Arms Control Wonk

I wouldn/’t call it a “torture” tape. I don/’t think cutting someone/’s head off is torture, just to be precise.Donald Rumsfeld, October 2003 Some other stunningly insensitive remarks about torture from the SECDEF: We don/’t torture people. To suggest that anyone would be engaged in torture or conduct inconsistent with the Geneva Conventions, it seems …

The conservative Chosun Ilbo (South Korea) claims “North Korea has begun work on deploying intermediate range ballistic missiles (with ranges of 3,000-4,000km) it developed last year, building underground bases at two sites.” “In particular, U.S. spy satellites have discovered about 10 of the newly designed IRBMs and mobile launchers at the two sites between last …

“The unreleased images show American soldiers beating one prisoner almost to death, apparently raping a female prisoner, acting inappropriately with a dead body, and taping Iraqi guards raping young boys, according to NBC News.” Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1987 “For the purposes of this Convention, torture means …

I spoke with a military officer who suggested that the recent civil violence in Iraq had accelerated implementation of an “enclave” strategy in Iraq. He thinks this may help us turn the corner; I think he is nuts. The creation of the “Fallujah Brigade” (which was briefly to be headed by a Saddam henchman) was …