Bernier says document alleging US Israel torture was wrong.

Allies do not torture. They may use some of the same techniques that are called torture if used by countries such as Iran, Syria but both the US and Israel deny they practice torture and so it is not politically correct to use the term torture for these techniques. I am not sure what the proper terminology is for countries such as Saudi Arabia.
There is plenty of evidence for the use of torture in US prisons abroad and in Guantanamo. The Abu Ghraib incident was just one that got publicity. Here is a referenceUS not that it would do Bernier any good. There is also torture within the U.S. even captured on video. The situation may be somewhat improved in Israel since the late nineties but still exists. See the site Stop Torture in Israel.
Instead of criticizing outrageous behavior by allies Bernier and the Conservative govt. want to go along with the official line that the US and Israel do not torture.
What Bernier says did not surprise but I was a bit shocked by Rae even though I probably should not have been. Rae sees not censoring out the parts about the US and Israel in the first place was wrong and shows how inept the Conservatives are. Well we know what to expect from the Liberals if they are elected. Pre-emptive censorship.
Rae cites no evidence that the document equates torture in the US and Israel with that in Iran. Maybe it is just because they are both called torture and rightfully so.


Sunday » January 20 » 2008

Bernier says document alleging U.S., Israel torture 'wrong'

Helen Morris
Canwest News Service


Sunday, January 20, 2008


OTTAWA -- ForeignAffairs Minister Maxime Bernier lashed out Saturday at a controversial document identifying the U.S. and Israel as countries it suspects of practising torture, calling it "wrong" and demanding it be rewritten.

"I regret the embarrassment caused by the public disclosure of the manual used in the department's torture awareness training," said Bernier in a statement.

"It contains a list that wrongly includes some of our closest allies. I have directed that the manual be reviewed and rewritten," said Bernier.

"The manual is neither a policy document nor a statement of policy. As such, it does not convey the government's views or positions."

The Foreign Affairs document, which surfaced last week, was meant to instruct Canadian diplomats on how to recognize torture cases abroad. It defined such U.S. interrogation techniques as sleep deprivation and isolation as torture.

Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae was not surprised to hear that the document was being revised.

"It's incomprehensible to me that a document would establish an equivalency between the United States and Iran on the subject of the treatment of prisoners," said Rae.

"It's too hard to understand how it (the document) could have gotten this far," said Rae.

"There's a real issue now around the competency of the Conservative government on foreign affairs issues."

Amnesty International had obtained the document as part of legal disclosure in its lawsuit that challenges the federal government's policy of transferring detainees captured by the Canadian Forces to Afghanistan's custody.

"We're obviously very disappointed when it comes to a serious issue like torture," said Alex Neve, the executive director of Amnesty International Canada on Saturday. "The overriding concern of the government should not be sparing our close allies embarrassment.

"I think we take a hit in doing this," said Neve. "I think many, when they first heard about the manual and saw that it did include countries like the United States and Israel, commended Canada for being accurate and objective."

The document also listed Guantanamo Bay, the controversial U.S. detention centre for suspected terrorists in Cuba, as a place where torture is likely practised.

Supporters of the only Canadian imprisoned there, Omar Khadr, said last week the document was proof he is being subjected to abuse and that the federal government should break its silence and petition the U.S. to transfer him to Canada.

With files from Mike Blanchfield

© CanWest News Service 2008








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