Whether it is ever proven authoritatively or not I feel sure that the orders came from the top down and these isolated incedents were actually policy

Torture has been high on the right-wing agenda for a long time

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why just this morning I watched a Republican senator proclaim that concern for the Iraqi prisoners was misplaced, that they were evil folks with American blood on their hands and unworthy of sympathy
The right-wing crowd has been up in arms for decades about the Warren court's decision in Miranda and other prisoners' rights cases even trying to start impeachment proceedings against Warren
They continually complain about 'country club' prisons and get upset if any basic amenities are allowed in prison
the right can always be counted on to proclaim that Rodney King or Amadou Diallo got what they deserved
the right says that any accused who got off because their rights were violated escaped on a technicality
the right believes that police brutality is a myth
the right believes that prison rapes and beatings are a legitimate part of the incarceration process
the right believes in indefinite detention without being charged for a crime
the right believes that the police only arrest the guilty
the right believes that appeals and prisoner lawsuits are an abuse of the system

Put it all together and it spells torture

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