WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States tortures prisoners in violation of international law, former President Carter said Wednesday.


Former President Carter says the U.S. "has abandoned the basic principle of human rights."

"I don't think it. I know it," Carter told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

"Our country for the first time in my life time has abandoned the basic principle of human rights," Carter said. "We've said that the Geneva Conventions do not apply to those people in Abu Ghraib prison and Guantanamo, and we've said we can torture prisoners and deprive them of an accusation of a crime to which they are accused."

Carter also said President Bush creates his own definition of human rights.

Carter's comments come on the heels of an October 4 article in The New York Times disclosing the existence of secret Justice Department memorandums supporting the use of "harsh interrogation techniques." These include "head-slapping, simulated drowning and frigid temperatures," according to the Times.

The White House last week confirmed the existence of the documents but would not make them public.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/10/carter.torture/

This is related I believe. I first came across this story a few years ago, and didnt think it right then, to put officials above current laws or to change the laws to suit Bush's agenda!

It is one of the reasons, among many, that made me sorry I ever voted for Bush!!

More Reveled on Gonzalez's Role in Torture Policy

FLASHBACK:
Architect of Abu Ghraib Torture is Bush's Pick for Attorney General

More Info:
Gonzales Urged by Leahy to Reveal Prisoner Documents

Washington Post | January 4, 2005
By R. Jeffrey Smith and Dan Eggen

In March 2002, U.S. elation at the capture of al Qaeda operations chief Abu Zubaida was turning to frustration as he refused to bend to CIA ( news -web sites ) interrogation. But the agency's officers, determined to wring more from Abu Zubaida through threatening interrogations, worried about being charged with violating domestic and international proscriptions on torture.

They asked for a legal review -- the first ever by the government -- of how much pain and suffering a U.S. intelligence officer could inflict on a prisoner without violating a 1994 law that imposes severe penalties, including life imprisonment and execution, on convicted torturers. The Justice Department ( news -web sites )'s Office of Legal Counsel took up the task, and at least twice during the drafting, top administration officials were briefed on the results.

White House counsel Alberto R. Gonzales chaired the meetings on this issue, which included detailed descriptions of interrogation techniques such as "waterboarding," a tactic intended to make detainees feel as if they are drowning. He raised no objections and, without consulting military and State Department experts in the laws of torture and war, approved an August 2002 memo that gave CIA interrogators the legal blessings they sought.

Jimmy Carter = Traitor
http://www.american-partisan.com/cols/2004/gibson/qtr4/1029.htm
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/10/20/202353.shtml
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/896456/posts
http://www.corruptionchronicles.com/2006/12/more_lies_from_jimmy_carter.html

and thats just a short list. As President he sold out South Korea, America, Panama, Iran and many other countries. He has always hated the military. Carter needs to retire his mouth and to quote his own mother: “Sometimes when I look at all my children, I say to myself, "Lillian, you should have stayed a virgin."”

ill tell you what ...(definition of human rights.) did i hear you biotch that hung our boys and newcasters from the bridge.. OH OR FLEW PLANES INTO OUR BUILDINGS... you are spinless

So even though the White House admits the documents exist, you say Carter is lying???

Im not sure where your opinion stands here. I wasnt real fond of Carter as President either, but he took over at one of the lowest points in American history (Watergate, end of Vietnam war) and he is a very honorable man!

Ill be leave anything Jimmy Carter Says When Pig`s Fly and cows run n the Kentucky Derby///Txpoet said it all Traitor....

This must be the blind Bushy hour!!!

Read, THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE DOCUMENTS EXIST!!!!!!!
whether you want to believe it or not, its true!!!

I served spiney, and no one ever said a jar-head was intelligent!!

Perhaps Fanta46 you should read what it really says. The documents supporting the use of "harsh interrogation techniques." These include "head-slapping, simulated drowning and frigid temperatures.
Would you have interrogators ask them "Pretty please with sugar on it?" If you consider that torture ask some people who know about tiger cases, burning bamboo under fingernails, electric magnetos to genitals, whips, one thousand cuts with a razor blade, the breaking of bones, etc. Torture would be listening to jimmy carter for more than a few minutes. He thought he was too good to lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier. The facts are there quit trying to skew them.

Argueing with a wall, but here goes:

These INCLUDE "head-slapping, simulated drowning and frigid temperatures," according to the Times.

The White House last week confirmed the existence of the documents but would not make them public.


Now, I expect the US to act honorably and not bow to inhumane tactics merely because the enemy does.

