I am sorry, I am trying really hard not to post on the abuse and torture of prisoners by the USA, it is getting so much coverage elsewhere and it so depressing. Here is one small slip in my resolve.

The Smoking Gun has posted a copy of a memo to Donald Rumsfeld requesting authority to use certain techniques on the inmates of Guantanamo that the ICRC has defined as torture including

removal of clothing, using dogs to intimidate inmates, and the use of stress-positions (like standing), for a maximum of four hours.

Donald Rumsfeld did give his approval reluctantly. He was reluctant because he did not feel they were harsh enough. One could give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he did not appreciate the full reality of what he was approving but how likely is that?