USA Guantánamo and beyond - The continuing pursuit of unchecked executive power USA: The Guantánamo scandal continues, AI Index: AMR 51/078/2003, 29 May 2003. http://web.amuesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR510782003 Iraq: Stripped naked and humiliated by US soldiers, AI Index: MDE 14/097/2003, 25 April 2003, http://web.amesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE140972003 USA: Iraq: Responsibilities of the occupying powers, AI Index: MDE 14/089/2003, 16 April 2003, http://web arunesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE 140892003 USA International standards for all. Al Index: AMR 51/045/2003, 25 March 2003, http://web amnesty org/library/Index/ENGAMR510452003 USA : Guantánamo detainees - the legal black hole deepens, Al Index: AMR 51/038/2003, 12 March 2003, http://web.arunestv.org/library/Index/ENGAMR510382003 USA: one year on - the legal limbo of the Guantánamo detainees continues, At Index: AMR 51/002/2003, 10 January 2003, http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/FNGAMR510022003 USA: Beyond the Law: Update to Amnesty International's April Memorandum to the US Government on the rights of detainees held in US custody in Guantánamo Bay and other locations, Al Index: AMR 51/184/2002, 13 December 2002, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Inde~ENGAMR511842002 Gambia: Incommunicado detention l'ear of ill-treatment Health concern: Bisher Al-Rawi and Jamil USA: Detainees from Afghan conflict should he released or tried, Al Index: AMR 51/164/2002, 1 USA Possible disappearance Forcible return: Maher Arar. Al Index: AMR 51/159/2002, 21 October 2002 (and numerous updates) http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR511592002 USA: Human rights v. public relations. Al Index: AMR 51/140/2002. 24 August 2002, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR$11402002 USA: Amnesty International sends observer to pre-trial hearing in the John Walker Lindh case, AI Index: AMR 51/114/2002, 15 July 2002, http://web amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMRS11142002 Pakistan: Transfers to US custody without human rights guarantees, AI Index: ASA 33/014/2002, 20 June 2002, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA 330142002 USA: Memorandum to the US Government on the rights of people in US custody in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. AI Index: AMR 51/053/2002. 15 April 2002, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR510532002 USA - Military commissions: Second-class justice. AI Index: AMR 51/049/2002. 22 March 2002. http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR510492002 USA: Amnesty International's concerns regarding post September 11 detentions in the USA, AI Index: USA: Post 11 September detainees deprived of their basic rights. AI Index: MR 51/045/2002, 14 USA: Amnesty International to tour jails housing post September 11 detainees - but access to federal detention facility "stonewalled", AI Index AMR 51/025/2002, 5 February 2002, http://web anesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR510252002 Afghanistan: Urgent action needed on prison conditions, AI Index ASA 11/004/2002, 1 February 2002, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASAJ10042002 USA: Amnesty International requests access to Guantánamo base, AI Index: AMR 51/015/2002, 22 January 2002, http://web.annesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR510152002 USA: AI calls on the USA to end legal limbo of Guantánamo prisoners, AI Index: AMR 51/009/2002, 15 January 2002. http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR510092002 USA Guantánamo and beyon The continuing oursuit of unchecked executive power Afghanistan USA: Prisoners must be treated humanely, AI Index: AMR 51/004/2002, 10 January 2002, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR510042002?open&of=ENG-USA Letter to Donald Rumsfeld, AI Index: AMR 51/005/2002, 10 January 2002, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR510052002 USA: Pursuing Justice, Not Revenge, AI Index: ACT 30/068/2001, 11 December 2001, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGACT300682001 USA: Apologists for torture must be challenged, Al Index: ACT 30/063/2001, 4 December 2001, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGACT300632001 USA: Human rights must not be sacrificed for security, Al Index AMR 51/174/2001, 3 December 2001, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR511742001 USA: Fear of unfair trials/Death penalty, Zacarias Moussaoui and others. Al Index: AMR 51/172/2001, 29 November 2001, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR511722001 USA: Presidential order on military tribunals threatens fundamental principles of justice, Al Index: AMR 51/165/2001, 15 November 2001, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMRS11652001 USA: Memorandum to the US Attorney General -- Amnesty International's concerns relating to the post 11 September investigations, Al Index: AMR 51/170/2001, 1 November 2001, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR511702001 USA: Amnesty International calls for respect of detainees' rights in wake of 11 September. Al Index AMR 51/152/2001, 23 October 2001, http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGAMR511522001 USA: Letter from Amnesty International Secretary General to President George W. Bush: Attacks of 11 September 2001, Al Index: 51/144/2001. 