Posted on 12/31/2005 1:42:07 AM PST by Aussie Dasher
The United States is denying allegations that its methods of force-feeding hunger strikers at the Guantamano Bay military base constitute torture.
The United Nations special rapporteur on torture, Manfred Nowak, says visiting lawyers have made well-substantiated allegations of cruelty.
It is alleged prison guards, rather than doctors, have been inserting tubes into prisoners' noses and forcing them down into their stomachs, causing vomiting and bleeding.
A spokesman for the Pentagon, Lieutenant Colonel Brian Maka, has denied this is happening.
"They suppose that these people are being left bleeding - I know of no instance of that," he said.
"There's been no reports of that. There's no credible evidence produced by any investigation of that fact.
"So what I'm telling you is that I do not believe his allegation."
I personally think they should be allowed to starve to death, if that's their wish.
Oh, didn't you hear the UN guy this afternoon? He lamented that the US was forcing THICK tubes down the prisoner's throats to feed them. Horrors! But admited he'd never been to Gitmo.
1. The United States has no idea how to handle POWs, and are just 'winging it', with results that a child could see are going to be disasterous
2.There is not a single competent person in charge who has the ability to analyze a given action and determine that it would not be productive in our war on terror
3.We need the MSM to help us determine if how we are running Gitmo measures up to the global test....
4.We are big ole' meanies and don't worry about our military might, worry about what's for supper and how we will make you clean your plate if you become petulant and won't eat.
These nutcases drive me bonkers!!!!!I just want to smack SOMEBODY, specifically anyone with a press pass....
Don't understand the uproar. A guard would be expected to stop a prisoner from hanging himself. Why should he stand by and do nothing when he tries to starve himself? I applaud their humane efforts to prevent the prisoners from harming themselves.
If they had really been on hunger strike, they would have all died of hunger by now. I read in an article a while ago, that they are doing it as a "rotating" hunger strike, one guy doesn't eat for a couple of days, then another one and so on. Not much of a hunger strike.
I just came across a recent article, which gives how the hunger strike is defined:
"Military officials define a hunger striker as a detainee who has refused nine straight meals, and often refer to the strike as a “voluntary fast” and force-feeding as “enteral feeding.”
They say they started the hunger strike in August. If they were really doing it, they would have died of dehydration in a couple of week.
This whole thing is just a publicity stunt, that probably their lawyers suggested to them:
"The detainees began the strike in early August after the military reneged on promises to bring the prison into compliance with the Geneva Conventions, their lawyers said. Detainees are willing to starve to death to demand humane treatment and a fair hearing on whether they must stay, the lawyers said. "
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2005%5C12%5C31%5Cstory_31-12-2005_pg4_11
If the US force feeds them, the press goes bonkers.
If the the POWs starve the press would go bonkers.
Go figure!
Let them eat cake.
The US Bureau of Prisons is the leader in force feeding inmates. someone is always protesting something for news services. the rules say they are responsible for the care and health so they feed them any way they can but always under hospital conditions and never by untrained staff.
Let's force feed them their Korans.
Let's force feed them their Korans.Soak them in the toilet first, so they aren't so brittle.
WHY is the media still allowed in Gitmo????????
We never learn a damned thing in this country.
If they dont want to eat, fine. Throw that muslim crap that passes a food right into the sea.
You're the jerk that would try to resuscitate Adolph Hitler. And, in this war, you're on the wrong side.
Yep. Weld that little flap on the door shut and cut off the water to the cell.
Come back in about twelve days.
Resuscitate Hitler? Wha?
---- Arnold Horshack
You just got there with the FR quote of the year!
I agree. One less terrorist scum we have to worry about trying to kill our military forces and possibly US!
We should let them starve to death. Hasten their journey to paradise and 72 virgins. Why not.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.