Prison abuse scandal limited to Abu Ghraib: US lawmakers

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US lawmakers said after a private meeting with General Antonio Taguba that they were assured that the prison abuse scandal in Iraq was limited to the facility at Abu Ghraib.

"The general theme of General Taguba's statements ... after visiting most, if not all of the detention centers in Iraq, that the problem was limited to Abu Ghraib and that a breakdown in leadership at the prison was the primary cause," said US Representative Jim Saxton, chairman of the House Terrorism and Special Operations Subcommittee.

Taguba was the author of a Pentagon report last January revealing "numerous incidents of sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuses" against Iraqi prisoners by their US jailkeepers.

According to the document, military intelligence officers told US military police guards to give Iraqi detainees rough treatment to facilitate interrogation, leading to the abuses highlighted in shocking photos and video images broadcast around the world.

Taguba held Tuesday's two-hour briefing with members of the House of Representatives one week after providing testimony at an open Senate committee hearing.

Lawmakers said Taguba also reiterated an earlier conclusion that there was no official policy of mistreatment or order to guards from top Pentagon officials to abuse detainees.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040518/pl_afp/us_iraq_prisons_taguba&cid=1521&ncid=1480

[Just Me]

1. Excuse me a moment. I need to go break a lamp or plate or something!

[progressivebydesign]

22. Stupidity and politcal cowardice limited to US Lawmakers only. N/T

[placton]

2. Hogwash, of course!

News reports show there is a world-wide US gulag, where prisoners are held and subjected to "tantamount to torture" interrogations. But the sheep in Washington don't want to admit this.

[UpInArms]

13. whitewash and cover-up

here's more documentation of abuse at other US facilities:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-fg-abuse18may18,1,4789041.story?coll=la-home-headlines

(try www.bugmenot.com)

Pervasive Abuse Alleged by Freed Detainees, Red Cross

BAGHDAD — It begins with a blast at the front gate in the middle of the night. Troops pound their way into the home. Males are rounded up. They disappear into a chaotic system of U.S.-run jails and prison camps and emerge months later, sometimes battered and often never knowing of what crime they are accused.

That has been the experience of many of the nearly 40,000 Iraqis who have been detained and released by U.S. forces occupying Iraq for more than a year.

As much of the world focuses on Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad, dozens of detainees and their families, along with scathing reports from international human rights groups, describe mistreatment at detention centers under U.S. control from Basra and Umm al Qasr in the south to Tikrit and Mosul in northern Iraq.

Even as the White House continues to argue that photographed abuse at Abu Ghraib was an isolated case, interviews with detainees and human rights reports demonstrate that abuse in various forms was systemwide.

"They just don't know how to handle us properly," said Ghazwan Alusi, 26, a car dealer held in two prisons for four months late last year. He described being transported from one detention center to another 600 miles away, hogtied by the arms and legs to other prisoners in the back of an uncovered truck.

...more...

and

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/departments/newsroom/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000507478

AP's Hanley Reported on Iraqi Prisoner Abuse Last Fall

excerpt:

In a new article distributed by AP this past weekend, Hanley observed, "Detailed allegations of psychological abuse, deprivation, beatings and deaths at U.S.-run prisons in Iraq were met by public silence from the U.S. Army last October -- six months before shocking photographs stirred world outrage and demands for action ... These early accounts by freed prisoners, reported by The Associated Press last fall, told of detainees punished by hours lying bound in the sun; being attacked by dogs; being deprived of sufficient water; spending days with hoods over their heads ...

"They spoke repeatedly of being humiliated by American guards. None mentioned the sexual humiliation seen in recently released photos, but Arab culture might keep an Iraqi from describing such mistreatment. In contrast to suggestions that the photos indicate isolated abuse by a few, these Iraqis told of widespread practices in several camps that would violate the Geneva Conventions and other human rights standards. ...

"On Oct. 18, AP posed specific questions about the reported abuses to the U.S. military command in Baghdad and the 800th Military Police Brigade, which was in charge of detainees at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison and other facilities. The MP unit drafted responses, AP later learned, but the Baghdad command did not release them. No explanation was given. The AP report, published Nov. 1, cited a statement to Arab television by the MP commander, Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski, that prisoners were treated humanely.

"Meantime, between October and December 2003, at the Abu Ghraib facility, numerous incidents of sadistic, blatant, and wanton criminal abuses were inflicted on several detainees," according to the report of a later Army investigation.

"The half-dozen ex-prisoners interviewed by AP in October were freed without charges after spending months in Abu Ghraib, Camp Bucca and the Baghdad airport's Camp Cropper.

...more...

[truebrit71]

3. Smells like bullshit, looks like bullshit, Hmmm dya think it's

BULLSHIT???

Yeah....I thought you would....:-)

[Spazito]

4. I believe the Red Cross Reports say otherwise...

if I remember correctly they listed more than one prison in stating their concerns. The only difference is that there are no photos, yet, from those.

[TankLV]

20. But photos are sooo icki!

Think of the children! They have to see these pictures!

[lancdem]

5. The story says "lawmakers"

but the only one quoted is a Repuke, Jim Saxton. What about the Dems?

