David Sirota, Jacob Wheeler, and David Moberg blog live for In These Times this week from the Democratic National Convention!

Torture By Another Name

The origins of “enhanced interrogation techniques” can be traced to the German Gestapo

By H. Candace Gorman

On May 15, America was treated to a televised celebration of war, torture and indefinite detention—the South Carolina Republican primary debate. Blending politics with Hollywood, moderator Brit Hume spun a hypothetical question involving the proverbial “ticking time-bomb” scenario. The candidates all tried to out-do each other over who could be trusted to best disregard fundamental constitutional principles. It was close,… return to article

  • subscribe to print magazine

  • Zoom OutZoom In Reader Comments (2)

    Page 1 of 1 pages

    H. Candace Gorman says, Gonzales, “… falsely concluded that language in the Geneva Conventions, specifically the prohibition on “outrages upon personal dignity” and “inhumane treatment,” were “undefined” and “difficult to interpret.”

    ... and then, “Thanks to these legal halfwits, the door to full-blown torture swung wide open, inviting in the physical abuse, psychological injury, physical abuse and death that followed.”

    Well, Ms Gorman, when you describe U.S. methods of interrogation as “full-blown” and “wide open” torture you are alluding to your client Al-Ghizzawi, who, “… was subjected to the most brutal forms of torture.”

    You can’t give the details of Al-Ghizzawi’s abuse “because he still will not talk directly about it.” Except for sleep disruption, environmental adjustment and prisoner isolation we are left to our imaginations. However, your statement, “...torture is torture...by any other name...” is just NOT true.

    I suggest you check out what it is we are trying to prevent by reading how the other half handles interrogation. The provide photos and a manual — a sort of Torture for Dummies.

    http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110010125

    United States Posted by whattheheck on Jun 14, 2007 at 12:26 PM

    “Nevertheless, he was subjected to the most brutal forms of torture. I can’t give you the details of Al-Ghizzawi’s abuse because he still will not talk directly about it. He alludes to the brutality and one day I am confident he will talk.”

    So if he won’t talk about it and only “alludes” to it, how can you say with such confidence: “he was subjected to the most brutal forms of torture”?

    And how in the world are you justified in making this fruitcake association:

    When the Nazis first put pen to paper regarding “enhanced techniques” their primary aim was to not leave physical signs of torture. In Bush speak, this is referred to as a “softening” method.

    I don’t think calling people Nazis is going to help your case, counselor.  Your client may be getting a bum rap here, it happens, but keep in mind that these people are taught to lie, and many who have been released have been recaptured doing exactly what they denied doing in the first place.

    In an overall sense, it’s very hard to argue that the U.S. military’s motives are more impure than that of Islamic radicals.  Most people aren’t buying that implication, which you’re clearly trying to make with this article.

    United States Posted by Natalie on Jun 15, 2007 at 12:25 PM
    Page 1 of 1 pages

  • register a new account »Posting Security

    To participate in our forums, please register for a free account.
     

    Retreive lost password »

Article Appeared in this Issue

Full contents
Past issues

Also by H. Candace Gorman
  • A Kinder, Gentler Torture
  • The Hippocratic Oath Dies in Gitmo
  • Catch-22 in the 21st Century
    Government censors are making like Joseph Heller's character Yossarian and blacking out random information in letters from Guantánamo that has nothing to do with "national security"
  • Third Time’s the Charm?
    The military didn't even bother to retain most of the documents from the Combatant Status Review Tribunals conducted in 2004, so the government has no documents showing any reason for holding these men
  • Suicide and Spin Doctors
    There are many ways for the oppressor to force himself into the mind of the oppressed, but one surefire way is through indefinite detention. Never knowing when--or if--you will be released is a cruel form of psychological torture and allows you to keep hope while simultaneously filling you with fear
  • Inside the Secret Facility
    In an Orwellian twist, the U.S. government monitors all correspondence between a Guantánamo attorney and her client
Popular Discussions