Long-Held Terror Suspects Now to Face Military Tribunals - Page 2

Some sections of al-Darbi's complaints have been censored. Al-Darbi does mention that since he was not permitted to use a normal restroom, he restricted his intake of food; he was not given much food, and what he was given was inedible. He mentions a place outside the cage where he was kept which held waterboards, other boards, baseball bats, chains, cuffs, hoods, and other instruments. He was hooded or blindfolded (goggled) for much of this time. He wrote: “The military guards and interrogators would show me pictures of people, and told me I must identify them and confess things about them. After they tortured me, I would say what they wanted me to say. I was fed detailed statements and names of individuals to whom I was to attribute certain activities.”

These torture techniques at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba, and at Abu Ghraib prison, outside Baghdad, are well documented. The New Yorker  describes the death of an Iraqi prisoner Manadel al-Jamadi. Death was brought about as this prisoner’s head was covered with a plastic bag, and he was shackled in what is described as a crucifixion-like pose, which prevented his being able to breathe.

When these types of measures for interrogation reached the attention of the public in America John McCain (R-AZ) introduced a bill that would require humane treatment. Although then-President G.W. Bush adamantly opposed the bill, the senate passed it by a margin of 90-9. At that time, a detention facility at Bagram Air Base, in Afghanistan, was also mentioned.

Also now scheduled for trial by military tribunal is a 30 or 31 year old citizen of Afghanistan, Obaidullah. Obaidullah’s Guantanamo Internment Serial Number is 762. He has been held for eight years three months and charged with “war crimes”. Obaidullah claimed abusive interrogation while in custody in Bagram, during a period of time when officers in charge have now acknowledged directing the use of the technique of chaining detainees’ hands above their heads in order to impose sleep deprivation.

The American Public and the Congress may have been purified in recent days, owing to the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Now, with the revelations that will certainly come with trial, perhaps the use of "enhanced interrogation" will be altogether abolished.

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Article Author: John Lake

John Lake was known for years in blogging circles as “BigBadJohnny”. The fearless crusader took on any and all comers; no politician or any corporate conglomerate was immune to his sword. Now at BlogCritics, he has expanded his writing efforts to …

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