President authorized torture at Abu Ghraib

That's right. The edict came from a higher power...Bush.

"FBI E-Mail Refers to Presidential Order Authorizing Inhumane Interrogation Techniques" ACLU
"Records Released in Response to Torture FOIA Request" ACLU
"Press Briefing by Scott McClellan (6/22/2004)" White House
"Press Briefing by White House Counsel Judge Alberto Gonzales, et al" White House
"President Bush Holds Press Conference Following the G8 Summit" White House
"UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment" United Nations

Recent contributions by NewStandard Staff:



Don't Believe the Denials

President Authorized Abu Ghraib Torture, FBI Email Saysby NewStandard Staff Among a new batch of documents rights groups have forced the gov't to release, a Bureau communication refers to a presidential Executive Order endorsing some forms of torture witnessed at Iraq prison.Dec. 21, 2004 – Repeated references in an internal FBI email suggest that the president issued a special order to permit some of the more objectionable torture techniques used at Abu Ghraib and other US-run prison facilities around Iraq. The email was among a new batch of FBI documents revealed by civil rights advocates on Monday. Other documents describe the initiation of investigations into alleged incidents of torture and rape at detention facilities in Iraq.

Of course he did- Does this qualify the man for impeachment at the very least???
I think so, along with Cheney and Rumsfeld. Sht rolls downhill, i've always found out- this is no different.
newstandardnews.net...
[edit on 16-11-2006 by dgtempe]

An Executive Order is a presidential edict -- sometimes public, sometimes secretive -- instituting special laws or instructions that override or complement existing legislation. The White House has officially neither admitted nor denied that the president has issued an Executive Order pertaining to interrogation techniques.

The specific methods mentioned in the email as having been approved by the unnamed Executive Order and witnessed by FBI agents include sleep deprivation, placing hoods over prisoners’ heads, the use of loud music for sensory overload, stripping detainees naked, forcing captives to stand in so-called "stress positions," and the employment of work dogs. One of the more horrifying tools of intimidation, Army canines were used at the prison to terrorize inmates, as depicted in photos taken inside Abu Ghraib.

Even if he/they authorized it, the Military Commissions Act of 2006 provides a sence of imunity for those involved.

`Sec. 948d. Jurisdiction of military commissions

`(a) Jurisdiction- A military commission under this chapter shall have jurisdiction to try any offense made punishable by this chapter or the law of war when committed by an alien unlawful enemy combatant before, on, or after September 11, 2001.

`(b) Lawful Enemy Combatants- Military commissions under this chapter shall not have jurisdiction over lawful enemy combatants. Lawful enemy combatants who violate the law of war are subject to chapter 47 of this title. Courts-martial established under that chapter shall have jurisdiction to try a lawful enemy combatant for any offense made punishable under this chapter.

`(c) Determination of Unlawful Enemy Combatant Status Dispositive- A finding, whether before, on, or after the date of the enactment of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, by a Combatant Status Review Tribunal or another competent tribunal established under the authority of the President or the Secretary of Defense that a person is an unlawful enemy combatant is dispositive for purposes of jurisdiction for trial by military commission under this chapter.

`(d) Punishments- A military commission under this chapter may, under such limitations as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe, adjudge any punishment not forbidden by this chapter, including the penalty of death when authorized under this chapter or the law of war.

source - Taken from the link at the Library of Congress, to the Government Printing Office Web Site for the pdf version.

As you can see, the law doesn't state in black and white that they are immune to charges... but it prevents those determined to be a detainee under the MCA's definitions from habeus corpus rights... which means those they detain cannot have fair representation to present their case, thus leaving themselves vulnerable to the punishment set forth by the trial by military commissions. This "implied" immunity is retroactive to 9/11/01.

Nice. Isn't it?

newstandardnews.net...
Among a new batch of documents rights groups have forced the gov't to release, a Bureau communication refers to a presidential Executive Order endorsing some forms of torture witnessed at Iraq prison

The specific acts authorized, as they list it, are not torture.

It even explicitly says that

interrogation methods that involve "physical beatings, sexual humiliation or touching" clearly constitute "abuse," suggesting they are not within the scope of the repeatedly referenced Executive Order.

The administration and military have been saying for a while now that they make people stand in uncomfortable positions, don't let them get sleep, etc.

Heck, they've even said that they are water-boarding them. This article doesn't actually seem to reveal anything.