U.S. Torture Report, Disability and Politician Validity

Introduction

The recently revealed portions of the Torture Report by the U.S. Government makes me feel threatened, as if this government would not hesitate to attempt to justify the killings of People with Disabilities, Seniors, Children with Disabilities and even Veterans with disabilities. I question the validity of some who intend to run for public office, as well as some of the politicians in office already. The Torture Report is a plain sign that the U.S. Government will not hesitate to harm, torture, sexually assault and kill people it perceives as a threat. I am left to wonder how long it will be before the U.S. Government decides those on Social Security comprise a, 'National Threat.'

Main Item

The Bush administration's torture program, from improvised origins to the systematized and lawyer-rationalized torture and abuse of people in U.S. Custody, is a warning sign to anyone this government deems to be a threat. The Torture Report compiled information from government documents, press reports, official investigations, pictures, witness statements, testimonials and vivid and meticulously-researched books to construct a single narrative concerning the torture program pursued by America's leadership. As Larry Siems, the Torture Report's primary writer stated:

"The most senior members of the Bush administration, up to and including the President, broke international and domestic laws banning torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. Worse, they had subordinates in the military and in civilian intelligence services break these laws for them."- Larry Siems

Repeatedly, men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as in Guantanamo and secret CIA, 'black sites;' in Langley, The Pentagon, Congress and in the administration itself recognized the torture for what it is and objected, protested and fought to prevent illegal interrogations. The monsters who devised and oversaw the torture program insist their decisions were made based upon the consciousness of impending danger. The sense of betrayal permeates the documentation. Personally, 'betrayal,' does not even begin to cover the actions of those I consider to be sociopathic.

Bear in mind that the number of detainees in CIA custody is fairly small when compared to those in U.S. military custody, making me fear very greatly for the large number of people in U.S. military custody. What are the CIA and U.S. military concerned with? They are concerned that if detainees are not kept in custody, they will divulge information about the circumstances of their detention. The CIA and U.S. military do not seem to be concerned about the International Laws concerning torture, making my fear of the current administration in office today just as great as my fear of Bush administration politicians and other leaders. What does the Convention Against Torture say

Article 14 of the Convention Against Torture states:

"Each State Party shall ensure in its legal system that the victim of an act of torture obtains redress and has an enforceable right to fair and adequate compensation including the means for as full rehabilitation as possible. In the event of the death of the victim as a result of an act of torture, his dependents shall be entitled to compensation."

Meanwhile, Articles 2 and 4 of the Convention say:

"No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture. Each State Party shall ensure that all acts of torture are offenses under its criminal law. The same shall apply to an attempt to commit torture and to an act by any person which constitutes complicity or participation in torture."

Torture is a criminal offense under both U.S. civilian and military law - yet not one person has been indicted in connection with the torture of U.S. detainees. Nor is it clear how they might pursue the Convention-mandated restitution for their treatment of prisoners. Political terrorists are running the U.S. Government and covering up the crimes of the last administration by not prosecuting those responsible in the CIA and U.S. Government.

"I believe when, as a government, we adopt a policy that allows for the degradation and dehumanization of another human being, whoever they may be, whatever they may be charged with or alleged to have done, when we adopt this as an acceptable and authorized method of interrogation with that individual, we have now embarked on a slippery slope that we can easily slip down ourselves." - Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Couch

How long will it be before the U.S. Government decides that People with Disabilities are a, 'threat,' and then decide to fully-justify actions such as the ones that have been pursued by the CIA are the answer? There is certainly precedent for these kinds of actions; they were taken by Nazi Germany. The United States of America has already been keeping People with Disabilities on poverty-level incomes with no real sense of humanity at all. Today's America seems very similar to Nazi Germany.

