Reports in fall of 2005 indicated that the United States has a secret network of detention centers including one Soviet era compound in Eastern Europe. These are used to transfer foreign nationals, perhaps even U.S. citizens, to foreign territory to interrogate, and possibly torture those suspected of terrorism by the Bush administration. Such activities are illegal under our own legal practice and International Law. Other reports indicated that Guantanamo base in Cuba is little more than a prison (opened in January 2001) used to interrogate and torture prisoners held incognito by the United States government. United States Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales has stated that neither accusation is true. Never the less, the United States has refused to close the Guantanamo prison camp, and all 490 plus suspected terrorists continue to be held there incommunicado and with no legal protections or defense with but several exceptions.

In February of this year more photographs were released of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq being tortured and some forced to participate in sex acts against their will.

Last week, on May third, a report issued by Amnesty International reiterated, “Torture and inhumane treatment are ‘widespread’ in U. S. run detention centers in Afghanistan, Iraq, Cuba and elsewhere (10).”

President Bush has stated, and I am paraphrasing, that the war against terror is just that and therefore normal legal procedures do not apply. Representatives of this administration including Alberto Gonzales have stated that we do not transgress the Geneva conventions. However, the reports of abuse and torture continue to accumulate.

I repeat the old adage, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

Many nations including our own allies view us as a nation that considers itself above the law, while demanding that other nations adhere to our very personal vision of world order. After the Bush administration leaves office, it will take many years and a great deal of effort to convince the nations of the world that we, the United States of America, are not a rogue nation.

Notes

1. Associated Press (May 4, 2006) UN to Review U.S. Record on Torture Ban, FOXNEWS.com. Retrieved May 4, 2006, 11:11 AM EDT from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,194200,00.html

2. Associated Press (March 22, 2006) Pentagon to Formalize Ban on Evidence Obtained Through Torture, FOXNEWS.com. Retrieved May 4, 2006, 11:14 AM EDT from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,188806,00.html

3. Associated Press (March 7, 2006) Gonzales Defends U.S. Treatment of Terror Suspects, FOXNEWS.com. Retrieved May 4, 2006, 11:21 AM EDT from http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,187073,00.html

4. CNN, Washington (November 2, 2005). Report: CIA operates secret prisons, CNN.com. Retrieved May 3, 2006, 9:56 AM EDT from http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/11/02/terror.suspects/index.html

5. CNN, United Nations (February 17, 2006). Annan: Shut Guantanamo prison camp, CNN.com. Retrieved May 3, 2006, 10:00 AM EDT from http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/16/un.guantanamo/index.html

6. CNN (February 15, 2006). More images of abuse at Abu Ghraib, CNN.com. Retrieved May 3, 2006, 10:02 AM EDT from http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/02/15/abughraib.photos/i...

7. CNN, Washington (May 3, 2006). Report: Detainee abuse claims not investigated in full, CNN.com. Retrieved May 3, 2006, 9:17 AM EDT from http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/04/26/detainee.report/index.html

8. Fox News, Washington (July 15, 2005) Millitary Lawyers Testify to Abuse at Gitmo, FOXNEWS.com. Retrieved May 4, 2006, 11:30 AM EDT from http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,162581,00.html

9. Kuro5hin, technology and culture from the trenches (October 7, 2005, 1:52 AM EST). McCain passes amendment to end torture of detainees; Bush threatens veto. Retrieved May 4, 2006, 11:06 AM EDT from http://www.kuro5hin.org/print/2005/10/6/43412/4301


10. Reuters (May 3, 2006). Amnesty: Torture 'widespread' in U.S. custody, CNN.com. Retrieved May 3, 2006, 9:53 AM EDT from http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/02/amnesty.report.reut/index.html