International Criminal Court should investigate the US for war crimes

International Criminal Court should investigate the US for war crimes

By Lynda Carson - September 20, 2018

As the extremist right-wing fascists join National Security Advisor John Bolton to wage war against the International Criminal Court for stating that it may investigate Americans for war crimes and crimes against humanity, Bay Area Democrats including Eric Swalwell, Barbara Lee, Dianne Feinstein, and Nancy Pelosi have strangely remained silent about the issue.

National Security Advisor John Bolton threatened the ICC as recent as Monday, September 10, while giving a speech to the nefarious Federalist Society at the Mayflower Hotel. In a declaration of war against the respected war crimes court, Bolton threatened the International Criminal Court (ICC) with sanctions and the arrest of its members if the ICC opens an investigation into the crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed by U.S. forces and its allies in Afghanistan since May 1, 2003.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) should investigate the US for war crimes.

Enhanced Interrogation Technique (EIT) Is A Euphemism For Torture:

James Elmer Mitchell, and John B. Jessen were contracted with the CIA to create programs of “torture and learned helplessness” (Enhanced Interrogation Techniques) which relies on those involved in torture to inflict so much pain on the victims that they would break down and provide information. Information obtained by torture, that may not be reliable, or truthful in nature.

During a deposition of James E. Mitchell in March or April of 2002, James E. Mitchell stated that he was advised by the CIA that the Geneva Conventions did not apply to enemy combatants, illegal combatants detained by the CIA, but they did apply if they were detained by the Department of Defense.

Shortly after 911 it was President George Bush who signed a classified memo on September 17, 2001, authorizing the CIA to capture and arrest anyone the CIA believes is a threat to the United States.

In addition, it was John Yoo, a current professor at UC Berkley, who issued the infamous memo on November 30, 2001, declaring that laws prohibiting torture of persons captured in the Afghanistan conflict do not apply to the U.S.

Additionally, President Bush signed a memo on February 7, 2002, stating that the Geneva Conventions prohibiting torture and cruel treatment do not apply to al Qaeda or Taliban prisoners/detainees of the U.S., or its allies.

The term enhanced interrogation techniques is a euphemism for the U.S. government’s torture programs. According to wikipedia, “Methods used included beating, binding in contorted stress positions, hooding, subjection to deafening noise, sleep disruption, sleep deprivation to the point of hallucination, deprivation of food, drink, and withholding medical care for wounds, as well as waterboarding, walling, sexual humiliation, subjection to extreme heat or extreme cold, confinement in small coffin-like boxes, and repeated slapping. The number of detainees subjected to these methods has never been authoritatively established, nor how many died as a result of the interrogation regime, though this number is believed to be at least 100. Former guards and inmates at Guantánamo have said that deaths which the US military called suicides at the time, were in fact homicides under torture. No murder charges have been brought for these or for acknowledged torture related homicides at Abu Ghraib and at Bagram.”

According to the CIA documents: Some of the torture techniques include: (I) attention grasp, (2) walling, (3) facial bold, (4) facial slap (insult slap), (5) cramped confinement, (6) wall standing, (7) stress positions, (8) sleep deprivation, (9) insect placed in a confinement box, and (10) the waterboard.

More details from CIA documents: The “Waterboard.”

“In this procedure, the individual is bound securely to an inclined bench, which is approximately four by seven feet. The individual's feet are generally elevated. A cloth is placed over the forehead and eyes. Water is then applied to the cloth in a controlled manner. As this is done, the cloth is lowered until it covers both the nose and mouth. Once the cloth is saturated and completely covers the mouth and nose, air flow is slightly restricted for 20 to 40 seconds due to the presence of the cloth. This causes an increase in carbon dioxide level in the individual's blood. This increase in the carbon dioxide level stimulates increased effort to breathe. This effort plus the cloth produces the perception of suffocation and incipient panic, the perception of drowning. The individual does not breathe any water into his lungs. During those 20 to 40 seconds, water is continuously applied from a height of twelve to twenty-four inches. After this period, the cloth is lifted, and the individual is allowed to breathe unimpeded for three or four full breaths. The sensation of drowning is immediately relieved by the removal of the cloth. The procedure may then be repeated. The water is usually applied from a canteen cup or small watering can with a spout. This procedure triggers an automatic physiological sensation of drowning that the individual cannot control even though he may be aware that he is in fact not drowning.”

