USA: Torture in the name of ‘civilization’: President Bush vetoes anti-torture legislation

Index Number: AMR 51/016/2008
Date Published: 10 March 2008
Categories: USA

In March 2008, President Bush vetoed legislation aimed at preventing the Central Intelligence Agency from using “enhanced” interrogation techniques again. The US government is now moving towards the possibility of executions after show trials of those it has subjected to systematic human rights violations. Six detainees are facing a joint trial by military commission at which the government wants to pursue the death penalty. All six have been subjected to enforced disappearance or torture: both are crimes under international law.