Aktion T4

I am greatly afraid for anyone living with a form of disability in America today. The reason why is very evident from the actions taken by United States politicians in relation to torture; the, 'Department of Justice,' flat out stated it would not prosecute those responsible for torture. What historical precedent is there to add to my fears

July 25th of 1933 found the Reich Cabinet publishing a law providing for the compulsory sterilization of men and women with forms of hereditary disease. By July 14th of 1934, the Reich Cabinet enacted a, "Law for Averting Hereditary Diseased Progeny," and legalizing forced sterilization of human beings. On October the 8th of 1935 found the Reich Cabinet enacting a, "Law to Safeguard the Hereditary Health of the German People," which legalized abortion in cases of pregnancy where either of the parents experienced a form of hereditary disease. By September 1st of 1939, Adolf Hitler had signed an order giving the Chief of the Fuehrer Chancellery, Reichsleiter Philip Bouhler, as well as Dr. Karl Brandt the power to, "widen the authority of individual doctors with a view to enabling them, after the most critical examination in the realm of human knowledge, to administer to incurably sick persons a mercy death." In other words, a euthanasia program.

Transportation to the euthanasia facilities was handled by the, 'Charitable Society for the Transportation of the Sick,' which was headed by Reinhold Vorberg. Deitrich Allers, the director of the, 'Central Compensation Office,' for Sanatoria and Nursing Homes, handled the bookkeeping and allocation of expenses among the various facilities after 1940. The euthanasia program included children. Dr. August Becker stated:

"I was ordered by [Reichsamtsleiter Viktor] Brack to attend the first euthanasia experiment in the Brandenburg asylum near Berlin. I went to the asylum in the first half of January 1940. Additional building work had been carried out especially for the purpose. There was a room similar to a shower room which was approximately 3 meters by 5 meters and 3 meters high and tiled. There were benches round the room and a water pipe about 1" in diameter ran along the wall about 10 cm off the floor. There were small holes in this pipe from which the carbon monoxide gas poured out. The gas cylinders stood outside this room and were already connected up to the pipe. The work on this installation had been carried out by the SS Main Building Office in Berlin." - Dr. August Becker

The T4 Euthanasia Program was a Nazi Germany effort to kill incurably ill, physically or mentally disabled, emotionally distraught and senior members of the society that existed in Nazi Germany at the time. Adolf Hitler initiated the program in 1939 and while it was officially discontinued in 1941 - killings continued on a covert basis until the military defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.

Just What is the U.S. Government Capable Of?

One has to wonder. The U.S. Government, elected politicians, as well as the CIA and most likely other departments such as the, 'Department of Justice,' were and may still be committing torture against perceived threats. The detainees have consistently been referred to as, 'terrorists,' which helps the U.S. Government to somehow, 'justify,' using torture. It is not far down the slope before this same government decides that People with Disabilities are a threat. If the economy goes seriously downhill, or another war starts, watch the wording of politicians very, very closely.

People are already being harassed and even killed by police officers in America. A young man with Down syndrome, who wanted to remain at a movie theater to see his favorite movie, was killed by police officers not long ago. The police have been abusing and killing people based upon their race, ability, and more. The police officers responsible for these abuses and killings have simply walked away without prosecution in the majority of instances.

Politicians in high offices have refused to prosecute obvious war criminals, they go about their business in America as you read this article. Due to the lies, redactions in documentation, torture and cover-ups by the U.S. Government I seriously question the validity of those in office today. I question how many Bush administration politicians are still in office despite the torture of people by this nation. I question the validity of the entire 2-party system in America.

As a person with disabilities, the lack of prosecutions by the current administration smells badly of Nazi Germany. It doesn't take long for a government capable of such actions as torture, denial, cover-ups and more to begin going after folks who experience forms of disabilities and I cannot support the politicians of America until these war criminals are rounded up and presented to the International Criminal Court. Even after such prosecution of those guilty of torture, I will most likely never trust the U.S. Government again in the remaining time I have left on Earth.

Author Credentials:
Thomas C. Weiss is a researcher and editor for Disabled World. Thomas attended college and university courses earning a Masters, Bachelors and two Associate degrees, as well as pursing Disability Studies. As a Nursing Assistant Thomas has assisted people from a variety of racial, religious, gender, class, and age groups by providing care for people with all forms of disabilities from Multiple Sclerosis to Parkinson's; para and quadriplegia to Spina Bifida. Explore Thomas' complete biography for comprehensive insights into his background, expertise, and accomplishments.

Information and Page References

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Cite This Page (APA): Weiss, T. C. (2015, January 5 - Last revised: 2021, September 23). U.S. Torture Report, Disability and Politician Validity. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved January 15, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/editorials/political/validity.php

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