Greg Rucka - Private Wars

The police repeatedly tortured prisoners, State Department officials wrote, noting that the most common techniques were beating, often with blunt weapons, and asphyxiation with a gas mask. Separately, international human rights groups had reported that torture in Uzbek jails included boiling of body parts, using electroshock on genitals and plucking off fingernails and toenails with pliers. Two prisoners were boiled to death, the groups reported. The February 2001 State Department report stated bluntly, Uzbekistan is an authoritarian state with limited civil rights.

From U.S. Recruits a Rough Ally to Be Jailer, by Hans Rudolf
Oeser, for the New York Times, May 1, 2005

c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

The law prohibits such practices; however, police and the NSS routinely tortured, beat, and otherwise mistreated detainees to obtain confessions or incriminating information. Police, prison officials, and the NSS allegedly used suffocation, electric shock, rape, and other sexual abuse.... In February 2003, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture issued a report that concluded that torture or similar ill-treatment was systematic.

From Uzbekistan, in Country Reports on Human Rights Practices,
published by the U.S. Department of State, February 25, 2005

The government claims its efforts serve as part of the global campaign against terrorism. Yet in the overwhelming majority of cases, those imprisoned have not been accused or convicted of terrorism or charged with any other violent act. Human Rights Watch has documented the torture of many of those detained in the context of this compaign, including several who that [sic] died as a result of torture... including beatings by fist and with truncheons or metal rods, rape and sexual violence, electric shock, use of lit cigarettes or newspapers to burn the detainee, and asphyxiation with plastic bags or gas masks. A doctor who examined the body of a detainee who died in custody in 2002 described burns consistent with immersion in boiling water.

From Torture World Wide, published by
Human Rights Watch, April 27, 2005

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A thank-you is owed to the following for their assistance in bringing this work to life.

Ben Moeling, for giving freely of his time, insight, and experience. All things considered, the late hit really wasnt that bad.

In London, gratitude to Andrew Wheeler, Alasdair Watson, and Ade Brown; in Barnoldswick, to Antony Johnston and Marcia Allas. Thanks to all for giving me the lay of the land, the turn of the phrase, and the occasional couch to sleep on.

At Oni Press, where Queen & Country continues to thrive, thanks to James Lucas Jones, Randal C. Jarrell, and Joe Nozemack, not solely for their wonderful friendship, but for their continued support as well.

As before, I am indebted to all of the gifted artists who have worked on Queen & Country thus farSteve Rolston, Tim Sale, Brian Hurtt, Durwin Talon, Christine Norrie, Bryan OMalley, Leandro Fernandez, Jason Alexander, Carla Speed McNeil, Mike Hawthorne, Mike Norton, Rick Burchett, and Chris Mitten.

Once again, to Gerard V. Hennely, who spends a lot of time thinking about the kind of things the rest of us dont want to spend a lot of time thinking about. As always, your help has been invaluable.

To David Hale Smith at DHS Literary, and Angela Cheng Kaplan at the Cheng-Kaplan Company, who continue to represent me with diligence, passion, and only the barest hints of annoyance. Additional gratitude to Maggie Griffen.

Thanks again to the real Tara F. Chace, who would always rather be carried; to Ian Mackintosh, for creating a world where a fictional Tara F. Chace could be carried; and to Lawrie Mackintosh, who is truly one of the most profoundly generous men it has ever been my pleasure to know.

Finally, to Elliot, Dashiell, and Jennifer, who make the hard things easy.