Keesje From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (4 years 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 1390 times:
A video tape smuggled out of the United Arab Emirates shows a member of the country's royal family mercilessly torturing a man with whips, electric cattle prods and wooden planks with protruding nails.
"UAE is one of the closest allies of the US in the Middle East and the US Navy operates out of a major base near Dubai. It is also one of the biggest customers for US weapons, having signed a $6.9 billion arms deal with Washington in 2008. The UAE is seen by the US as a critical ally in its self-styled “war on terror.”
Dreadnought From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 7756 posts, RR: 22 Reply 2, posted (4 years 3 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 1329 times:
I wonder how many people will say that there is no difference between whips, electric cattle prods and wooden planks with protruding nails, and the waterboarding and sleep deprivation.
Keesje From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (4 years 3 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 1278 times:
Not shown in the video are further acts in which "He uses an electric cattle prod against the man's testicles and inserts it in his anus. At another point, as the man wails in pain, the Sheikh pours lighter fluid on the man's testicles and sets them aflame."
The torturer won't be prosecuted, because the matter was "settled privately," and the government said "all rules, policies and procedures were followed correctly by the Police Department."
He (Sheikh Issa Bin Zayed Al Nayhan) is the son of the late United Arab Emirates President Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and brother of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Another brother is the head of police department.
The US embassy has had the tapes in its possesion for yrs.
YOWza From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 4781 posts, RR: 17 Reply 9, posted (4 years 3 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 1178 times:
Quoting Pyrex (Reply 8): And to think there are people who still find Dubai and other of the Emirates an acceptable place to vacation in...
I don't know that this incident should be used to blanket the entire UAE. I would imagine you have vacationed somewhere with a patchy rights record or own clothes made in a country with such a record. Let's not get too up ourselves.
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16808 posts, RR: 57 Reply 10, posted (4 years 3 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 1169 times:
Quoting Dreadnought (Reply 2): I wonder how many people will say that there is no difference between whips, electric cattle prods and wooden planks with protruding nails, and the waterboarding and sleep deprivation.
There isn't much of a difference. Both have the capability to cause horror, permanent physical damage, and long-lasting psychological trauma.
RussianJet From Kazakhstan, joined Jul 2007, 6275 posts, RR: 23 Reply 11, posted (4 years 3 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 1154 times:
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 10): There isn't much of a difference. Both have the capability to cause horror, permanent physical damage, and long-lasting psychological trauma.
Very true, and in any case, one wrong does not excuse another, and two wrongs don't make a right.
LTU932 From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, RR: 51 Reply 12, posted (4 years 3 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 1142 times:
Dubai isn't exactly paradise. There are reports of slave like labour (e.g. workers from India get their passports taken away for the time they work, which is almost 24/7), you literally fall into disgrace if you've acumulated major debt and they take your passport away as well, the newly built buildings are starting to crack, etc. If someone thinks Dubai is paradise to live, he or she is wrong once they read about the reports on how things really are over there.
Dreadnought From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 7756 posts, RR: 22 Reply 13, posted (4 years 3 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 1112 times:
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 10): There isn't much of a difference. Both have the capability to cause horror, permanent physical damage, and long-lasting psychological trauma.
So Military training (for special ops and for many pilots) and College Frat parties are the same as medieval torture.
Sometimes I really wonder if we don't live in different universes...
Dreadnought From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 7756 posts, RR: 22 Reply 15, posted (4 years 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1085 times:
Quoting Mt99 (Reply 14): For Military Training and Frat Parties you are consenting to participate. I don't think the Spanish Inquistion gave you a choice.
Sponsor Message: 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Greece, joined Jul 1999, 3442 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 7756 posts, 
From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 4781 posts, 
From Kazakhstan, joined Jul 2007, 6275 posts, 
From Portugal, joined Aug 2005, 3537 posts, 
From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
