The Right Must Be Thrilled

Turns out that the British sailors detained by Iran were indeed tortured, just like the wingnuts wanted.

ABOUT CONDITIONS IN CAPTIVITY

“…On arrival at a small Iranian naval base we were blindfolded, stripped of all our kit and led to a room where I (Lieutenant Carman) declared myself as the officer in charge and was introduced to their local commander.

…Two hours later, we were moved to a second location and throughout the night were subjected to random interrogation.

…The questions were aggressive and the handling rough, but it was no worse than that.

…The following morning, we were flown to Tehran and transported to a prison - where the atmosphere changed completely.

…We were blindfolded, our hands were bound, we were forced up against the wall. Throughout our ordeal we faced constant psychological pressure.

…Later, we were stripped and dressed in pyjamas. The next few nights were spent in stone cells approximately 8ft by 6ft, sleeping on piles of blankets.”

The shame of this, outside of idiot righty bloggers welcoming torture because the sailors didn't look like they were resisting enough (which would have gotten them killed), is that we literally have no moral standing to cry foul, giving the chronicles of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. This is a point made often by Democrats over the years, never so forcefully than by Joe Biden to John Ashcroft in 2004:

"There's a reason why we sign these treaties," Senator Joseph R. Biden, Democrat of Delaware, reminded Ashcroft at the hearing. "To protect my son in the military. That's why we have these treaties, so when Americans are captured, they are not tortured."

That extends to allies, who we've also put in greater danger. Hopefully, everyone on the right that pushed this is very pleased with themselves. Since it serves to affirm their own twisted notions about how they just knew that Muslims were torturers, I'm sure they are.

UPOATE: On the heels of this announcement, today's New York Times story is particularly revolting, practically accusing these soldiers of being collaborators when they were trying to stay alive.

UPDATE II: By the way, conditions at Guantanamo are worsening. Our moral standing is shot.