Torture Policy Glossary

The first in a continuing series...

Phrase: "Respects the sovereignty"

Example of usage:  Regarding reports that the CIA has kept  secret prisons in some European countries, Secretary of State Rice  said, "The United States has respected -- and will continue to respect -- the sovereignty of other countries."

Meaning: Don't play games you two-faced sniveling sissies. The European countries  in question agreed  to  house these prisons; and many more were happy to help us kidnap  al-Qaida suspects in their territory.

Comments

[Malcolm Calder]

"The European countries in question agreed to house these prisons..." isn't quite right. A country is a big thing, and usually includes lots of ordinary people.
Better: "The governments of the Eurpopean countries...."
Better still: "Certain extra-formal elements of the governments...."

From this more precise vantage point we can see how the unobjectionable surface meaning covers a deeply anti-democratic reality.

[Malcolm Calder]

"The European countries in question agreed to house these prisons..." isn't quite right. A country is a big thing, and usually includes lots of ordinary people.
Better: "The governments of the Eurpopean countries...."
Better still: "Certain elements of the governments...acting extra-formally...."

From this more precise vantage point we can see how the unobjectionable surface meaning covers a deeply anti-democratic reality.