Legality of torture discussed in Judiciary hearing

The Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the House Judiciary Committee met today in a hearing on Administration Lawyers and Administration Interrogation Rules. Chairman Jerrold Nalder led the discussion of experts in the field to discuss what is known and what the law says about torture and the Bush Administration's use of torture in Guantanamo Bay in the context of international law.

The Bush Administration's policies regarding interrogation techniques for captured suspected terrorists have ben sanctioned by various secret legal opinions and memoranda, making questionably illegal methods approved by the highest levels of government. These policies have been discussed by the news media and Nalder is making it a Congressional duty to oversee these actions and determine if they are constitutional.

The use of torture by the Bush Administration in Guantanamo Bay has been challenged and greatly discussed in international circles, since it goes against the Geneva Convention and international law.

“Torture is un-American and yet it has been used by this government against those in our custody and control,” Nalder said. “And now we know that these so-called ‘enhanced’ interrogation techniques were approved at the highest levels of government. torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, besides being contrary to American values and traditions, have proven to be an ineffective means to obtaining actionable intelligence.”