American torture

Jings sorry, I didnt mean that the victims of the nazis were in any way guilty, far from it, what I was trying to say, somewhat clumsily, is that blaming all Muslims for 9/11 is as bad as blaming all Germans for what happened in WW2. I too, am getting sick of the USA bashing, and they certainly didnt act alone, surely other European countries were as involved as we were? What I dont like is the vociferous USA spokesmen with the George Bush attitude of if you arent against it, you must support it. He was a spectacularly stupid man, and although I originally had very high hopes of Tony Blair and new Labour, I was soon disillusioned. On the basis of judging a man by the company he keeps, Tony was too matey with George W Bush, and when he started having family holidays with Berlusconi.........

I agree with all those who feel that torture of any description is just wrong and can only result in further barbarism.

I think it naive to imagine that this report has told people - particularly those in the countries affected - anything that they didn't know or strongly suspect already. The film footage of Guantanamo prisoners being transported round the prison compound on stretchers surely indicated something was amiss. The later reports that prisoners on hunger strike were being violently - and illegally - force fed was a further example of what was happening. The report merely confirms that these torture techniques were not carried out by "rogue elements" in the CIA but were sanctioned at a high level. Those in government may not have known exactly what techniques were being used by surely suspected what "enhanced interrogation" meant and that the term might give rise to further "enhancement".

One paragraph in the Daily Mail is surely enough to make anyone's blood run cold:

"One detainee was so brutalised he was left unable to speak and on life support. Another, chained almost naked to the floor, died from hypothermia while a third was hung by his arms from an iron bar for 22 hours."

I agree with MiceElf that the response of some commentators is shocking.

Fox News' National Security Analyst K.T. McFarland argued that the techniques were both "legal and justified" by the 9/11 terror attacks.

This was backed up by Out Numbered host Andrea Tantaros, who said:

"The United States of America is awesome, we are awesome," ... "... This administration wants to have this discussion to show us how we’re not awesome."

These are the sort of juvenile comments being made by the right wing media in America. If anything is likely to incite extremism, it is surely this attitude.

The Blair government's involvement in extraordinary rendition should also be investigated and reported upon. Unfortunately it seems that the UK also has a history of facilitating such barbarous behaviour and - as the report re Brazil has indicated - has even trained military dictatorships in the most effective torture techniques.

I agree that other countries are also guilty but they have seen what non-compliance with the wishes of the US brings. Call it US bashing if you like, but it's a fact that the USA has a history of destabilising other countries, often subverting democratic processes and causing social disorder.

I don't give Labour much credit but I am pleased to see Labour are getting behind the need for a judge-led enquiry, or at least for Blair, David Miliband , Jack Straw and to be fair others to be called before the Intelligence and Security Committee. They are at least looking like they are ready to accept any responsibility,, if indeed it is due to them.?

I think Yvette Cooper has promoted the need for a judge-led enquiry and now it would be very difficult to go back on her word.

It is going to possibly be very embarrassing for the UK and particularly for Labour Ministers at the time and for those who have had the misfortune to follow on.

It's about time the Chilcot enquiry was published too, although I think it will be a whitewash as there have been so many redactions .

Teflon Tony indeed but will this finally be his and others undoing?