And 61 percent of those who believe that torture has taken place (or 41 percent of all U.S. adults) also believe that it is still happening in spite of the public disclosures of events that took place in Abu Ghraib prison, Harris reported.
Harris reported that among the 66 percent of adults who believe that prisoners captured in Iraq and Afghanistan were tortured, a 41 percent plurality feel that those in command are most responsible followed by the soldiers (30%), the Administration (13%) and the Pentagon (10%).
It also found that six in ten (60%) of those who believe that prisoners have been tortured believe that more than 20 prisoners were tortured. Another 14 percent think that between 10 and 20 prisoners were tortured, and 20 percent think that less than 10 prisoners were tortured.
The Harris poll was conducted in April 2005, and the Pew poll in September and October. Both were completed before press allegations that the CIA was sending 'ghost prisoners' to secret prisons in East Europe and elsewhere.
On her recent visit to Europe, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice neither confirmed nor denied the existence of such prisons, but insisted that torture was against both U.S. law and policy.
Adding fuel to the prisoner treatment issue are allegations that torture and inhuman treatment persist. Most recently, five members of an elite U.S. Army Ranger unit in Iraq were charged with kicking and punching detainees while awaiting movement to a detention facility.
At least 108 people have died in American custody in Iraq and Afghanistan, most of them violently, according to government data provided to The Associated Press. Roughly a quarter of those deaths have been investigated as possible abuse by U.S. personnel. There have been 21 homicides.
The torture issue has drawn strong criticism from human rights groups. Typical is John Sifton of Human Rights Watch. Sifton told IPS, "The Bush administration continues to believe that by invoking the word 'terror' it can detain anyone in any corner of the world without any oversight," he said. "Yet all these cases do is suggest that the United States has no commitment to legal principles. Turning your back on the law is not the way to stop terrorism."
Harris reported that among the 66 percent of adults who believe that prisoners captured in Iraq and Afghanistan were tortured, a 41 percent plurality feel that those in command are most responsible followed by the soldiers (30%), the Administration (13%) and the Pentagon (10%).
It also found that six in ten (60%) of those who believe that prisoners have been tortured believe that more than 20 prisoners were tortured. Another 14 percent think that between 10 and 20 prisoners were tortured, and 20 percent think that less than 10 prisoners were tortured.
The Harris poll was conducted in April 2005, and the Pew poll in September and October. Both were completed before press allegations that the CIA was sending 'ghost prisoners' to secret prisons in East Europe and elsewhere.
Adding fuel to the prisoner treatment issue are allegations that torture and inhuman treatment persist. Most recently, five members of an elite U.S. Army Ranger unit in Iraq were charged with kicking and punching detainees while awaiting movement to a detention facility.
At least 108 people have died in American custody in Iraq and Afghanistan, most of them violently, according to government data provided to The Associated Press. Roughly a quarter of those deaths have been investigated as possible abuse by U.S. personnel. There have been 21 homicides.
The torture issue has drawn strong criticism from human rights groups. Typical is John Sifton of Human Rights Watch. Sifton told IPS, "The Bush administration continues to believe that by invoking the word 'terror' it can detain anyone in any corner of the world without any oversight," he said. "Yet all these cases do is suggest that the United States has no commitment to legal principles. Turning your back on the law is not the way to stop terrorism."
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