“Reasonable” Confinement

Ken AshfordWar on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

Unbelieveable:

General Formica found that in the third case at a Special Operations outpost, near Tikrit, in April and May 2004, three detainees were held in cells 4 feet high, 4 feet long and 20 inches wide, except to use the bathroom, to be washed or to be interrogated. He concluded that two days in such confinement "would be reasonable; five to seven days would not." Two of the detainees were held for seven days; one for two days, General Formica concluded.

Put yourself in that position.  You are in a cell four feet high, four feet long, and 20 inches wide.  That’s roughly the size of a standard office filing cabinet.  And you’re in it.

You can’t stand (it’s only four feet high).  You can’t lie down (it’s base is only four feet by 20 inches.   You’ll always have to crouch.  And you have to be in there for two days.

According to Formica, this is "reasonable" treatment of detainees if it’s only for two days.  Does any decent human being with an ounce of humanity agree?