush administration is undermining those groups and diminishing their chances of protecting captured U.S. troops in the future."


"It's not a minor dispute. Every time Bush asserts that the U.S does not torture, he is not just undermining his own credibility, he's diminishing the Red Cross too. "It's a downward spiral," says Elisa Massimino, Washington Director of Human Rights First. "If I'm the ICRC and I'm visiting prisoners in, say, Egypt, the Egyptians will say 'What are you going to do? The U.S. says this isn't torture'."



The Danger of Bush's Torture(d) Stance

WH Press Briefing, October 4 2007

VIDEO: TORTURE EDITION: WH Press Briefing, October 4 2007
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x59861

"The United States does not torture."

=================
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071004-4.html
Press Briefing by Dana Perino
James S. Brady Briefing Room - 12:42 P.M. EDT

Play Video = Entire Press Conference Video (Windows) http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071004-4.html

MS. PERINO: Good afternoon. I do not have anything to start with, so we can go to questions.

Deb?

Q Just generally, does the administration -- does the President believe that head-slapping and simulated drowning are necessary tactics to use against suspected terrorists to keep America safe? ...........