U.S. Can't Hide Torture Claims

The Bush administration continues to insist that the torture of detainees in its war on terror was carried out only by a few bad apples. But there have been reports of hundreds of incidents throughout the gulag of detainee camps - in Afghanistan, Iraq, Guantanamo Bay and even the United States. There have also been reports of approximately 30 unexplained deaths of detainees while in coalition hands. We are assured that they are all being investigated.The Bush administration does not see any connection with suspending some of the Geneva conventions and redefining torture to mean damage of internal organs and breaking of bones. This somehow makes things like mock executions OK.We are also exporting detainees to other countries that do not share our new-found concern for fair treatment of detainees. I fail to see how outsourcing torture absolves us of any culpability.

NICK REINA

Milmay

Letter Published in Atlantic City Press, March 18, 2005