Saturday, March 02, 2013
Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Cruel and unusual punishment, including psychological torture used to coerce cooperation with government officials, is not against the law in the United States. Neither does extended incarceration in prison without being charged with any crime violate any federal law. People dragged before a grand jury fishing expedition against political dissidents can be locked in solitary confinement forever. While today's release of two victims of U.S. Attorney witch hunts in Seattle after five months of this torture is welcome news, the fact that the system of cruel and unusual punishment continues as a normal function within the U.S. Department of Justice means anyone dissenting against U.S. policy risks losing their health and freedom.
