US invites UN torture investigator to Guantanamo

[Eugene]

US invites UN torture investigator to Guantanamo
28 Oct 2005 21:41:19 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON, Oct 28 (Reuters) - The United States on Friday invited
three U.N. human rights investigators, including the one who examines
torture allegations, to visit the Guantanamo Bay prison camp in a bid
to show "we have nothing to hide."

Human rights activists have criticized the United States for the
indefinite detention of the roughly 505 detainees being held at the
prison for foreign terrorism suspects at the U.S. naval base at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The Pentagon said the three would be permitted to observe operations
at Guantanamo "and ask questions of the command, staff and U.S.
officials who would accompany them."

But Lt. Col. Mark Ballesteros, a Pentagon spokesman on detainee
issues, said they would not be allowed to speak to detainees because
that was the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC).

<snip>

More: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N28562556.htm

[bemildred]

1. Feeling the heat, are they? nt

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. How does all that square with this?????

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/index.cfm?Page=Article&ID=5221


>>U.S. Operatives Killed Detainees During Interrogations in Afghanistan and Iraq

NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union today made public an analysis of new and previously released autopsy and death reports of detainees held in U.S. facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of whom died while being interrogated. The documents show that detainees were hooded, gagged, strangled, beaten with blunt objects, subjected to sleep deprivation and to hot and cold environmental conditions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, October 24, 2005, CONTACT: [e-mail]

CIA, Navy Seals and Military Intelligence Personnel Implicated

NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union today made public an analysis of new and previously released autopsy and death reports of detainees held in U.S. facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of whom died while being interrogated. The documents show that detainees were hooded, gagged, strangled, beaten with blunt objects, subjected to sleep deprivation and to hot and cold environmental conditions.

“There is no question that U.S. interrogations have resulted in deaths,” said Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU. “High-ranking officials who knew about the torture and sat on their hands and those who created and endorsed these policies must be held accountable. America must stop putting its head in the sand and deal with the torture scandal that has rocked our military.”

The documents released today include 44 autopsies and death reports as well as a summary of autopsy reports of individuals apprehended in Iraq and Afghanistan. The documents show that detainees died during or after interrogations by Navy Seals, Military Intelligence and “OGA” (Other Governmental Agency) -- a term, according to the ACLU, that is commonly used to refer to the CIA.<<

[don954]

3. and they yell, quick! everyone put away the whips and chains!

[Ms. Clio]

4. "not allowed to speak with the detainees" but can talk to the torturers

Yeah, that sounds like a credible investigation.

These people never cease to infuriate me with their absolute contempt for our intelligence.

[Sinistrous]

5. Just give 'em time to set up their pretty Potemkin Village ... n/t

[ninkasi]

6. What an impartial investigation...

interview the jailers, but not the prisoners. I'm really, really sure that the torturers...ah, I mean jailers...will answer completely truthfully. "Did you torture anyone?" "Oh, no, I swear...I brought them hot chocolate and fluffy pillows, and read them all bedtime stories...no torture here!""

Completely impartial, and unbiased. Just like the rest of the Bush administration.

[Jim Sagle]

7. He'll check in but he won't check out.