Torture was central to both the witch scares and the Inquisition
… under such duress, people confessed at length and in great detail to the fantastic and impossible, often also indicting others, in a spreading, spiraling cascade of fantasies. Remember also that terror regimes the world over use it delightedly to terrify and suppress dissidents within their populations. [...] And they can do this only in an environment in which there are people naive enough to believe the absurd perjuries concocted under such conditions.
Don’t be one of those people.
UK Guantanamo detainee settlements
This settlement allows the government to kick the formal inquiry about government complicity in maltreatment of Guantanamo Bay detainees to a judicial review, of which the most obvious benefit is that secret papers from the intelligence services will not be subpoenaed to be presented in an open court.
United Nations: Elder’s heatstroke death in police van possible torture or inhuman punishment
Today, a senior chemist who assisted in a re-enactment of the incident in similar conditions told the inquiry the air temperature in the back of the van reached 50.4C [123 F]. He also told the court the surface temperature of the metal floor in the back peaked at 56.6C [134 F] during the re-enactment.
“we can’t take American assurances that they do not torture detainees at face value”
Story: British MP’s raise torture concerns So some politicians have finally noticed that when one group of people define torture so that it includes waterboarding and another group defines torture so that it excludes waterboarding, then the word torture itself becomes stripped of substance in terms of the debate over the ethical and humane treatment [...]
Waterboarding Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens actually had himself waterboarded by the US Military to see whether it felt like torture to him. It did. via Pharyngula, who has links to video. Related posts: Torture was central to both the witch scares and the Inquisition Katha Pollitt: Hitchens and his writing on Women Secular Sunday: Christopher Hitchens v. evangelical [...]
The torture-murder of the toddler twins in Queensland
Helen on the Balcony says all that needs to be said. Related posts: Latest from WikiLeaks: Collateral Murder United Nations: Elder’s heatstroke death in police van possible torture or inhuman punishment The Queensland Police say I’d be a crim… Torture couture from Galliano Prosecutor in Queensland rape case has resigned
Torture couture from Galliano
Speechless. Via the SMH, the new men’s collection from John Galliano, inspired by Abu Ghraib, and complete with bleeding neck and chest wounds, black hoods, and nooses. Photos below the cut. Related posts: Torture was central to both the witch scares and the Inquisition United Nations: Elder’s heatstroke death in police van possible torture or [...]
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