Abu Ghraib

Omar Deghayes on Receiving Letters in Guantanamo

Spectacle — Fri, 21 May 2010 19:21:59 +0100

BBC NEWS | Health | Torturing 'does not get truth'

DrPot — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:15:32 +0100

Torture techniques used on suspected terrorists by the Bush administration may have failed to get to the truth, researchers say.
Professor Shane O'Mara of Trinity College, Dublin, said the interrogation techniques had a detrimental effect on brain functions related to memory.
He listed 10 methods of what he called torture used by the US, including stress positions and waterboarding.
His review is published in the journal, Trends in Cognitive Science.

Source: BBC NEWS | Health | Torturing 'does not get truth'

From Gitmo to Bagram | Sean Duggan | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

DrPot — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:08:54 +0100

It is disappointing that the panels responsible for reviewing the Obama administration's detention policy at Guantánamo Bay and its interrogation policy overall announced on Tuesday that they would need more time to complete their evaluations. Thankfully, though, the pending review of the Afghan prison and judicial system is on track to be completed swiftly and thoroughly by the US military at this critical juncture in the nearly eight-year-long conflict.

Source: From Gitmo to Bagram | Sean Duggan | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Bush's key men face grilling on torture and death squads | World news | The Observer

DrPot — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 09:08:15 +0100

America is bracing itself for a series of investigations that could see top officials from the administration of President George W Bush hauled in front of Congress, grilled by a special prosecutor and possibly facing criminal charges.
Several investigations will now cast a spotlight on Bush-era torture policy and a secret CIA assassination programme, examining the role played by big names such as the former vice-president Dick Cheney and the former defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
In one investigation into the controversial firing of federal prosecutors, Bush's political guru, Karl Rove, has already been forced to appear before Congress and give testimony behind closed doors.

Source: Bush's key men face grilling on torture and death squads | World news | The Observer

Top CIA officials appear before grand jury over destruction of al-Qaida interrogation tapes | World news | guardian.co.uk

DrPot — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:50:56 +0100

Senior Central Intelligence Agency officials, including the London station chief, have been brought before a grand jury in Virginia investigating the potentially illegal destruction of 92 video tapes recording the torture and interrogation of al-Qaida detainees.
A special prosecutor, John Durham, has called the CIA officials as part of an 18-month-long criminal probe in to the destruction of evidence of the agency's interrogators using waterboarding and other forms of torture against Abu Zubaydah and Abd al-Rahim al Nashiri who are described by the Americans as "high value" detainees now held at Guantánamo Bay.
Those ordered to testify include the former CIA chief, Porter J Gross.

Source: Top CIA officials appear before grand jury over destruction of al-Qaida interrogation tapes | World news | guardian.co.uk

A hero’s death redeems Abu Ghraib tormentor

Niluccio — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:24:28 +0000

AT the end of his life Santos Cardona received the affirmation he had craved. He died a “hero”, according to his hometown media, after being blown up by a bomb.

There was no mention of his previous notoriety.

Source: A hero’s death redeems Abu Ghraib tormentor

Blair wins $1m leadership prize

krease chan — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:27:21 +0000

Former prime minister Tony Blair has won $1m (£697,000) for his leadership on the world stage.
Mr Blair, now a Middle East envoy, will receive the Dan David Prize at Tel Aviv University in Israel in May.

Source: Blair wins $1m leadership prize

Sympathy for Charles Graner

fionamc — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:24:10 +0000

No one from the Bush administration has been held accountable for torture. But the guard from Abu Ghraib prison is still behind bars, and his family wants to know why.

Source: Sympathy for Charles Graner

Johann Hari: Republicans' dirty secret... torture

Patrick Corrigan — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:08:36 +0000

So what will be left of the Republican Party after next week's US election? The answer lies in the sands of Florida, where the sunshine-state Republicans have nominated an unrepentant torturer as their candidate for Congress.

Source: Johann Hari: Republicans' dirty secret... torture

Secrets of Iraq's death chamber - Middle East, World - The Independent

damianrafferty — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:03:20 +0100

"They started digging into the floor beneath the bench so that the guy would drop far enough to snap his neck," the official said. "They dug up the tiles and the cement underneath. But that didn't work. He could still stand up when they pushed him off the bench. So they just took him to a corner of the cell and shot him in the head."

Source: Secrets of Iraq's death chamber - Middle East, World - The Independent

Christopher Hitchens Waterboarded

damianrafferty — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:33:30 +0100