Surely there is finally proof the abuse at Abu Ghraib was approved by the top brass. 

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Our nation recognises that this new paradigm - ushered in not by us, but by terrorists - requires new thinking in the law of war.

I accept the legal conclusion of the attorney general and the Department of Justice that I have the authority under the Constitution to suspend Geneva as between the United States and Afghanistan, but I decline to exercise that authority at this time.


Memo signed by President Bush, 7 Feb 2002


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We conclude that neither the federal War Crimes Act nor the Geneva Conventions would apply to the detention conditions of al-Qaeda prisoners.

We also conclude that the president has the plenary constitutional power to suspend our treaty obligations toward Afghanistan during the period of the conflict.

He may exercise that discretion on the basis that Afghanistan was a failed state.

Justice Dept memo, 22 Jan 2002


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I have discussed this with the Deputy, Dough Feith and General Myers.

I believe that all join in my recommendation that, as a matter of policy, you authorise [...] only Categories I and II and the fourth technique listed in Category III ("mild, non-injurious physical contact such as grabbing, poking in the chest with the finger and light pushing").

Handwritten annotation signed D. Rumsfeld I stand for 8-10 hours a day. Why is standing limited to 4 hours?

[...]

Category II techniques:

(1) the use of stress positions (like standing), for a maximum of four hours.

(2) The use of falsified documents or reports.

(3) Use of isolation facility for up to 30 days.

(4) Interrogation of the detainee in an environment other than the standard interrogation booth.

(5) Deprivation of light and auditory stimuli.

(6) The detainee may also have a hood placed over his head during transportation and questioning. The hood should not restrict breathing in any way and the detainee should be under direct observation when hooded.

(7) The use of 20-hour interrogation.

(8) Removal of all comfort items (including religious items).

(9) Switching the detainee from hot rations to MREs (meals ready to eat).

(10) Removal of clothing. (This was later removed)

(11) Forced grooming (shaving of facial hair, etc).

(12) Using detainee individual phobias (such as fear of dogs) to induce stress.

Defence Dept memo, 2 Dec 2002

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They had soldiers trained as mechanics and weekend warriors guarding prisoners, for god's sake

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Innvertigo said:

Everyone, even civilians, know that you don't pile people up into a big homo pile.

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If I worked there, I'd probably do some fucked up shit too just for the fuck of it.

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I dont think everyone knows that.

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st0nedphucker said:

I believe that all join in my recommendation that, as a matter of policy, you authorise [...] only Categories I and II and the fourth technique listed in Category III ("mild, non-injurious physical contact such as grabbing, poking in the chest with the finger and light pushing").

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(1) the use of stress positions (like standing), for a maximum of four hours.

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(2) The use of falsified documents or reports.

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(3) Use of isolation facility for up to 30 days.

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(4) Interrogation of the detainee in an environment other than the standard interrogation booth.
(5) Deprivation of light and auditory stimuli.
(6) The detainee may also have a hood placed over his head during transportation and questioning. The hood should not restrict breathing in any way and the detainee should be under direct observation when hooded.
(7) The use of 20-hour interrogation.

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No light / sound, a hood, and 20 hour interrogation. Who cares?

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(8) Removal of all comfort items (including religious items).

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Now Mohammed the Desert Terrorist can't have his teddy bear!

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(9) Switching the detainee from hot rations to MREs (meals ready to eat).

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Treating them the same as we treat our own soldiers? Rumsfeld is the love child of hitler and satan!

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(11) Forced grooming (shaving of facial hair, etc).

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lol

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(12) Using detainee individual phobias (such as fear of dogs) to induce stress.

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Tons of bitching about this, but hardly any concern about the subhumans beheaing people. What a fucked up world.

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No light / sound, a hood, and 20 hour interrogation. Who cares?

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Tons of bitching about this, but hardly any concern about the subhumans beheaing people. What a fucked up world

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Not sure you what you're trying to say here. The abuse that took place at Abu Ghraib was repulsive as is the beheading of an innocent hostage, I find both deplorable.

Are you suggesting we should torture prisoners to exact revenge or to obtain some sense of justice?

As for the subhuman remark, you are referring to terrorists right? You may want to consider your choice of words unless you have the desire to be associated with Nazism. 

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Hmmm, I can find any mention of anal rape or photography in that list. Abu Ghraib was a just a huge blunder in my opinion. They had soldiers trained as mechanics and weekend warriors guarding prisoners, for god's sake! The sheltered prison environment didn't help either. During ww2 almost all of our POW camps were open-air and guarded by actual MPs, and almost no abuses occured.

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st0nedphucker said:

Not sure you what you're trying to say here. The abuse that took place at Abu Ghraib was repulsive as is the beheading of an innocent hostage, I find both deplorable.

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Are you suggesting we should torture prisoners to exact revenge or to obtain some sense of justice?

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As for the subhuman remark, you are referring to terrorists right? You may want to consider your choice of words unless you have the desire to be associated with Nazism. 

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Swami said:

Must have been a helluva finger poke to kill detainees in Gitmo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Is this like one of those Ninja dimak death-touch finger pokes?

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The unsanctioned behavior of a few people is as bad as having a man talk about his family, then cutting his fucking head off?

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No. I'm saying that we should put events in perspective, not simply bash the Americans / Bush's at any opportunity.

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Your little labels won't upset me at all. I don't think that anyone that values theocratic dictatorship over democracy is a human being.

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Swami said:

For many decades, abuses were allowed and encouraged in Marine boot camp training until an "accidentally" killed recruit's parents sued the Marines; then things toned down quite a bit. Was there any documentation or regulations that supported the activities that lead to the young man's death? Any specific orders? No.

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Were the brass aware of what was going on and silently condoning these hazing practices? Most certainly.

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