U.N. reviews torture allegations against U.S.

The United Nations began hearings on allegations of torture and other mistreatment of suspected terrorists or other detainees.

London-based Amnesty International has charged that the United States has failed to stop torture against detainees such as that witnessed at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

"Evidence continues to emerge of widespread torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of detainees held in U.S. custody in Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Iraq and other locations," a report to the U.N. Committee Against Torture.

U.S.-based Human Rights Watch made similar claims on the American treatment of detainees.

The American Civil Liberties Union further raised concern about the transfer of detainees to countries for the purpose of interrogation that included torture practices.

U.S. officials countered that they do not tolerate such practices and that uncovered incidents are isolated in nature.

We should understand that the many or even most of the detainees cannot be categorized as "terrorists" or even "terrorist suspects." Many have had no charges filed against them.