U.S. Forces Torturing Suspects in Yemen? - Politics and Economics

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U.S. Forces Torturing Suspects in Yemen?

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06-22-2017 , 11:03 AM

champstark

aka starkwired

Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 14,838

https://apnews.com/4925f7f0fa654853b...e-with-torture

Seems likely. Would love to see charges brought against the people doing this, but it will never happen.

06-24-2017 , 09:02 AM

Louis Cyphre

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 11,025

Quote:

Originally Posted by Article

Several U.S. defense officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the topic, told AP that American forces do participate in interrogations of detainees at locations in Yemen, provide questions for others to ask, and receive transcripts of interrogations from Emirati allies. They said U.S. senior military leaders were aware of allegations of torture at the prisons in Yemen, looked into them, but were satisfied that there had not been any abuse when U.S. forces were present.
"We always adhere to the highest standards of personal and professional conduct," said chief Defense Department spokeswoman Dana White when presented with AP's findings. "We would not turn a blind eye, because we are obligated to report any violations of human rights."
In a statement to the AP, the UAE's government denied the allegations.
"There are no secret detention centers and no torture of prisoners is done during interrogations."

I am shocked - shocked- to find that torture is going on in here!

06-24-2017 , 09:18 AM

SuperUberBob

Not interesting enough

Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 48,217

America is GOAT at looking the other way when it comes to human rights abuses.

06-24-2017 , 09:39 AM

AllTheCheese

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Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 11,898

Thread title seems bad, as the entire point of the article appears to be the suggestion that US is leaving the torture to Yemeni govt and others. Maybe "US Forces Turning a Blind Eye to Torture in Yemen?"

06-24-2017 , 09:42 AM

Jbrochu

banned

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 16,054

How about, "Suspects being tortured on behalf of US forces"?

06-24-2017 , 09:51 AM

AllTheCheese

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 11,898

It's interesting to try to square this with Mattis's statements re:torture. He reportedly argued to Trump that torture was ineffective. The idea that US is handing off questions to the Yemenis and Emiratis so they may better extract answers using torture doesn't fit that perspective. Not saying it isn't what's happening, btw.

06-24-2017 , 09:53 AM

Jbrochu

banned

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 16,054

It might not be effective at extracting useful information, but it gives Trumpkins 2" long semi-rock hard boners, so there's that.

Last edited by Jbrochu; 06-24-2017 at 09:55 AM. Reason: MAGA

06-24-2017 , 10:18 AM

bobman0330

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 24,234

Well when you think about our vital national security interests in Yemen, it's only natural that we're compromising our cherished ideals to try to secure an advantage.

06-24-2017 , 10:38 AM

stinkubus

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 4,422

Placating Saudi Arabia is something of a national security interest?

06-28-2017 , 02:12 AM

#10

microbet

Solar Powered

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 56,665

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllTheCheese

If it's just what the accusation states it is likely still a war crime.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/...rture-48200048

Quote:

None of the dozens of people interviewed by AP contended that American interrogators were involved in the actual abuses. Nevertheless, obtaining intelligence that may have been extracted by torture inflicted by another party would violate the International Convention Against Torture and could qualify as war crimes, said Ryan Goodman, a law professor at New York University who served as special counsel to the Defense Department until last year

Having just read No good men among the living about Afghanistan I'm pretty skeptical that the US didn't actively participate in the torture. It may well have been there just as much before, but at least since GWB, Cheney, John Yoo, and Alberto Gonzalez torture has been part of the American way.

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