Cheney's Office Implicated in Torture of Prisoners

Cheney's Office Implicated in Torture of Prisoners

Cheney's Office Implicated in Torture of Prisoners
Vice President Dick Cheney's office was responsible for issuing the directives which led to U.S. soldiers to abuse prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a NPR interview with Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Wilkerson says he traced a trail of memos authorizing the questionable practices through Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's office directly to Cheney's vice presidential staff.

Wilkerson paraphrased the directions given to U.S. soldiers: "We're not getting enough good intelligence and you need to get that evidence, and, oh, by the way, here's some ways you probably can get it. And even some of the ways that they detailed were not in accordance with the spirit of the Geneva Conventions and the law of war."

In recent weeks, Wilkerson has been very critical of the "cabal" run by Rumsfeld and Cheney in planning the Iraq war.

The criminality of this administration is simply astonishing.

[edit on 4-11-2005 by loam]

Yes, it is astonishing, and what is even more astonishing is the gullibility of those who still support this president and his regime. I wonder how many lies they have to be caught in and how many crimes they will be allowed to commit before his supporters finally see the truth. I don't understand the blind loyalty of many who participate in this forum. So many believe that torture is acceptable, along with deaths of our military and innocent civilians, not to mention the damage done to our economy and reputation in the world. What have we gained? It is depressing.

Wilkerson says he traced a trail of memos authorizing the questionable practices through Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's office directly to Cheney's vice presidential staff.

Wilkerson paraphrased the directions given to U.S. soldiers: "We're not getting enough good intelligence and you need to get that evidence, and, oh, by the way, here's some ways you probably can get it. And even some of the ways that they detailed were not in accordance with the spirit of the Geneva Conventions and the law of war."

I'm sure that he can produce the original memos that implicate Rumsfeld and Cheney, correct?

Originally posted by jsobecky
I'm sure that he can produce the original memos that implicate Rumsfeld and Cheney, correct?

As he actually worked in a significant capacity for Cheney, I'm quite sure that is far more credible than any flippant comment to the contrary.

Dont tell me anyone is shocked by this, please. I thought eventually things would come around to bite their bums, but all this, all at once, well, its just enough to make one wonder if this is reality or just a bad long dream.

As he actually worked in a significant capacity for Cheney, I'm quite sure that is far more credible than any flippant comment to the contrary.

I thought he worked for Powell?

So, in other words, he has no proof. We are supposed to take his word for it, eh? Right...

I'm not even going to address the issue other than to say that linking to npr and political wire as your only source isn't buying you any credibility. According to those sites the President grows pot in the Oval office. This isn't a 100% always true rule. Using one mixed with a followup on a "reputable" new site can give some extra depth to a story, but not really a good idea to rely solely on those types of sites to back up your claims.

In other news "Implicated" isn't any better than gossip unless a prosecuting attorney is doing the implication.

Of course its going on, Chenney just stood up and asked for it to be ALLOWED, in the context that if the president sees an imminent threat coming he can authorise cruel and inhumane practices...

The current american government is the greatest blemish on american history, and ur vice president just made that clear.

Link

Apples and oranges. We were talking about past events; you are referring to pending legislation.

Originally posted by jsobecky

As he actually worked in a significant capacity for Cheney, I'm quite sure that is far more credible than any flippant comment to the contrary.

I thought he worked for Powell?

So, in other words, he has no proof. We are supposed to take his word for it, eh? Right...

Where was this kind of stalwart skepticism when we were told Iraq and al-Qaeda were related, or there were WMD's in Iraq, or we would be greeted with flowers?

To call the past events and pending legislation apples and oranges is absurd, given the context. Documentary evidence exists linking the DoD and the DoJ to torture as policy, and Cheney seeks to exempt the CIA from torture legislation.

Lawrence Wilkerson was Powell's Chief of Staff. The NPR source is an audio interview with the man himself, so it's hard to attack either Wilkerson or NPR as a credible source in this instance. (I've seen him make similar comments on C-Span and read the transcript of his "cabal" speech in the Financial Times. I can't paste from either.)

Clarke, O'Neil, and now Wilkerson... could be there's something up? Just maybe?

-koji K.

To call the past events and pending legislation apples and oranges is absurd, given the context. Documentary evidence exists linking the DoD and the DoJ to torture as policy, and Cheney seeks to exempt the CIA from torture legislation.

All I'm asking is, where is it? Where is this "trail of memos"?

Where was this kind of stalwart skepticism when we were told Iraq and al-Qaeda were related, or there were WMD's in Iraq, or we would be greeted with flowers?

So by this statement, you know exactly what my mindset was when those assertions were made? Really? I'm flattered.


Edit typos

[edit on 5-11-2005 by jsobecky]

I started another thread on the torture issue and had to add this here from it. Cheney's appeal to Congress for an exemption is obviously a CYA maneuver.

The Bush Administration, the CIA, and the U.S. Army now seem addicted to torture, useful or otherwise. People are tortured because this has become the practice. Generalized abuse of captives seems to be thought useful to spread dismay, disorientation, and apprehension among those resisting occupation by foreign troops....... Confirmation of all these practices has come from dozens of reports, witnesses, participants, and from leaked Red Cross, FBI, U.S. Army, and other official documents....... The reports are so numerous, consistent, and mutually supportive as to put the existence of these practices beyond doubt........ (Yet) In response to an Amnesty International demand for an independent inquiry into abuse at U.S. detention centers, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said: “The United States is leading the way when it comes to protecting human rights and promoting human dignity.”

Sorry Scott, and jsobecky, but you just can't have it both ways.

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