Justice Department Gets Tougher on Use of Torture

[lovuian]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimests/20050101/ts_latimes/justicedepartmentgetstougheronuseoftorture

By Richard B. Schmitt Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — Reversing course, the Justice Department (news - web sites) has adopted a revised view of what constitutes torture under federal law, rejecting an earlier department position linked to abuses of military prisoners and suspected terrorists in Cuba and Iraq (news - web sites).




"Torture is abhorrent both to American law and values and to international norms," the new analysis begins.


The opinion replaces an August 2002 Justice Department memo that implied that torture of military detainees could be justified under certain circumstances. The disclosure of that memo last summer triggered a firestorm of criticism from human rights groups, members of Congress and others.


The Bush administration later disavowed the memo and said it was working on a replacement document. Officials have also asserted that administration policy has always been to treat prisoners humanely. As a result, it was unclear whether the new position would have any effect on the treatment of detainees.

more...

I find this hugely funny!!! Obviously Bush is feeling the heat from the International Courts!!! He's only got 4 more years and then he isn't King George No mo!!!

[w4rma]

1. Maybe this idiot has learned (the hard way) why torture is BAD policy

I know the rest of the Repukes have not learned this lesson so if another is elected they'll have to relearn this lesson the hard way again.

[annabanana]

2. does this new memo go back to Geneva?

Or does it just soften the language of the first memo?

[Moderator]

3. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1111119