Pentagon admits Iraq methods violated Geneva rules

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N13622961.htm

WASHINGTON, May 13 (Reuters) - Top Pentagon officials conceded on Thursday some of the interrogation methods approved for use by the U.S. military on Iraqi prisoners may violate the Geneva Convention governing treatment of war prisoners.

The admission came as Senators investigated revelations of sexual and psychological abuse of detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad which prompted outrage around the world and undermined U.S. efforts to stabilize the occupied country.

During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Democrats confronted Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, the No. 2 official at the Pentagon, and Gen. Peter Pace, the No. 2 U.S. general, with "rules of engagement" for interrogations approved by the top commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez.

These methods included sleep and sensory deprivation, forcing prisoners to assume "stressful" body positions for up to 45 minutes, threatening them with guard dogs, keeping them isolated for longer than 30 days, and dietary manipulation.

Sen. Jack Reed asked Pace if a foreign nation held a U.S. Marine in a cell, naked with a bag over his head, squatting with his arms uplifted for 45 minutes, would that be a good interrogation technique or a Geneva Convention violation.

"I would describe is as a violation, sir," replied Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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[nodehopper]

1. In further news, the Pentagon also admitted that the sky is, indeed, blue.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. You think

now here is the problem Genreal Pace, and I hope legal told you this...

You are now liable to War Crimes, what a way to end a distinguised career, doncha think?

[NNN0LHI]

3. I seen him as he answered the question...

...and he had war crimes written all over his face. He knows he is in deep shit.

Don