today in torture

Here's the torture roundup for today. The overall message to be gleaned here is that they (Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Gonzales, Frist, etc.) want to torture. Given that there is morally and politically no good reason -- so to speak -- for the policies of torture, and that the "few bad apples" defense has gone out the window, the question is just what benefits or strategy the administration wants to hold onto through the use of torture. Is it dog training? Friendliness with other torturing states such as Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan? Pure sadism? Holy war? Supreme arrogance? A testing of the limits of hegemony? An attempt to create a climate of fear through which the administration could do whatever it wants? An attempt to totalize submission to the US? Revenge or retribution? Really, I'd like an answer that makes sense.

Abu Ghraib Tactics Came from Guantanamo

Frist Pulls Defense Bill to Avoid Votes on Treatment of Detainees

Witness: Dogs Bit Abu Ghraib Detainees

Legal Battle Erupts Over New Abu Ghraib Photos

Army Probes Guard Unit

GOP Senators Ready Detainee Amendments

Military Lawyers Fought Policy on Interrogations

Nigeria: Despite Reforms, Police Routinely Practice Torture

Vets, Conservative Lawmakers Call for Changes in Detainment Policy

Justice Nominee is Questioned on Torture Policy

Surely, Moves By Bush Administration Aren't Conservative

AI USA Launches Blog to Fight Torture

UPDATE (27 July, 11:00pm):

From the NY Times:

An article on Saturday about a federal judge's order regarding photographs and videotapes related to the Abu Ghraib prison scandal misstated a deadline and the response by Defense Department lawyers. The government was given until Friday to black out some identifying details in the material, not to release it. Defense Department lawyers met that deadline, but asked the court to block the public release of the materials. They did not refuse to cooperate with an order for the materials' release. (Go to Article)