As a soldier, you should understand that you may not be treated with equal regard, realize this is what seperates you from the enemy, and either accept it or not enlist! (We do not have a draft you know!) But thats beside the point.

To behave in such a manner makes you a MAN, not the other way around!

We are American and should act honorably, serve proudly, and not stoop to their level. Anything else makes us no better, and hypocrits to boot!!!

In other words, BUSHIES!!!!

the geneva convention doesnt really do much "during" the war....its sad really, there is torture from all sides......and the geneva convention may do something later.......when convenient...

War makes its own rules.....we never really know what happens but I think a few soldiers could tell you!

The Geneva Hague Conventions of 1907 and 1949 deal with land warfare.

The application of the preceding provisions shall not affect the legal status of the Parties to the conflict.

Art 4. A. Prisoners of war, in the sense of the present Convention, are persons belonging to one of the following categories, who have fallen into the power of the enemy:
(1) Members of the armed forces of a Party to the conflict, as well as members of militias or volunteer corps forming part of such armed forces.

(2) Members of other militias and members of other volunteer corps, including those of organized resistance movements, belonging to a Party to the conflict and operating in or outside their own territory, even if this territory is occupied, provided that such militias or volunteer corps, including such organized resistance movements, fulfil the following conditions:[
(a) that of being commanded by a person responsible for his subordinates;
(b) that of having a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance;
(c) that of carrying arms openly;
(d) that of conducting their operations in accordance with the laws and customs of war.

The bodies at Gitmo do not fall under the description of POWs they are enemy combatants. You obviously have never experienced torture by the enemy, warfare in person, and you obvious have a problem with real MEN. What you expect is the US to capitulate to insane demands of the American Communist Lawyers Union. The group who is chipping away at this country so they can march their comrades in to take over. The term isn't Bushie it is PROUD AMERICAN VET.

the war per se is a violation of the human rights
and the USA violates human rights, as well as any other countries in war
the thing because USA have a more powerful army is more evident
and USA suppose to be the world police.
it's a nice dream, just a dream

If you cant kill and torture people in war fairly than you arent playing fair!!!

Another tree hugger post.
You think that slapping a pow is inhumane?
Compared to what OUR guys go through when captured we treat pow's like visiting dignitaries.
I've seen video's of how our troops are treated. Heard testimony from captured vets.
What we do to them is nothing compared to what they do to us.
I can't believe anyone that calls themselves an american would even go there.
It's people like you that demoralize our troops.
Every harsh word = a little less moral, Low moral = less commitment. Less commitment = more deaths.
In short each time you speak against the very men that sacrifice their lives to protect yours you are contributeing to their deaths.
Why not just go to the recruiting office and shoot them when they sign up
YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!!

actually fanta was a soldier.....in a war......

Are you sh*ting me?

Fanta? Are you John Kerry?

I agree with Brian.how is it these people that we capture can cut the heads off of our soldiers or civilians and put it on youtube but we slap one little prisoner and we're the bad guys???have you seen what these prisoners are being fed?they eat like royalty!.just think,while we have all these homeless and lower class people here,our tax dollars go to pay for the food and medical care of those prisoners!

Topex pastes,

The application of the preceding provisions shall not affect the legal status of the Parties to the conflict.

That means, we the Bushies just wrote this, with the aide of Alberto Gonzalez, and it is an addition to all the rules of war and an excemption to the humane treatment we have shown enemy POWs throughout the history of this great country!

Then you say,

The bodies at Gitmo do not fall under the description of POWs they are enemy combatants.

Ah ha, this is a Bushie quote and rule made up by him to accomplish torture of prisoners without consequence. Recently the Supreme Court ruled this treatment of prisoners at Quantanamo to be unconstitutional and has ordered qitmo closed!

I think John McCain's personal opinion on the treatment of POW's says it best. You can not treat enemy POW's inhumane and expect others to treat our boys with anything better! If you drop your standards of conduct to their level, then you are no better than they!

Yes, they act like barbarians, but that is no reason for us to act like barbarians. For the love of god has this great country slipped so far that we ok this! We are Americans!

Also, address the topic and quit the direct personal slander!!!

You dont speak for all Vets, nor do I, and if you were to stand in front of me you wouldnt talk to me like that for long. So keep it clean Please!!

So what.......these "people" want us dead. I have not a drop of sympathy for them. You think if they had you they wouldn't torture you and eventually kill you. WAKE UP!!!!!! we are at war, once again, not because Bush wishes it but because of religion.