When Gitmo and Abu Ghraib Come Home

[Nikki Stone1]

http://www.counterpunch.org/

The Louisiana Board that licenses psychologists is facing a growing legal fight over torture and medical care at the infamous Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib prisons.

In 2003, Louisiana psychologist and retired colonel Larry James watched behind a one-way mirror in a U.S. prison camp while an interrogator and three prison guards wrestled a screaming near-naked man on the floor.

The prisoner had been forced into pink women’s panties, lipstick and a wig; the men then pinned the prisoner to the floor in an effort “to outfit him with the matching pink nightgown.” As he recounts in his memoir, Fixing Hell, Dr. James initially chose not to respond. He “opened thermos, poured a cup of coffee, and watched the episode play out, hoping it would take a better turn and not wanting to interfere without good reason…”

Although he claims to eventually find “good reason” to intervene, the Army colonel never reported the incident or even so much as reprimanded men who had engaged in activities that constituted war crimes. ...

...Dr. Trudy Bond, a psychologist under an ethical obligation to report abuse by other psychologists, filed a complaint against Dr. James before the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists in February 2008.

Dr. Bond’s complaint says that Dr. James’ conduct violated Louisiana laws governing his psychology license. As a psychologist and military colonel, he had a duty to avoid harm, to protect confidential information, and to obtain informed consent, as well as to prevent and punish the misconduct of his subordinates. ...


(More at the link.)

[midnight]

1. K&R!!

[Nikki Stone1]

2. Do you remember a Law and Order episode like this?

Psychiatrist comes home after overseeing torture and tries to prove to herself that it had a beneficial element because she couldn't live with herself. She ended up killing her patient. The guy in this story is unrepentant, though.

[Echo In Light]

3. Auh, more sick, all american evil

[Nikki Stone1]

4. But apparently, people feel worse about kittens

than people.

[gratuitous]

5. I hope I never have to find out how I'd react

I suspect that like Dr. James, I'd initially watch it play out, and not interfere with what I would assume were professionals trying to do a tough job under difficult conditions. But I hope that, given time to reflect on it, and perhaps after doing a little reading up on the subject of torture and its illegality, I'd do the right thing. Glad I'm not in the situation, but if I was on the review panel, I'd have some real hard questions for Dr. James and be uninclined to listen to any excuses.

[Nikki Stone1]

6. It's a tough spot to be sure.

And he's an academic, probably on a grant.

[Echo In Light]

7. "Never underestimate the cowardice & servitude of intellectuals." - Chomsky

[Nikki Stone1]

8. God, that's so right.

Where did he say that?

[Echo In Light]

10. In response to the harsh attacks on journalist Greg Palast re Reagan's death

[Nikki Stone1]

11. Do you have a link for that?

He is so right about the cowardice in academics.

[Echo In Light]

12. I'm guessing you doubt its legitimacy

Here you go:

http://www.gregpalast.com/killer-coward-con-man-rngood-riddance-gipper/

[Nikki Stone1]

9. And I'm assuming this was unrec'd because it does not belong on the greatest page

LOL!!!

What a crock.