The following is a CIA detailed description of the “water board” being used to torture Abu Zubaydah, according to documents of the CIA:

COMMENT: “SUBJECT WAS PREPARED FOR APPLICATION OF THE WATERBOARD BY REPEATED AND AGGRESSIVE QUESTIONING ON THE ISSUE OF FUTURE ATTACKS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES, AS WELL AS HIS KNOWLEDGE OF OPERATIVES TASKED TO COMMIT ATTACKS IN THE U.S. AND WORLDWIDE AGAINST DESIGNATED AQ TARGETS. SUBJECT STATED HE HAD NO NEW OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO PROVIDE, AT WHICH TIME THE INTERROGATION TEAM BROUGHT IN THE WATERBOARD, AND INSTRUCTED SUBJECT TO BE SEATED. WHILE QUESTIONING CONTINUED, SUBJECT WAS REPEATEDLY PRESSED AND INSTRUCTED THAT REVEALING THE REQUESTED INFORMATION WOULD STOP THE PROCEDURE. SUBJECT AGAIN STATED HE HAD NO INFORMATION IN ADDITION TO THAT WHICH HE HAS ALREADY PROVIDED, AND ALTERNATIVELY BEGGED AND CRIED THAT PROCEDURE BE STOPPED. SUBJECT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY STRAPPED ONTO THE BOARD, AND AGAIN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE RESPONSIVE. WATER WAS APPLIED WITH A SOAKED, FULL FACE COVERING, RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE FLUID INTAKE AND INVOLUNTARY BODY (LEG, CHEST AND ARM) SPASMS. SUBJECT WAS IMMEDIATELY ELEVATED AND HIS AIRWAY WAS CLEARED. AGAIN THE INTERROGATION TEAM GRILLED SUBJECT ON THE ISSUE OF OPERATIONS AND THE IDENTITIES OF PEOPLE INVOLVED. SUBJECT CONTINUED TO CRY, AND CLAIM IGNORANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THIS RESULTED IN A SECOND FULL-FACE WATERING. AT THE ONSET OF INVOLUNTARY STOMACH AND LEG SPASMS, SUBJECT WAS AGAIN ELEVATED TO CLEAR HIS AIRWAY, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY HYSTERICAL PLEAS. SUBJECT WAS DISTRESSED TO THE LEVEL THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE OR ADEQUATELY ENGAGE THE TEAM. AS A RESULT, HE WAS UNSTRAPPED AND PLACED IN THE LARGE BOX UNTIL SEDATE. "WHITE NOISE" WAS REAPPLIED TO CONTINUE SUBJECTS ELEVATED LEVEL OF DISORIENTATION. NOTE: MEDICAL STAFF WAS PREPPED FOR IMMEDIATE INTERCESSION IF NECESSARY.”

The Tortured Death Of Gul Rahman:

According to Wikipedia: “Gul Rahman (Pashto: ګل رحمان‎; died 20 November 2002) was a suspected Afghan militant who was a victim of torture. He died in a secret CIA prison, or black site, located in northern Kabul, Afghanistanand known as the Salt Pit. He had been captured October 29, 2002.

His name was kept secret by the United States for more than seven years although his death was announced. In 2010 the Associated Press reported that before his death he was left half-stripped and chained against a concrete wall on a night when the temperature was close to freezing.The United States government did not notify his family (wife and four daughters) of his death, according to the report.”

The CIA Experimented In Torturing People:

According to CIA documents: The Tortured Death Of Gul Rahman:

Cable traffic reflects that sleep deprivation for GUL RAHMAN began almost immediately after his arrival at blank. Blank stated that he believed that RAHMAN's sleep deprivation started from the beginning. According to blank RAHMAN's clothes were taken from him at this point, and he was left wearing a diaper. During the period of sleep deprivation, RAHMAN's arms were shackled to a bar that ran between the walls of the cell. This prevented RAHMAN from sitting down.

