An Australian Muslim was captured by US special forces and tortured for years before he was released. Here is what happened to him, and a reminder of the rights we have lost along the way. Heavily quoted article.
… Like Mr Hicks, Mr Habib, who is 50, made "confessions" under duress. He was never charged, and was released in 2005.
Mr Hicks was arrested by the Northern Alliance at a taxi stand in Afghanistan in November 2001. He was handed to the Americans, reportedly for a fee of $US1000.
He says his first interrogation by five black-clad Americans was accompanied by smacks on the back of his head when he was told after answering each question that he was a liar…
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
… Thrown into a helicopter, he and a group of other blindfolded prisoners were whisked to an undisclosed "hangar-like" location where he says they were forced to kneel for 10 hours while being verbally and physically assaulted. He says he was repeatedly hit on the back of a head with a rifle, slapped on the back of the head, spat on, kicked, stepped on by soldiers, and punched in the temple. Three days later, the experience was repeated…
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
… he was stripped, shaved and covered in a mysterious liquid applied by sponge, photographed, and then had a piece of plastic forced into his rectum "for no apparent reason". As it was inserted, a US soldier taunted him, saying the device was "extra ribbed" for his pleasure.
Mr Hicks says his introduction to Guantanamo was one of silent, disoriented dread. Injected with drugs, hooded, tightly bound and wearing goggles and ear muffs and the infamous orange overalls, he was thrown into one of the small, open-air cages of Camp X-Ray. For weeks, he says, he and other prisoners were forbidden to talk and permitted to lie in only two positions - prone and looking up, or sitting looking straight down. No other movement was permitted other than at meal times, and any deviations from the edict, or muttered conversations, were met with savage beatings by the guards…
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
… In their cages, he says, prisoners had one bucket of water and another to be used as a toilet... Guards interrupted them every hour, supposedly to check if they still had their toothbrushes, but in effect to deprive them of sleep....If prisoners covered their faces to block out the sun or floodlights as they tried to sleep, he says, they were woken by screaming guards kicking their cages…
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
He says the psychological intimidation was no less subtle. There were the isolation, the lack of exercise - he was permitted 15 minutes a week - and refusal to allow him access to a lawyer, consular official or his family.
Mr Hicks says inmates were often accosted while praying and copies of the Koran were repeatedly thrown in the toilet, a grave sacrilege for devout Muslims.
He says prisoners were often told they would never leave Guantanamo…
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
… When he needed an operation for a double hernia, he was mauled by guards, strapped in four-point restraints and treated aggressively by medical staff.
He was allowed to have the operation in more humane circumstances after pleas to his interrogators and promises of co-operation.
Mr Hicks says that although he was treated better than many prisoners at Guantanamo, the mere knowledge of what was going on continued to terrify him.
Link here:
http://www.smh.com.au/...
And this is what we have become. Animals. Tortureers. Cowards who whisk people off out of people of help so we can torture them. This is what the Bushies have done to us. This is what we have let them do.