"The American Conventions"

[Happyville]

...Catch a Terrorist by the toe??? If he hollers let him go???

(all facts can be viewed here) http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/16/us.torture.documents/index.html

-Torture is legal as long as you don't have specific intent to inflict severe pain or suffering, so if you happen to cause severe harm - make sure you did not intend to do so. Don't worry if you do - accidents happen.

-Keeping a detainee naked and in some cases in a diaper, and putting detainees on a liquid diet can be funny and you guessed it - Its legal by American Defacto law... We are not sure if force feeding a human Ex-Lax is legal but we are pretty sure America has tried it (this would explain the diaper)

-According to America - an act of torture is breaking the law ONLY if it causes prolonged mental harm... Apparently its OK to use the threat of imminent death as long as after the torture session you say "just kidding"

-Torture should not be done by enthusiasts or those looking for a weekend hobby. The CIA encourages that torture only be done under expert supervision, and probably a good janitorial staff!!!

 

[Happyville]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A former head of the CIA slammed President Obama on Sunday for releasing four Bush-era memos, saying the new president has compromised national security."What we have described for our enemies in the midst of a war are the outer limits that any American would ever go to in terms of interrogating an al Qaeda terrorist. That's very valuable information," Hayden said during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/19/cia.torture.chief/index.html

Not to mention that by not prosecuting anyone for illegal torture techniques, America has claimed defacto standards of international interrogation methods for which captured Americans could expect to be given in turn.

***BUT ***

A recent American Enemy Combatant caught and charged with espionage in Iran, has been spared torture and inhumane (American style) torture and has been formally charged and even given legal representation. Perhaps she is guilty or perhaps not, but for sure she has been afforded a level of dignity and treatment (so far). I would hope trust and appeal to the conscience of the those in custody of Roxana Saberi, that she would not be harmed, however if the Iran regime were as brutal as the USA, I would certainly fear for her well being...

"She says she's not treated harshly," Reza Saberi added. "The food is pretty good and they're not hurting her. So it's just the environment of the prison that's very frustrating."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/04/19/iran.us.journalist/index.html