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Possibility of torturing suspects in the US

21:47 / 18.11.01

There's an article from the Observer here, but I remember a more newsy one from the Guardian (which I can't find) which suggested that the FBI had actually raised the possibility of being allowed to torture people suspected of terrorism. Anyone have more info? (The Observer article takes the view that a few commentators have been talking about torture as an interesting moral dilemma raised by the need to get information quickly, but it's never going to happen.)

10:04 / 19.11.01

This has been around for a while. I've sort of assumed that the intelligence services torture people and don't tell anyone, but since the CIA was told not to recruit anyone with violent pasts (?!) apparently not.

And I suppose the FBI is not strictly an intelligence service. I wonder about the Secret Service though.

14:10 / 19.11.01

quote: Originally posted by The Scent of Possible entreaty:

This has been around for a while. I've sort of assumed that the intelligence services torture people and don't tell anyone.

Yeah, the 'School of America' military training camp has been teaching Latin American army officers how to torture people for years. There was an article in the Sunday Times yesterday. I'll see if I can find a link.....

14:49 / 19.11.01

I'm gonna pump Amnesty for some info. I'll let you know if I get anything- the above was useful but I want to get facts and figures prior to writing to every elected official I can find, despite not being a US citizen.

Edit- Amnesty's info on these issues, and others raised by 9/11, can be found
here.

As yet, no firm info on the torture thing: I recieved an email from Amnesty suggesting that they're waiting to see which way it goes before making their own statement. Also found some info in the Metro of all places: according to them the military tribunals are going to be a presidential call and the onus will therefore be on US politicians to oppose it. Wonder if anyone has the necessary balls? or, erm, ovaries?

[ 20-11-2001: Message edited by: Flame On ]