Tortured Sane

Jose Padilla-- the US citizen held for three and a half years without charge as an 'enemy combatant' now facing federal terrorism charges-- is currently undergoing a psychological review. His defense team claims he is unfit to stand trial after he was subjected to blinding light, extreme cold, sleep deprivation, forced-standing, total isolation, and injections of LSD and PCP at the hands of his military captors. "In an effort to gain Mr. Padilla's 'dependency and trust,' he was tortured for nearly the entire three years and eight months of his unlawful detention. The torture took myriad forms, each designed to cause pain, anguish, depression and, ultimately, the loss of will to live," they said.

Federal prosecutors argued that the psychological review currently underway should be focused only on Padilla's current mental state, not on its causes. In fact, according to the Washington Post, "prosecutors argue that by relating his claims of torture to his attorneys, Padilla has shown his psychological competence to assist in his own defense." In other words, if you're well enough to recount the torture-- you're sane enough to stand trial.

(Photo: TSG)