Title 18 of the U.S. Code makes it a crime for an American to commit torture "outside the United States " and authorizes fines and prison terms of up to 20 years. If deaths result, those convicted may be jailed for life or executed. HRF has charged as of April, 2005, 108 foreign detainees had died in U.S. custody.
CCR President Michael Ratner said, "the existence of 'torture memos' drafted by administration officials and the authorization of techniques that violated humanitarian law by Secretary Rumsfeld, Lt. General Sanchez and others make clear that responsibility for Abu Ghraib and other violations of law reaches all the way to the top."
Calling for an investigation, Amnesty International's Jumana Musa, warned, "Torture thrives on impunity. By not holding accountable the people who drafted and implemented the policies, the US government is giving a wink and a nod to torturers world wide."
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(Sherwood Ross is an American reporter who has worked for major dailies and as a wire service columnist. To comment on this article or arrange for speaking engagements: sherwoodr1@yahoo.com)
CCR President Michael Ratner said, "the existence of 'torture memos' drafted by administration officials and the authorization of techniques that violated humanitarian law by Secretary Rumsfeld, Lt. General Sanchez and others make clear that responsibility for Abu Ghraib and other violations of law reaches all the way to the top."
Calling for an investigation, Amnesty International's Jumana Musa, warned, "Torture thrives on impunity. By not holding accountable the people who drafted and implemented the policies, the US government is giving a wink and a nod to torturers world wide."
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(Sherwood Ross is an American reporter who has worked for major dailies and as a wire service columnist. To comment on this article or arrange for speaking engagements: sherwoodr1@yahoo.com)
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