“The United States is committed to the worldwide elimination of torture and we are leading this fight by example. I call on all governments to join with the United States . . . in prohibiting, investigating, and prosecuting all acts of torture."

George W. Bush

United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture: June 26, 2003

When Australian citizen, Mamdouh Habib, was unexpectedly released from Guantanamo Bay earlier this year, he immediately made allegations that he had been subjected to torture by both Egyptian & US authorities during the three years of his detention.

Whilst this was not the first time that such allegations had been levelled against US authorities, Australia’s Attorney-General, Phillip Ruddock, immediately denied any knowledge of such practices. Sounding like the three wise monkeys - “see no evil, hear no evil & speak no evil