short version: a training manual used for canadian diplomats includes the US as a nation in which prisoners are tortured and/or abused. long version here. the US reaction is, predictably, less than enthusiastic. long version here.
US ambassador david wilkins quoth:
we find it to be offensive for us to be on the same list with countries like iran and china. quite frankly it's absurd.
commentary: really? then stop doing it and stop equivocating about it. it's really that simple, your excellency.
the fact is that the US government deserves the label:
1. it's incontrovertible fact that the US uses waterboarding: the government has already stated that they do.
2. it's incontrovertible fact that the practice of waterboarding historically was always seen as torture by the US government. we didn't like it when the vietnamese did it to our POWs.
3. it's incontrovertible fact that prisoners--o, excuse me, i meant "unlawful combatants"--were subjected to waterboarding.
ergo: the US government can and will torture people in its custody.
the article adds that other nations on the list are israel, afghanistan, china, egypt, iran, saudi arabia, mexico and syria. obviously, the commander-in-chief spent too much time in the company of saudis: their bad habits must be rubbing off.
btw: israel?
ed
