Letters 5-12

Inhumane treatment

A shameful admission on national television

CBS’ premier news program 60 Minutes revealed in an interview of Jose A. Rodriguez on April 29 the US did violate the Geneva Conventions and its own laws against torture in the CIA’s treatment of detainees under the George W. Bush/ Dick Cheney administration. In a lengthy examination that also served as an advertisement for his book, “Hard Measures,” which, not coincidentally, is also published by a CBS entity, Rodriguez admitted numerous times he approved and apparently took part in actions that are illegal under international and American laws.

Although he was quite clear he did these things out of allegiance to our country, he seemed entirely unaware his devotion to that country so confused his judgment he let it overrule moral standards most of us would use to call a halt to it all.

Further, Rodriguez stated repeatedly he went back to his superiors in the administration, even as high as Vice President Cheney, to obtain prior approval for each act of inhumanity. He was led to do so not so much because of his own ethical sensitivities, but because of the need to make sure the agency would not be accused of acting without permission. He had seen other situations in which the superiors had indulged in “plausible deniability” to leave the CIA to carry the blame alone.

It turned out to be a wise precaution. His only slip-up was failing to get approval for destruction of the CIA tapes of the torturing of detainees. His impatience got the best of him, waiting for an answer from above, and he ordered the tapes shredded without higher approval.

Rodriguez seems far from the movie-inspired images of torturers. He is quiet, concerned and carefully reasoned. He took no joy in the pain he authorized or inflicted. It was all done to people who deserved it and done in the most restrained manner possible.

Yes, Kalid Sheik Mohammed was water boarded 183 times. However, Rodriguez quickly pointed out, it was only in 10-second multiple episodes each time. Also, he reported KSM could be seen counting off the 10 seconds on his fingers. Presumably, this indicates virtual drowning is no big deal. The Spanish Inquisition, which brought us this procedure, was apparently wrong about its efficacy. In any event, this detainee was the one who cut journalist Daniel Perl’s throat on camera. Rodriguez stated he could not understand how any person could do such a thing. He must have later discovered how it was possible when he was authorizing the inhumane treatment of U.S. captives.

Now we know, then, we are a country that did torture its prisoners. And those who tortured in our name have gotten away with it, even when they admitted it.

The reality is hard to face. But we must face it. We have deliberately given up our country’s claim to the high ground in its treatment of captives under our control.

Is it inhumane to cause such people pain? To put them in situations that will lead them to despair and hopelessness? To deny them sleep or food or physical protection from cold or heat? Before the destruction of the World Trade Center on 9/11, the answer to these questions was unequivocally “no.” Afterward, the equivocations began. We had to do it because we might get information to prevent another attack. We had to do it because these people were obviously guilty. We had to do it because if we did not, others might think us weak and attack us again. We had to, we had to, we had to.

No, we did not have to. We used to be better than that.

John H. Sucke

Waimea