[Lucille]

9. This was a "private meeting," --no transcript, no oath, and chances are

no Democrats. One Republican chairman gave a characteriation of a private meeting of "lawmakers," and the reporter doesn't corrorate w/Taguba, nor does he/she name the other "lawmakers" present. Since the meeting was private, we can't know what was said or who was invited; we'll just have to take the Repub's word for it. I would be surprised to learn if any Democrats were there--we usually hear about how they are excluded from these private meetings. In fact, Rice recently answered lawmakers questions in two sessions, first to Republicans, and when it was the Democrats turn to ask questions, the Republicans called a vote to force and end to the Democrats' session.

Taguba gave his testimony in public, under oath. What he said is part of the public record; this news report is uncorroborated characterizations of one Republican and others who are unidentified. The news report maybe an accurate representation of Taguba's statements. However, Taguba was not asked to investigate other prisons. He is not in position to know if a secret policy exists that endorsed harsher methods because he was not asked to investigate whether or not one existed.

[banana republican]

6. Rate it as a 1.0

current rating 1.2 w 5 votes

[Tinoire]

7. Bwahaha! And what would Taguba know about this since he

specifically limited his investigation, as requested, to only the Brigade?

The "law-makers" in question are a real work of art.

[tedzbear]

32. Excellent point!!!!!!!!!!!!

Funny how that extemely important fact is ignored by our Congressmen. Talk about a whitewash. Geez.

:eyes:

[Shadder]

8. Oh...

Then I guess these events never happened...

30 June, 2003
Amnesty International called on the United States today to give hundreds of Iraqis detained since the beginning of the occupation the right to meet families and lawyers and to have a judicial review of their detention. The organization also called on the US to investigate allegations of ill-treatment, torture and death into custody. "The conditions of detention Iraqis are held under at the Camp Cropper Center at Baghdad International Airport - now a US base - and at Abu Ghraib Prison may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, banned by international law," Amnesty International said.

August, 2003

An article 32 hearing is held for the four guards accused of abuse at Camp Bucca. At such hearings evidence is presented, witnesses are questioned and based on the proceedings the investigating officer may recommend dismissal of the charges, administrative discipline or Courts Martial. General courts martial (highest level) are scheduled for Master Sgt. Girman, Sgt. 1st Class McKenzie, and Spc. Canjar on Jan. 20, 25 and 30, respectively. Edmonson accepts a demotion and other-than-honorable discharge in lieu of court martial.

[Spazito]

10. It seems it is not only in prisons but in camps as well...

Reuters, NBC Staff Abused by U.S. Troops in Iraq

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. forces beat three Iraqis working for Reuters and subjected them to sexual and religious taunts and humiliation during their detention last January in a military camp near Falluja, the three said Tuesday. (note "in a military camp")

The three first told Reuters of the ordeal after their release but only decided to make it public when the U.S. military said there was no evidence they had been abused, and following the exposure of similar mistreatment of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.

An Iraqi journalist working for U.S. network NBC, who was arrested with the Reuters staff, also said he had been beaten and mistreated, NBC said Tuesday.

more

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&e=6&u=/nm/iraq_reuters_dc

(The note in brackets at the end of the first paragraph is my addition)

[SoCalDem]

11. "Prison abuse scandal limited to Abu Ghraib: US lawmakers"..(real story)

Prison abuse scandal_{investigation}limited to Abu Ghraib: US lawmakers

[Alpharetta]

12. True, scandal is limited. (while the pictures are)

but when pictures from other prisons get leaked, then the scandal widens.

Note the lawmakers never said the abuse or the Red Cross complaints were limited.

[Jacobin]

14. Did they "so decree" it?

These dunder heads must think everyone is asleep.

Fork em all.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

15. Bull. They're lying like crazy...

First, the techniques used in Iraq were brought up from Gitmo.

Second, several other locations in Iraq have been discussed over the last week or two.

Third, memos have surfaced indicating that the orders came from at least Rumsfeld's level.

When will they ever stop lying?

[Just Me]

33. No. "They" will never STOP lying. "They" can't. n/t

[0007]

35. Their just diggin' a deeper bigger hole to bury themselves,

remember we're dealing with the crazies of the world. This administration is hopeless and should be facing war crimes.

[Timefortruth]

16. Translation: No photographs were taken of the abuse elsewhere.

What about the Roger Moore shots in 9/11?

[daleo]

17. Here is a contradictory indication, from another thread

"SAVANNAH, Ga. - A U.S. soldier who left his unit in Iraq (news - web sites) rather than fight for what he called an "oil-driven war" faces a court-martial Wednesday on a desertion charge.

Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia, 28, of Miami Beach, Fla., could go to prison for a year and receive a bad conduct discharge if convicted by a military jury at Fort Stewart.
in March.

(snip)

He also claimed he saw Iraqi prisoners treated "with great cruelty" when he was put in charge of processing detainees a year ago at al-Assad, an Iraqi air base occupied by U.S. forces."

