When We Torture: The Dept for Taking Down America's Worldwide Reputation (NYT Kristof) [View All]

[Land Shark]

In the event this has been previously posted, it is well worth re-posting because it illustrates how America's moral, ethical, and political leadership of the world are being systematically destroyed by practicing either inhumane treatment as well as by practicing torture (regardless of whatever name any one chooses to call it). And both practices are illegal under international law regardless of whether a treaty's been signed -- even in times of war there are no exceptions for torture and inhumane/degrading treatment....

February 14, 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/opinion/14kristof.html?th&emc=th

When We Torture

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

The most famous journalist you may never have heard of is Sami al-Hajj, an Al Jazeera cameraman who is on a hunger strike to protest abuse during more than six years in a Kafkaesque prison system. {…} Mr. Hajj is one of our forgotten prisoners in Guantánamo Bay.

{…}

After Mr. Hajj was arrested in Afghanistan in December 2001, he was beaten, starved, frozen and subjected to anal searches in public to humiliate him, his lawyers say. The U.S. government initially seems to have confused him with another cameraman, and then offered vague accusations that he had been a financial courier and otherwise assisted extremist groups.

{…}

Mr. Hajj began his hunger strike more than a year ago, so twice daily he is strapped down and a tube is wound up his nose and down his throat to his stomach. Sometimes a lubricant is used, and sometimes it isn’t, so his throat and nose have been rubbed raw. Sometimes a tube still bloody from another hunger striker is used, his lawyers say.

{….} He is allowed a Koran, but his glasses were confiscated so he cannot read it. All this is inhumane, but also boneheaded. Guantánamo itself does far more damage to American interests than Mr. Hajj could ever do.

To stand against torture and arbitrary detention is not to be squeamish. It is to be civilized.

much more at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/opinion/14kristof.html?th&emc=th

a tip of the hat to kpete for posting this on its day of first publication, but it didn't get enough attention then: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2862368

Please k&R for more visibility and read the NYT link, thanks!!