Gonzales: Blackout beim Folter-Memorandum

--- Bushs designierter, aber umstrittener Justizminister Alberto Gonzales hat sich bei einer Senatsanhörung jetzt entschieden von der zuvor zumindest tolerierten Folterpolitik in Namen der USA distanziert: "Torture and abuse will not be tolerated by this administration," Gonzales said. "I will ensure the Department of Justice aggressively pursues those responsible for such abhorrent actions." Da wird er ja alle Hände voll zu tun haben. Bezüglich des früheren Foltermemorandums, das während seiner Zeit als Berater des Weißen Hauses entstanden ist, verwies der Latino auf einen Blackout und wusch seine Hände in Unschuld: Gonzales said he could not remember who had requested the legal guidance on permissible interrogation tactics -- many officials have said it was the CIA -- but he acknowledged under questioning that high-pressure interrogation techniques were discussed in White House meetings at which he was present. Others have said the tactics included mock burials and simulated drownings. The memo -- which was used to formulate permissive Defense Department rules on interrogations -- was withdrawn by the Justice Department after it was revealed publicly in 2004 and has since been rewritten, reaching starkly different conclusions. Mehr dazu u.a. in der LA Times.