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The Continuing Whitewash of the Bush/Cheney Torture Legacy

By possum

In a lengthy post at Democratic Underground on Saturday night blogger Time for change examines the ongoing coverup and whitewash of the Bush/Cheney torture regime.

Even as the convening authority of the Military Commissions at Guantanamo Bay, Susan Crawford, finally comes forward with revelations of torture at Guantanamo Bay against suspected terrorist Mohammed al-Qahtani, our corporate media and others continue to whitewash the Bush/Cheney torture legacy.

The author does state in explicit terms nothing of Crawford's statement is new.  He cites Jane Mayer in her fine book, The Dark Side, published in 2006.  The book cites a 22 page memo (PDF) by General Counsel of the U.S. Navy, Alberto Mora in which he makes an effort to halt

what he saw as a "disastrous and unlawful policy of authorizing cruelty towards terrorism suspects."

Mora describes in detail the actions being taken by U.S. personnel in interrogation of detainees.  At the time Mora stated in unequivocal terms the actions being taken were tantamount to torture.

The interrogation techniques approved by the Secretary (Donald Rumsfeld) should not have been authorized because some (but not all) of them, whether applied singly or in combination, could produce effects reaching the level of torture

Mora goes further saying

Even if the techniques as applied did not reach the level of torture, they almost certainly would constitute "cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment," another class of unlawful treatment.

Another book, Torture Team, by Philippe Sands,

delivers a scathing and timely indictment that resurrects the specter of war crimes charges for the decision-makers and their lawyers.

And still we have the Crawford revelations treated by our press as somehow new news.  The fact a member of the Bush administration at last confirms torture as an interrogation tool is new news, but many of us know the ongoing saga is old and tired.  Crawford added no new details to what was already known and discussed widely in some circles.

Time for change continues with a scathing indictment of our mainstream media.

They have utterly failed to describe the extent of the torture, leaving open the possibility that the admitted torture of al-Qahtani was the exception, rather than the rule. All of these things deserve much more emphasis than they have been given.

Our corporate news media coverage of revelations of Bush administration torture always gives the impression of isolated events that are the exception rather than the rule.

He points to a study by ACLU of 44 autopsies.

That study found 21 of the 44 deaths evaluated by autopsy to be homicides.

Since this study evaluated only a small fraction of the total detainees we may never know the full extent of either the death rate or the mistreatment.

Time for change continues with recommendations to President-elect Obama in terms of both looking forward and to holding accountable those people who participated in illegal treatment of detainees.

For those who are suspected of participating in war crimes, suspend them from service, indict them where appropriate, and in appropriate cases give some of them immunity for testifying about where there orders came from.

Holding those responsible for war crimes fully accountable for their actions will also send a very important message to the rest of the world that will go far towards restoring our moral standing in the world. It will send them the message that the American people are serious about atoning for the crimes against humanity of their leaders, and that the tragedy of the past eight years is unlikely to be repeated any time soon.

If we are to return to any measure of our roots in liberty and justice for one and all we must insure no future President or any membe of our government feels free to repeat the actions of Bush/Cheney.  It is only by careful examination of our past with appropriate punishment where indicated we have any hope of a real future in this nation.  We need not be vindictive, but we must find our way to the truth while we follow the route suggested by Alexa to insure the protection of the thousands of current detainees.  Every human being in U.S. detention is entitled to the full protection of our laws.

...all you have to do to qualify for human rights is be human.

Peace.

Full post as published by Never In Our Names on January 18, 2009 (boomark / email).