25 September 2001. http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR511442001 INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT, 1 EASTON STREET, LONDON WC1X 0DW, UNITED KINGDOM ARTICLE, JAMES STURCKE, “GENERAL APPROVED EXTREME INTERROGATION METHODS," GUARDIAN, MARCH 30, 2005 The highest-ranking US general in Iraq authorised the use of interrogation techniques that included sleep manipulation, stress positions and the use of dogs to "exploit Arab fears" of them, it emerged today. A memo signed by Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez authorised 29 interrogation techniques, including 12 that exceeded limits in the army's own field manual and four that it admitted risked falling foul of international law, the Geneva conventions or accepted standards on the humane treatment of prisoners. The memo, dated September 14 2003, also stated that the Iraq interrogation policy was modelled on the one used at Guantánamo Bay "but modified for applicability to a theater [sic] of war in which the Geneva conventions apply". On Friday, a US court ordered the papers' release under the American Freedom of Information Act, following a request by the American Civil Liberties Union. "The memo clearly establishes that Gen Sanchez authorised unlawful interrogation techniques for use in Iraq, and, in particular, these techniques violate the Geneva conventions and the army's own field manual governing interrogations," ACLU lawyer Amrit Singh said in a statement. "He and other high-ranking officials who bear responsibility for the widespread abuse of detainees must be held accountable." The memo also authorised techniques to alter the environment of prisoners, such as adjusting temperatures or introducing unpleasant smells, in the full knowledge that "some nations may view application of this technique in certain circumstances to be inhumane". Another technique, called "fear-up harsh", aimed at "significantly increasing the fear level of a detainee", was also given the green light. Yelling, loud music and light control were also cleared "to create fear, disorientate [the] detainee and prolong capture shock". The existence of the memo had been widely rumoured in the wake of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal over the abuse of detainees by US guards. The US administration has maintained any abuse was the result of improper individual action and was not sanctioned by leaders. The memo also laid out guidance for when the controversial interrogation techniques could be used. It stated there should be "a reasonable basis to believe that the detainee possesses critical intelligence". Dogs should be muzzled and under the control of a military dog handler "to prevent contact with [the] detainee". Gen Sanchez ordered that his personal approval should be gained before the most controversial techniques were used. He has denied that he gave that permission. The ACLU has a lawsuit pending against Gen Sanchez alleging direct responsibility for the torture and abuse of detainees in US military custody. Guardian General approved extreme interrogation methods Page 2 of 2 The Abu Ghraib scandal, in which US forces physically abused and sexually humiliated Iraqi prisoners at a jail on the outskirts of Baghdad, occurred on during Gen Sanchez's command. Gen George Casey replaced him as top commander in Iraq nine months ago. The ACLU said the Pentagon initially refused to release the memo on national security grounds. Click here to read the memo: Guardian Unlimited Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005 ARTICLE, BOB HERBERT, "AMERICA A SYMBOL OF Westlaw. MAY 30, 2005, AVAILABLE ON WESTLAW AT 2005 WLNR 8545594 5/30/05 NYT A15 The New York Tinies Page 1 5/30/05 N. Y. Times A15 2005 WLNR 8545594 New York Times (NY) Copyright (c) 2005 The New York Times. All rights reserved. May 30, 2005 Section: A America, A Symbol Of... Bob Herbert This Memorial Day is not a good one for the country that was once the world's most brilliant beacon of freedom and justice. State Department officials know better than anyone that the image of the United States has deteriorated around the world. The U.S. is now widely viewed as a brutal, bullying nation that countenances torture and operates hideous prison camps at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in other parts of the world -- camps where inmates have been horribly abused, gruesomely humiliated and even killed. The huge and bitter protests of Muslims against the United States last week were touched off by reports that the Koran had been handled disrespectfully by interrogators at Guantanamo. But the anger and rage among Muslims and others had been building for a long time, fueled by indisputable evidence of the atrocious treatment of detainees, terror suspects, wounded prisoners and completely innocent civilians in America's so-called war against terror. Amnesty International noted last week in its annual report on human rights around the world that more than 500 detainees continue to be held "without charge or trial" at Guantanamo. Locking people up without explaining why, and without giving them a chance to prove their innocence, seems a peculiar way to advance the cause of freedom in the world. It's now known that many of the individuals swept up and confined at Guantanamo and elsewhere were innocent. The administration says it has evidence it could use to prove the guilt of detainees currently at Guantanamo, but much of the evidence is secret and therefore cannot be revealed. This is where the war on terror meets Never Never Land. President Bush's close confidante, Karen Hughes, has been chosen to lead a high-profile State Department effort to repair America's image. The Bush crowd apparently thinks this is a perception problem, as opposed to a potentially catastrophic crisis that will not be eased without substantive policy changes. |