Justice Dept. Report Advises Pursuing C.I.A. Abuse Cases

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/24/us/politics/24detain.html?_r=1&hp

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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Subject: re: Justice Dept. Report Advises Pursuing C.I.A. Abuse Cases
To: letters@nytimes.com


To the Editor:

   Until now, we have treated reports of detainee deaths and reports of torture as two different stories. Now that the extent of an inquiry is being discussed, we must be clear.  It is not yet demonstrated that the Bush administration's "enhanced interrogation techniques" are non-lethal. When our military or our C.I.A. take custody of a prisoner, they are accountable--minimally to the Red Cross--for that prisoner's life. 

   This is not about looking back or looking forward.  The abuse or extra-judicial killing of detainees is a war crime.  If it is perceived that the U.S. commits or countenances war crimes, we will never win the allies we need to leave Afghanistan in peace.

Barry Levine