Constitution Project finds violations of International Human Rights by Obama Administration

According to a report by the Constitutional Project both the Obama and Bush Administrations have violated the United States Constitution and international human rights laws by allowing torture of terror suspects.

(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

by Derrick Broze
Intellihub.com
April 30, 2013

The non partisan, independent review by the Constitution Project studied interrogation and detention programs since September 11, 2001. The report concluded that “it is indisputable that the United States engaged in the practice of torture”.

The New York Times reported:

“The sweeping, 600-page report says that while brutality has occurred in every American war, there never before had been “the kind of considered and detailed discussions that occurred after 9/11 directly involving a president and his top advisers on the wisdom, propriety and legality of inflicting pain and torment on some detainees in our custody.” The study, by an 11-member panel convened by the Constitution Project, a legal research and advocacy group, is to be released on Tuesday morning. “

Although the Constitution Project did not have access to classified records, a separate 6,000 page report was prepared by the Senate Intelligence Committee. This report focuses on the Central Intelligence Agency’s record and remains classified.

The report should come as no surprise to those paying attention but it does offer further evidence that the use of torture does not provide valid information. The report found “no firm or persuasive evidence” that enhanced interrogation methods produced valuable information. “A person subjected to torture might well divulge useful information,” however the information may not be reliable, according to the report.

The report goes on to state, the use of torture “damaged the standing of our nation, reduced our capacity to convey moral censure when necessary and potentially increased the danger to U.S. military personnel taken captive.”
The Constitution Project also studied what are known as CIA black sites, off the map interrogation and detention centers. The report found not only does the C.I.A. engage in waterboarding prisoners, but it has also slammed prisoners into walls, stripped them naked and kept them awake for long periods of times.
The report makes it clear that United States officials in the highest offices violated the Constitution of the United States as well as the International Convention Against Torture.
The Study was first initiated by President Obama in 2009. The President said he wanted to support a national effort to investigate Bush era counterterrorism programs. Shortly after, President Obama famously sold his supporters out by claiming it was time to “look forward, not backward”.
Although the report focuses on the now obvious abuses of the Bush Administration it does make note of the Obama Administration’s “excessive secrecy”.  It concludes keeping torture secret “cannot continue to be justified on the basis of national security”. They urge the Obama Administration to stop citing state secrets to block lawsuits related to torture.
The Constitution Projects report is just the latest piece of evidence that the United States leadership has forsaken even the most basic principles of this nation, and it’s Constitution. The Ruling Class has become a despotic army of fascists, speaking in forked tongues to pacify the masses.
As long as we ignore the crimes of our own nation we will contintion/