t r u t h o u t - Patrick Jarreau | Torture Scandal Grows and Threatens to Reach George Bush: "By Patrick Jarreau | Le Monde | Friday 11 June 2004
The American president appeared to be in trouble Thursday. Several official reports have attempted to provide a legal foundation for the practice of torture. How did the White House follow up on these texts? 'We stayed within the framework of the law,' dodged Mr. Bush.
...
However another subject has slipped into the news, to the point of disrupting the White House leader's press conference Thursday June 10 in Savannah Georgia at the conclusion of the G-8 meeting: had soldiers and CIA agents been authorized to torture prisoners in the "war against terror" in Afghanistan, at Guantánamo Bay or elsewhere?
A week ago, the American press revealed the existence of several documents generated by the Justice and Defense Departments which offer legal justification for the practice of torture. According to the jurists who drew these reports up, torture could be justified in law in the framework of executive orders given by the President of the United States in his role as commander in chief, the ultimate person responsible for Americans' security.
In this case, the documents assert, civilian or military officials who would act in compliance with such orders would not be liable to prosecution, whether on the basis of the American Constitution, which forbids "cruel punishments", or on the basis of American law forbidding torture. In other words, the United States could dispense with compliance with the International Convention Against Torture, even though it ratified it in 1994. ...
Monday, June 14, 2004
Legalizing Torture: Bush administration briefs lay out shocking and immoral set of justifications for torture: Theirs is the logic of criminal regimes
Legalizing Torture (washingtonpost.com): "Wednesday, June 9, 2004; Page A20
THE BUSH administration assures the country, and the world, that it is complying with U.S. and international laws banning torture and maltreatment of prisoners. But, breaking with a practice of openness that had lasted for decades, it has classified as secret and refused to disclose the techniques of interrogation it is using on foreign detainees at U.S. prisons at Guantanamo Bay and in Afghanistan and Iraq. This is a matter of grave concern because the use of some of the methods that have been reported in the press is regarded by independent experts as well as some of the Pentagon's legal professionals as illegal. The administration has responded that its civilian lawyers have certified its methods as proper -- but it has refused to disclose, or even provide to Congress, the justifying opinions and memos.
This week, thanks again to an independent press, we have begun to learn the deeply disturbing truth about the legal opinions that the Pentagon and the Justice Department seek to keep secret. According to copies leaked to several newspapers, they lay out a shocking and immoral set of justifications for torture. ...
There is no justification, legal or moral, for the judgments made by Mr. Bush's political appointees at the Justice and Defense departments. Theirs is the logic of criminal regimes, of dictatorships around the world that sanction torture on grounds of "national security." ...
THE BUSH administration assures the country, and the world, that it is complying with U.S. and international laws banning torture and maltreatment of prisoners. But, breaking with a practice of openness that had lasted for decades, it has classified as secret and refused to disclose the techniques of interrogation it is using on foreign detainees at U.S. prisons at Guantanamo Bay and in Afghanistan and Iraq. This is a matter of grave concern because the use of some of the methods that have been reported in the press is regarded by independent experts as well as some of the Pentagon's legal professionals as illegal. The administration has responded that its civilian lawyers have certified its methods as proper -- but it has refused to disclose, or even provide to Congress, the justifying opinions and memos.
This week, thanks again to an independent press, we have begun to learn the deeply disturbing truth about the legal opinions that the Pentagon and the Justice Department seek to keep secret. According to copies leaked to several newspapers, they lay out a shocking and immoral set of justifications for torture. ...
There is no justification, legal or moral, for the judgments made by Mr. Bush's political appointees at the Justice and Defense departments. Theirs is the logic of criminal regimes, of dictatorships around the world that sanction torture on grounds of "national security." ...
Bush bluntly told by European and Arab allies that a Palestinian-Israeli peace solution was vital for stable Iraq
News: "Allies warn Bush that stability in Iraq demands Arab-Israeli deal | By Rupert Cornwell in Georgia | 10 June 2004
President Bush yesterday was bluntly told by European and Arab allies alike that a serious new push for a Palestinian-Israeli peace solution was vital if his vision of a stable Iraq at the heart of a reformed Middle East were to have any chance of success.
Boosted by the unanimous United Nations vote on sovereignty, Mr Bush used the first day of the G8 summit here to try and advance his agenda for Iraq, seeking to widen the role of Nato, gain relief for Baghdad's debt, and launch a much-touted initiative to promote democracy in the Middle East and the Islamic world.
But the Palestinian-Israeli conflict quickly leapt to the centre of proceedings, as Tony Blair attempted to secure a US commitment to revitalise the virtually moribund "road map" towards a comprehensive settlement. President Jacques Chirac of France - the fiercest critic of the 2003 invasion of Iraq - warned that "real progress" toward a peace deal was a "precondition" of any successful attempt at reform of the region.
But despite some nods of assent, there was little sign that Washington has agreed to a major rethink of its Middle Eastern policies, and its embrace of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's controversial plan to withdraw from Gaza. ...
President Bush yesterday was bluntly told by European and Arab allies alike that a serious new push for a Palestinian-Israeli peace solution was vital if his vision of a stable Iraq at the heart of a reformed Middle East were to have any chance of success.
Boosted by the unanimous United Nations vote on sovereignty, Mr Bush used the first day of the G8 summit here to try and advance his agenda for Iraq, seeking to widen the role of Nato, gain relief for Baghdad's debt, and launch a much-touted initiative to promote democracy in the Middle East and the Islamic world.
