Torture has been used by America in many conflicts and there has been multiple attempts by the international community to reduce it and protect human rights. The United States ratified the Geneva convention in 1955 and therefore are legally bound to its provisions. In the Geneva Convention it is stated in Article 3 "To this end the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above - mentioned persons: (a) violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture... (c) Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment...". Additionally, the US ratified the United Nations convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment in 1994. This states that there are no "exceptional circumstances... may be invoked as a justification of torture." Also, the U.S. Criminal code states "Severe mental pain or suffering means the prolonged mental harm caused by or resulting from- The threat of imminent death; or the threat that another person will imminently by subjected to death, sever physical pain or suffering, or the administration or application of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses of personality...". These are a clear list of actions that are not allowed, however there are many instances of violations in our readings. The Memo on "Enhanced interrogation techniques" outlines the appropriate uses of interrogation techniques such as "removal of clothing" and "the use of scenarios designed to convince the detainee that death or several painful consequences are imminent for him and/or his family". These techniques that go directly against the above mentioned conventions ratified by the United States. The express order to break these treaties is a and violation of law and human rights by the US government. It allows for individuals to assume that these laws will not be enforced and may feel that they can take actions into their own hands. This seems to have occurred in the U.S. Army, article 15-6 investigation of the 800th military police brigade. This report outlines many horrendous acts carried out against detainees in Abu Ghraib that were clear violations of the Geneva convention and the U.S. criminal code such as taking humiliating pictures of detainees in sexual positions while naked, pouring phosphoric liquid on detainees, and threatening detainees with a 9mm pistol. These are just a few examples of the horrendous acts that where uncovered in the investigation. From the memos given to military personnel regarding torture and the investigation into the treatment of detainees it is clear the US chose to disregard the international treaties and US criminal codes that were created to prevent these things from happening. Ill