Bush, Kerry Ignore Torture

In a press release posted on its Web site Wednesday, Amnesty International insisted both Bush and Kerry “failed to address the USA’s treatment of detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo and in secret locations elsewhere.”

“Each candidate should now promise that, if elected, he will take prompt action to address this issue head on.

“Our central message is that the prevention of torture and ill-treatment is primarily a matter of political will.

“With this in mind, we urge the presidential candidates to commit themselves to a commission of inquiry and the introduction of comprehensive safeguards against torture and ill-treatment.”

Photos depicting torture at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad, which first emerged in late April, shocked the world and left a lasting smear on the US reputation as a defender of human rights.