- Currently, there is a debate over the legitimacy of America's
use of 'Waterboarding' as a legal practice, in ongoing attempts to use
these archaic practices and procedures: when it comes to the treatment
of detainees in the Cheney-Bush-Wars on terror.
-
- The most recent controversy was sparked by questions
directed to Michael Mukasey, the current nominee for US Attorney General,
before the Senate Judiciary Committee. In his response to questions about
the practice of Waterboarding, as to whether or not this actually constitutes
"torture," the nominee said that "If it is torture"
then "it would be unconstitutional." The impression he left
was that he had no way to know that Waterboarding was indeed torture-and
that he therefore could not render an opinion.
-
- To end this game of hypothetical responses throughout
the Cheney- Bush White House, there is a relatively simple and very direct
way to arrive at the truth. All those in positions of authority on this
matter (those culpable within the chain of command that created this
treatment): Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Powell, Wu, Rice, Gonzalez, &
Chertoff, along with all former generals who authorized this procedure,
along with Mukasey should all be sent down to the US Navy's training facility
in San Diego, where the Waterboarding procedure is taught under the auspices
of Homeland Security.
-
- To get to the bottom of this question: Of whether or
not Waterboarding qualifies as "torture," the full procedure
should be administered to each and every one of those people responsible
for this "procedure" on camera, in separate isolated cells,
in the same way it is used on detainees. This would yield conclusive
proof of the degree to which this practice developed during the
Inquisition is still as vile and repugnant a practice today as it
was all those hundreds of years ago.
-
- These open-to-the-public tapes of these demonstrations
ought to put to rest forever any further questions, concerning the use
of Waterboarding as part of our treatment of those we consider to be
hostile to our invasions or occupations around the world today. Any potential
violations to the 'right of privacy' that these individuals might wish
to raise, would of course be overruled by the importance to the public
of the results of the outcomes of this demonstration.
-
- "A top U.S. advisor on terrorism has publicly denounced
the interrogation technique of 'waterboarding' as a form of torture.
On Wednesday, Malcolm Nance said he had witnessed hundreds of waterboarding
exercises while working at the US departments of Homeland Security, Special
Operations and Intelligence. Nance says the practice is taught at a US
Navy training facility in San Diego. Waterboarding simulates the experience
of drowning by strapping a victim to a board and forcing water into their
lungs through a cloth covering the face." (1)
-
- While this might present a medical threat to people such
as Cheney with his number of heart problems, it should none the less be
undertaken, as medical pre-conditions are not currently recognized by
those administering these practices in the field-Therefore since the administration
maintains that this is "not torture" they should have no objections
whatsoever to a public demonstration of what they allege are the "facts,"
concerning what so many others around the world consider to be the 'most
iconic' example of outright torture that the US is using in its military
prison systems around the world today.
-
- If these high-profile politicians and military officials
refuse to participate in this public display, to prove or disprove what
Waterboarding does to its victims: they should immediately be relieved
of their official duties and be charged with the War Crimes that they
have individually been instrumental in creating by their approval and
participation in its continued abhorrent practice.
-
- Of course this proposal is a natural 'Catch 22' but then
if the politicians and the military can use these kinds of tactics against
all the men and women in the military, and the populations they have
invaded and continue to occupy then they shouldn't mind acceding
to this simple yet sincere request.
-
- kirwanstudios@sbcglobal.net
-
- 1) Attorney General Nominee's Confirmation in Doubt Over
Waterboarding Stance
- http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/11/01/1345202
-
- Background: Taxi to the Dark Side
- http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18635.htm?
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