what else did anyone expect? Both wars are illegal. Armed forces personnel being sent out there would have quickly sussed that out. So the only way to keep them on side was to let them off the leash encourage vile behaviour and in so doing corrupt and make accessories of the lot of them. And back home the civvy pop dropped themselves in it by voting back in a known war criminal.

The whole of America is guilty.

Thanks for that information. Would you mind telling me if you are a doctor?

May 7, 2004 - CIA Office of Inspector General [John Helgerson] issues the report on its review of CIA “Counterterrorism, Detention and Interrogation Activities, September 2001-October 2003” [54] Jane Mayer says: “[Helgerson] was “called in by Cheney to discuss his tough report […] proving that Cheney knew even then of the allegations […] The report had been described as very disturbing and full of terrible descriptions of mistreatment.” Scott Horton: “it appears as a result of these [Helgerson/Cheney] meetings the IG’s report was simply shut down” [55] and “All the indicators are that the CIA’s inspector general found that the extraordinary renditions program was unlawful and he demanded accounting for it. […]Freeing up the inspector general to finish his review and render a final report would be an obvious next step.” [58] For Richard Clarke’s views on Rendition see [59] On March 2, 2009, a letter to the judge overseeing FOIA litigation reveals that ninety-two CIA interrogation video tapes were destroyed, and that this information is included in the CIA Office of Inspector General’s Special Review Report [111] Helgerson’s report was opposed by Scott Muller, Counsel to the Clandestine Service. Muller attended a meeting at the WH with Gonzales, Addington and [NSC lawyer] Bellinger, in which possible tape destruction was discussed. [119]

May 10, 2005 - Memo OLC [from Bradbury] to unknown recipient concludes that CIA interrogation methods are legal, and based on information about actual CIA interrogations; provides explicit authorization to barrage terror suspects with a combination of painful physical and psychological tactics; This memo is released on April 16, 2009. One of the changes from previous memos is that it requires a tracheotomy kit to be present while a prisoner is being waterboarded. [159] [47] In an e-mail dated April 28, 2005, Deputy Attorney General Comey opposes the conclusions in this memo. The e-mail is leaked to the NYT on June 6, 2009. [151][152] See also April 22, 26, 27, May 30 and 31, 2005.

Sources:

http://www.webdsi.com/jebbie/tline.html

The autopsy report on patient ME 03-067 is one pathetic medical report from any number of points of view.

First, the victim was found lying on the floor. I assume that he was unconscious but the report doesn't say. The victim could have been comatose or conscious for all the report doesn't say. Did anyone check for level of consciousness. Were pupils reactive? Was there a reaction to deep pain stimulus: twisting nose hairs or brushing the cornea? Were deep tendon reflexes intact? There is a reference in the opinion at the very end that the victim was obtunded, ie had a decreased level of consciousness but given what I just wrote all it means is that the victim was not "fully" conscious. Well, duh.

Second, what were this guy's vitals? Blood pressure above everything, pulse rate, was pulse regular? Instead we get his axillary temp of 102, why would anyone include this, it's high but not extravagantly high, as the victim's only salient vital unless dehydration secondary to hyperthermia was suspected?

Third, breathing was described as shallow, what was the respiratory rate? His O2 sat is described as "decreased". What does the hell does that mean? Give me a number. 95%, 85%, dead?

Fourth, "decreased sweating" was noted. Again this is not the first thing you would remark unless you already knew you were looking for signs of dehydration. Normally you would notice if the skin was hot or cool or dry or moist and describe it so. When you mention decreased sweating, you are really already pointing to a clinical diagnosis. One of the last sentences states that temps in the area were grater [sic] than 110 degrees.

Fifth, if you are thinking hyperthermia why were no wet rags or water immersion used to bring the temp down?

Sixth, the failure to get venous access. This could be secondary to the victim's dehydration or it could have been a function of arteriovenous collapse. When peripheral access could not be obtained why was central access, like a subclavian insertion, not tried? Transrectal administration of fluids just seems dumb to me. Like it was better than nothing so we did that. And when was this guy intubated (again an indication that he wasn’t really very conscious because his gag reflex did not kick in)?

Seventh, how long did they work to resuscitate this guy, how long did the trip to the hospital take that he was pronounced DOA?

Eighth, his lungs weighed 1650 grams and should have weighed about half that. They were "deep red purple" which is not how a normal lung should look but consistent with the pulmonary congestion described. Basically, his lungs weren't oxygenating his blood properly and his heart wasn't clearing the lungs leading to an excess build up of fluid and blood in the lungs.

Ninth, the bladder contained only a miniscule amount of urine consistent with extreme dehydration. It is described as yellow-brown and concentrated but indication of its specific gravity is not given.

Tenth, the opinion at the end says the cause of death is consistent with heat stroke. Again this is sloppy non-medical terminology, good for a general story but not a medical report. The guy died of cardiac arrest secondary to dehydration secondary to hyperthermia secondary to torture.

Eleventh, which makes the finding of "accidental" in the manner of death, not just a joke but malpractice.

Its pretty obvious that the entire discourse about torture and its legality would read quite differently today if it WAS ALWAYS discussed in these terms. What kind of mad ass could possibly wonder if it was torture or if the people who sanctioned it should be proseucted with horrifying examples like these. And who would wonder about the resentment towards Americans in the muslim and Arab world with crimes like this so readily visible to anyone but Americans.