Josh Marshall: Kinda Curious What That Means (Ellsberg's claim)

[ProSense]

55. I suppose

"It's a matter of debate"

...it is. I mean, there are ethical and medical concerns and other issues to be considered. Still, is trying to keep someone alive the same as torturing them to death?

Dianne Feinstein:

"Hunger strikes are a long known form of non-violent protest aimed at bringing attention to a cause, rather than an attempt at suicide," she wrote in a letter. "I believe that the current approach raises very important ethical questions and complicates the difficult situation regarding the continued indefinite detention at Guantanamo. I urge you to re-evaluate the force-feeding policies at Guantanamo Bay and put in place the most humane policies possible."

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/feinstein-stop-force-feeding-guantanamo-bay-detainees

Now, let's say the administration stops this practice. What happens if a prisoner dies?

War crimes tribunal orders force-feeding of Serbian warlord

The UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague last night ordered the force-feeding of a Serbian warlord and senior politician who has been on hunger strike in custody for almost a month.

The decision, the first such order since the court was set up more than a decade ago to deal with war crimes in the former Yugoslavia, came after a medical examination of Vojislav Seselj concluded that he might be a fortnight away from dying.

<...>

The tribunal last night told Dutch authorities to force-feed Mr Seselj if there was a risk of him dying. "There is a prevailing interest in continuing with the trial of the accused in order to serve the ends of justice," it said in a statement. "The trial ... should not be undermined by the accused's manipulative behaviour."

<...>

While stating that any force-feeding deemed necessary for lifesaving purposes should not contradict "compelling internationally accepted standards of medical ethics or binding rules of international law", the judges at the tribunal also noted that the body of law laid down by the European court of human rights did not view force-feeding as "torture, inhuman or degrading treatment if there is a medical necessity to do so ... and if the manner in which the detainee is force-fed is not inhuman or degrading".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/dec/07/balkans.warcrimes

The best way out of this situation is to end the practice, release the prisoners and close Gitmo. Can that happen before a tragedy (death by starvation)?

New State Dept. Envoy Begins Work Of Closing Guantánamo

The new State Department special envoy for closing the United States military's detention center located at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba began the effort to shut down the polarizing prison camp, McClatchy reported Thursday.

Clifford Sloan, a former publisher of Slate magazine and a Washington attorney who’s worked in all three branches of government, embarked on a one-day tour of the prison facility, where he had discussions with military and medical personnel.

In a major national security speech in May, President Barack Obama vowed to close Gitmo, which he said has "become a symbol around the world for an America that flouts the rule of law." Obama has drawn criticism, mostly from the left, for failing to close the detention center during his first term in office, despite his 2008 campaign pledge to do so.

“President Obama has been very clear as he laid out the goal,and the objective is to close Guantánamo," Sloan told McClatchy. “Our marching orders are clear.”

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/new-state-dept-envoy-begins-work-of-closing

ACLU Comment on Appointment of Envoy to Close Guantánamo
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023036083