Comparing articles and comments on torture:
The suppressed fact: Deaths by U.S. torture:
“So often, the premise of media discussions of torture is that “torture” is something that was confined to a single tactic (waterboarding) and used only on three “high-value” detainees accused of being high-level Al Qaeda operatives. The reality is completely different. The interrogation and detention regime implemented by the U.S. resulted in the deaths of over 100 detainees in U.S. custody — at least. While some of those deaths were the result of “rogue” interrogators and agents, many were caused by the methods authorized at the highest levels of the Bush White House, including extreme stress positions, hypothermia, sleep deprivation and others.” “The record could not be clearer regarding the fact that we caused numerous detainee deaths, many of which have gone completely uninvestigated and thus unpunished. The picture that is most commonly conveyed — that torture was confined to a small handful of cases, was highly regulated, and resulted in no long-lasting harm — is pure propaganda, completely false. The reality — that our ‘interrogation tactics’ killed numerous detainees, who, by definition, are people confined helplessly in our custody, virtually none of whom has been convicted of anything, and at least some of whom are completely innocent — is virtually never heard as part of these debates.”
Huffington Post Comment:
“To expand upon something which is primarily left out of the public discourse, the torturous acts, like waterboarding, are most often discussed or referred to in the singular aspect – such as ‘he was waterboarded 183 times in 30 days.’ What is left out is crucially important for a clearer view of the greater picture. The torture practices were most often cumulative – and combined. Imagine the the difference (and escalation) of outraged reactions were people to be presented with a fuller picture of those 30 days. For 11 days (at a time – get it?), this person would also be deprived of sleep, experience ongoing “Torture By Music,” be broken by constant stress positions, endure extreme temperatures (back and forth), be slammed into walls (over and over), get confined to boxes (with insects) for hours at a time, have his senses deprived (in various other fashions), and have his diet manipulated. All of the latter, and much more (out of the Dark Ages) – while being waterboarded Six Times a Day. If that person was not insane before, do you think he might be after? Would he, innocent or guilty, without objective representation or trial, be willing to say anything – maybe even recite pre-written propaganda points/plots to be used in the media at a later time? Would he, innocent or guilty, ever be able to recover, not just from thirty days of this – but from years of it? These were War Crimes. The people deserve a complete picture. Moreover, the world awaits Justice.”