During the first few days of RAHMAN's incarceration at blank cable traffic reflects that he received a cold shower.
During our interview with blank he indicated that RAHMAN received a cold shower because the water heater was not working. Blank stated that he was deliberately given a cold shower as a deprivation technique. Cable traffic tends to support blank statements. Blank stated that after RAHMAN received the cold shower, he saw RAHMAN standing with the guards. Blank stated that RAHMAN was shivering and showing early signs of hypothermia. Blank instructed the guards to provide RAHMAN with a blanket which they did.

Cable traffic also reflects that during his first two days of incarceration, RAHMAN underwent "rough treatment." Blank stated that they occasionally pushed and shoved RAHMAN while he had a hood over his head to disorient him and scare him. Blank described witnessing what he termed "a rough takedown treatment."

The treatment is never to the point that you hurt the prisoner physically, you 'simply want to instill fear and despair in the prisoner came up with the idea of the hard takedown and asked for his thoughts. While blank has not used this technique at facilities at which he has worked, and had never seen one conducted, he thought it was worth trying.
According to blank there were approximately blank CIA officers from the blank team. Each one had a role during the takedown and it was thoroughly planned and rehearsed. They opened the door of RAHMAN's cell and rushed in screaming and yelling for him to "get down." They dragged him outside, cut off his clothes and secured him with Mylar tape. They covered his head with a hood and ran him up and down a long corridor adjacent to his cell. They slapped him and punched him several times. Blank stated that although it was obvious they were not to hit him as hard as they could, a couple of times the punches were forceful. As they ran 'him along the corridor, a couple of times he fell and they dragged him through the dirt (the floor outside of the cells is dirt). RAHMAN did acquire a number of abrasions on his face, legs, and hands, but nothing that required medical attention. (This may account for the abrasions found on RAHMAN's body after his death. RAHMAN had a number of surface abrasions on his shoulders, pelvis, arms, legs, and face.) At this point, RAHMAN was returned to his cell and secured. Blank may have spoken to RAHMAN for a few moments, but he did not know what blank said. Blank stated that after something like this the interrogators should speak to the prisoner to "give them something” to think about.

On blank November 2002, station forwarded a cable to Headquarters indicating that to date, RAHMAN had provided no information to his interrogators. He still refused to admit his true name was Gul RAHMAN. He appeared somewhat fatigued relative to his appearance upon arrival at and remained resolutely defiant as interrogators attempted to obtain information from him.

On blank November 2002, Station Officers again met with RAHMAN. "RAHMAN had spent the days since his last session with station officers in cold 'conditions with minimal food or sleep. RAHMAN appeared incoherent for portions of this session, but was completely lucid by mid-session. During this session, RAHMAN finally admitted that he was indeed Gul Rahman.

Blank and blank both attributed this small interrogation breakthrough to the pressure techniques used on RAHMAN. Blank stated that he believed RAHMAN would have never made the admission without the pressures placed on him. Blank stated that he considered RAHMAN's admission of his identity as a breakthrough but did not believe that RAHMAN had been 'broken." Blank stated that he believes RAHMAN made a compromise. He knew he was in trouble and knew we had a lot of evidence that he was RAHMAN. believes that RAHMAN knew that he could give up his identity and possibly get a little better treatment, but still protect the information that was important to him.

On blank November 2002, Headguarters requested that psychologist ICs blank and blank conduct a psychological assessment exam of RAHMAN to determine which interrogation measures would be required to render RAHMAN compliant; The cable stated that Headquarters was motivated to extract any and all 'operational information on Al-Qa'ida and Hezbi Islami from RAHMAN. The cable noted that it was the assessment of the debriefers that RAHMAN may need to be subjected to enhanced interrogation measures to induce him to comply.

Headquarters requested that the results of the examination be sent to Headquarters where a determination on the course of action could be made.

On that same day of blank November 2002), blank conducted a psychological captivity assessment of RAHMAN.

On blank November 2002; station Medical Officer, blank, examined RAHMAN and found no health problems.

The afternoon of blank November 2002, was the last time blank saw RAHMAN alive. At that time, blank assessed RAHMAN to be in good overall health. Blank noted that RAHMAN had small abrasions on his wrist and ankles as a result of the restraints. His ankle restraints were loosened, and his hand restraints were removed when RAHMAN was returned to his cell. According to blank RAHMAN had complained that he was cold, so blank gave him a sweatshirt. According to blank Guard RAHMAN was fed at 2100 on blank November 2002. Because prisoners are fed one large meal a day, and because of RAHMAN's actions on the following day, this is the last meal RAHMAN consumed prior to his death.

