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US torture claims are unreliable: UK MPs

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"The British government should no longer accept US assurances that it does not use torture, a parliamentary oversight committee said Sunday in a wide-ranging report looking at London's human rights policy.

Ministers have previously taken at face value statements from their US counterparts, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and President George W. Bush, that Washington does not resort to such practices.

"We conclude that, given the clear differences in definition, the UK can no longer rely on US assurances that it does not use torture, and we recommend that the government does not rely on such assurances in the future," it added.

Britain is a signatory to a United Nations convention that prevents the extradition of suspects to countries where torture is used. If adopted, a change in approach could affect such transfers.

The committee also called for Britain to carry out an "exhaustive analysis" of US government interrogation techniques and seek guarantees about whether US flights carrying terror suspects used British airspace or airports."
DeliaTheArtist

20 responses // US torture claims are unreliable: UK MPs

  • If the US director of national intelligence, Michael McConnell admits that "water-boarding" has been used on terror suspects, then we can only imagine what tortures are being performed that the government is not admitting.
    AlinaJette
  • Ouch, there's a well-deserved smack in the face.
    Dmitri_Molotov
  • Duh. Don't trust any government that states they don't torture.
    J_Jammer
  • No government should be considered "reliable" when talking about itself.
    Narcoleptic_Insomnia
  • I'd recommend the documentary "Taxi to the Dark Side" for anyone who is interested in U.S. torture.

    In my opinion, it's a bit soft on convincing people about what really goes on. But on the other hand, it uses ACTUAL evidence that we -know- without a doubt goes on. And it's still pretty disgusting.

    Check it out.
    Saladin
  • Finally. Even the cow-towing british gov. is rejecting what the bushies say. It's about time.
    pissedoffinarkansas
  • The UK military has also largely indulged in torture, so this statement from the UK is much more than just a tad hypocritical.
    Vierotchka
    5 responses to this
  • That's a good point Vierotchka. We would be hard pressed to find any powerful government that has never had blood or corruption on its hands.
    AlinaJette
  • Well if one can't rely on why they tell you, then what can one rely on?
    damnneargenius
  • Oh God, here goes our standing as the greatest nation in the world. Sllliiippppp!
    iOw
    • iOw
    • 2 months ago
  • We need to see an end to Guantanamo Bay as soon as humanly possible. If you torture somebody enough they'll admit to anything or name anybody you want. They'll probably even believe it themselves in time. Intelligence obtained through torture must be the most unreliable kind around.
    constantdisregard
  • Well they would say that, wouldn't they?
    kristianbrodie
  • Sometimes people got to get roughed up in war. Dont associate with terrorist groups, dont get tortured.

    Pretty easy
    clayjj05
    1 response to this
  • exactly, there needs to be an impartial observer: there's way too much secrecy for me to trust the US government after guantanamo
    rwylie

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