But the Palestinian-Israeli conflict quickly leapt to the centre of proceedings, as Tony Blair attempted to secure a US commitment to revitalise the virtually moribund "road map" towards a comprehensive settlement. President Jacques Chirac of France - the fiercest critic of the 2003 invasion of Iraq - warned that "real progress" toward a peace deal was a "precondition" of any successful attempt at reform of the region.
But despite some nods of assent, there was little sign that Washington has agreed to a major rethink of its Middle Eastern policies, and its embrace of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's controversial plan to withdraw from Gaza. ...
Saturday, June 12, 2004
Bush's Call for Arab Democracy: discredited salesman easy to snub: allies refuse to attend: excessive deference to Israel: indifference to torture
The New York Times > Opinion > A Call for Arab Democracy: "Published: June 12, 2004
... rightly placed the Arab world's democracy deficit on the global agenda. President Bush is to be commended for using the meeting to elevate so important an issue. In securing a G-8 statement calling for reform in the Middle East, he overcame European wariness about the wisdom of calling for democracy in that region, not to mention America's own history of championing the "stability" provided by authoritarian regimes. ...
The G-8 is essentially calling for others to act. One indication of how enthusiastically Middle Eastern leaders will respond to a call for democratic reform is the fact that some of America's closest allies in the Arab world declined to attend the meeting, even though all they were being asked to do was pretend to be interested in the subject. Nations' leaders usually jump at an opportunity to attend the G-8, but upon learning the agenda, the leaders of countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait and Morocco developed schedule conflicts.
President Bush, sadly, is a much discredited salesman for his own campaign, so it is easier for these leaders to snub him. His decision to promote democracy in the region late last year, as the soured occupation of Iraq continued, raised questions about his motivation. The G-8 statement includes a nod toward the need to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But President Bush's excessive deference to Ariel Sharon on Israeli settlements — along with his indifferent response to the American military's torturing of Iraqi prisoners — has undermined his credibility in the Arab world.
The lack of interest in democracy shown by President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt is inexcusable, but it's hard to blame him for not wanting to rush back to Mr. Bush's side, given the humiliation he endured after his Washington visit in April. President Bush assured him then that the United States would remain a credible mediator for a Middle East peace, only to change his tune a few days later when Mr. Sharon was in town.
... rightly placed the Arab world's democracy deficit on the global agenda. President Bush is to be commended for using the meeting to elevate so important an issue. In securing a G-8 statement calling for reform in the Middle East, he overcame European wariness about the wisdom of calling for democracy in that region, not to mention America's own history of championing the "stability" provided by authoritarian regimes. ...
The G-8 is essentially calling for others to act. One indication of how enthusiastically Middle Eastern leaders will respond to a call for democratic reform is the fact that some of America's closest allies in the Arab world declined to attend the meeting, even though all they were being asked to do was pretend to be interested in the subject. Nations' leaders usually jump at an opportunity to attend the G-8, but upon learning the agenda, the leaders of countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait and Morocco developed schedule conflicts.
President Bush, sadly, is a much discredited salesman for his own campaign, so it is easier for these leaders to snub him. His decision to promote democracy in the region late last year, as the soured occupation of Iraq continued, raised questions about his motivation. The G-8 statement includes a nod toward the need to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But President Bush's excessive deference to Ariel Sharon on Israeli settlements — along with his indifferent response to the American military's torturing of Iraqi prisoners — has undermined his credibility in the Arab world.
The lack of interest in democracy shown by President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt is inexcusable, but it's hard to blame him for not wanting to rush back to Mr. Bush's side, given the humiliation he endured after his Washington visit in April. President Bush assured him then that the United States would remain a credible mediator for a Middle East peace, only to change his tune a few days later when Mr. Sharon was in town.
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
G8 support 'just, comprehensive and lasting settlement to the Arab-Israeli-conflict' based on U.N. resolutions
Excite - News: "Arab-Israeli Peace Stressed in G8 Mideast Plan | Jun 9, 6:07 pm ET
SEA ISLAND, Ga. (Reuters) - The Group of Eight stressed the need to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict when they launched an initiative on Wednesday for political and economic reform in the broader Middle East region.
'Our support for reform in the region will go hand-in-hand with our support for a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement to the Arab-Israeli-conflict' based on U.N. resolutions, [.. how does this reconcile with Bush's recent endorsement of Sharon's actions outside the un resolutions?] said a statement issued by the G8 major industrial nations at their summit in Sea Island, Georgia.
As part of the drive, the so-called Quartet that is mediating in Middle East peace efforts will return to the region by the end of the month, the G8 agreed on Wednesday, according to G8 sources."
...
The statement said that the "resolution of long-lasting, often bitter disputes, especially the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is an important element of progress in the region."
SEA ISLAND, Ga. (Reuters) - The Group of Eight stressed the need to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict when they launched an initiative on Wednesday for political and economic reform in the broader Middle East region.
'Our support for reform in the region will go hand-in-hand with our support for a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement to the Arab-Israeli-conflict' based on U.N. resolutions, [.. how does this reconcile with Bush's recent endorsement of Sharon's actions outside the un resolutions?] said a statement issued by the G8 major industrial nations at their summit in Sea Island, Georgia.
As part of the drive, the so-called Quartet that is mediating in Middle East peace efforts will return to the region by the end of the month, the G8 agreed on Wednesday, according to G8 sources."
...
The statement said that the "resolution of long-lasting, often bitter disputes, especially the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is an important element of progress in the region."