According to blank RAHMAN was fed again at 15'00 on blank November 2002. According to numerous sources, when the guards gave RAHMAN his food, he threw the plate, water bottle, and waste bucket at the guards. He began yelling at the guards, repeating his threat, last stated approximately one week prior, that he knew their faces and he would kill them when, he got out of the prison. As a result of his violent behavior, ordered that the guards put RAHMAN's hand restraints back on to prevent him from taking any other violent actions. The guards proceeded to shackle RAHMAN to the wall of his cell in a short chain position. (In the 'short chain" method, the prisoner's hands are shackled together as are his feet. Then a short chain is used to shackle the hands to the feet. This keeps a prisoner’s hand shackled within several inches of his feet. The prisoner's feet are then shackled to the wall). The only clothing being worn by RAHMAN at this point was the sweatshirt given to him by blank the day before. RAHMAN was nude from the waist down. RAHMAN had been nude; with the exception of a diaper for most of his incarceration. There is uncertainty as to when RAHMAN's diaper had been removed. As of approximately 1500, on blank November 2002, RAHMAN was shackled in a sitting position on bare concrete while nude from the waist down. The manner in which he was shackled prevented him from standing upright.

The CIA guards made their normal rounds to check on the prisoners on blank November 2002, at 2200 and 2300. The guards did not enter RAHMAN's cell, but visually inspected him from the outside using a flashlight. According blank to guard he and blank checked Rahman’s at 0400 on blank November 2002. Blank stated that they looked into his cell and whistled. RAHMAN was sitting in his cell, alive and shaking. At 0800 blank guards made the rounds to check on the prisoners. According to the blank guards, RAHMAN was alive, sitting on the floor and shaking. Blank noted that RAHMAN’s eyes were open and blinking. Blank said RAHMAN's shaking did not seem unusual because all of the prisoners shake. According to blank guard blank checked RAHMAN's cell at 1000. He noted that the prisoner was lying on his side. Blank tapped the door with his nightstick; however, the prisoner did not move. At that point, blank sought out a CIA TDY'er who was at blank to debrief other detainees.

According to interviews conducted with Agency personnel present at blank when RAHMAN's body was discovered, blank were all at to interrogate other prisoners. At approximately on blank November 2002, one of the guards walked up to and informed him that one of the prisoners was not moving. The officers went with the guard to RAHMAN's cell. The guard unlocked the cell and opened the door. RAHMAN was lying motionless on his right side with his hands and feet shackled together and his feet shackled to the wall. There was a small amount of blood coming from his nose and mouth. RAHMAN was clothed in a sweatshirt but had no pants. Blank noted that the only things in his cell were an empty red waste bucket, and a food tray with a small piece of bread on it.

According to the transcripts of a deposition of James E. Mitchell, the video taped recordings of the CIA torture sessions were destroyed at the direction of James. E. Mitchell. It was James Mitchell and John Bruce Jessen who created the torture programs for the CIA that ended up with 100 or more people who allegedly died from the torture sessions.

Question to James Mitchell on page 390 during a deposition on Monday, January 16, 2017:

Q. The -- so you -- so you advised -- I'm sorry. You just said and I don't recall. You advised somebody that you thought that the tapes should be
destroyed; is that right?

A. I didn't advise them, I told them.

Q. You told them. Okay. You told them that you thought --

A. Yes.

Q. And -- and did you provide a rationale for why you thought they should be destroyed? You just told us that, you know, that they were ugly.

A. I told them -- I told them that they were ugly, that -- that if they got out, and they would get out, that the identities of the people on those tapes
would be revealed and that those tapes would be taken out of context and played over and over and over on the TVs.

James Elmer Mitchell presently resides in the town of Land O Lakes, in Florida, where he is retired and reportedly enjoys fishing after splitting around $81 million paid to him and John Bruce Jessen for creating the torture programs (EITs) for the CIA.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) should investigate the US for war crimes.

Lynda Carson may be reached at tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com

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