[Just Me]

27. Yup. LIVING PROOF,...that justifies my breaking lamps and plates.

Geez,...notwithstanding my anger,...I know, KNOW, that we, the true Americans who really do love freedom and democracy,...are going to pull this country back together,...and, someday, be the beacon of hope to this broken world.

[AP]

18. Because Abu Ghraib was the designated torture prison?

If it was their POLICY to turtore people, why does it matter whether they did it all in one place?

In fact, it would make sense that they wouldn't be doing it every where where tons of people would know about it.

This denial raises more questions than it answers.

[TankLV]

19. Well, thank god that's over!

It was so icki having those pictures cause all that unease and miscomfort to our wonderful country and military!

Now we can put it all behind us!

Who needs pics anyway, when they tell us they are/have been investigating all legitimate complaints!

Glad they're on top of it all.

(sarcasm off)

[progressivebydesign]

21. Bullshit. What about (sp) Bhuka prison in Iraq?

There were incidents there as well... It was reported on NPR this week as part of another story.

[PaDUer]

26. I've been posting links

about Camp Bucca over 2 wks already..

[underpants]

23. See no evil hear no evil speak no evil

[Triana]

24. L.I.E. - Can't Spell Republican Without It...

'Nuff Said.

Bastards.

[PaDUer]

25. BS! Camp Bucca also..

"The report blasts Karpinski for giving the 320th, the brigade's most troubled unit, the formidable task of running the huge penitentiary. Battalion members already were stigmatized by their beatings of Iraqi inmates last May at Camp Bucca, a southern Iraq prison."
entire story--
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=11615628&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=415898&rfi=8

[maddezmom]

28. Camp Cropper

NYT Earlier Jail Seen as Incubator for Abuses in Iraq (Col. Pappas)

Edited on Sat May-15-04 05:51 AM by maddezmom
WASHINGTON, May 14 — An American-run detention center outside Baghdad known as Camp Cropper was reportedly the site of numerous abuses of Iraqi prisoners several months before the mistreatment of prisoners unfolded last fall at Abu Ghraib prison, according to documents and interviews.

The detention facility, on the outskirts of Baghdad International Airport, appears to have served as an incubator for the acts of humiliation that were inflicted months later on Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib. At both sites, the mistreatment has been linked to interrogations overseen by the 205th Military Intelligence Brigade, based in Wiesbaden, Germany.

The alleged abuses at Camp Cropper last May and June were severe enough to have prompted formal complaints to American commanders from visiting officials of the International Committee for the Red Cross. After several visits to Camp Cropper, where they interviewed Iraqi prisoners, officials of the I.C.R.C. in early July 2003 cited at least 50 incidents of abuse reported to have taken place in a part of the prison under the control of military interrogators.

~snip~

After the I.C.R.C. complaints, the military interrogation site at Camp Cropper where the abuses took place was closed down, senior military officials said, though they declined to discuss the committee's report or to say whether it had prompted that move. "A decision was made to close the camp and consolidate at Abu Ghraib," a senior military officer said.

It remains unclear whether any disciplinary action was taken at the time against members of the 205th Brigade. The brigade commander, Col. Thomas M. Pappas, who took command at the end of June 2003, was later put in charge of interrogations at Abu Ghraib and was implicated by the Army's investigation of abuses as being "either directly or indirectly responsible" for the actions of those who mistreated and humiliated Iraqi prisoners there.

~snip~

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/15/politics/15ABUS.html

[maddezmom]

29. U.S. military launches another investigation into prisoner abuse in Afghan

The U.S. military on Saturday announced its second investigation in a week into allegations of prisoner abuse in Afghanistan, amid growing demands from rights groups for secretive U.S.-run jails across the country to be opened for outside scrutiny.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Tucker Mansager gave few details of the latest allegations, which follow complaints earlier this week from an Afghan police officer who said he was beaten and sexually assaulted during 40 days in custody last summer.

"On Thursday, coalition leaders were notified of another allegation of detainee abuse. Upon notification coalition forces launched an immediate investigation," Mansager said at a press conference in the capital Kabul.

He said the detainee was arrested last year and had since been released. He did not divulge who provided the information that prompted the new probe.

Human Rights groups have long complained of consistent allegations of abuse in American holding facilities across Afghanistan, where hundreds of suspected Taliban and al-Qaida fighters have been held without legal access or charge. The U.S. military classifies some of them "unlawful combatants." Many have been transferred to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

~snip~
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/05/15/international0603EDT0466.DTL

[maddezmom]

30. Reuters and NBC employees abuse report at abuse Volturno & St Mere

~snip~
Asked for comment Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said only: "There are a number of lines of inquiry under way with respect to prison operations in Iraq. If during the course of any inquiry, the commander believes it is appropriate to review a specific aspect of detention, he has the authority to do so."


The abuse happened at Forward Operating Base Volturno, near Falluja, the Reuters staff said. They were detained on January 2 while covering the aftermath of the shooting down of a U.S. helicopter near Falluja and held for three days, first at Volturno and then at Forward Operating Base St Mere.

~snip~
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=586&ncid=586&e=8&u=/nm/20040518/wl_nm/iraq_reuters_dc

[Window]

31. I certainly hope this is not the end of this...

We need to call our representatives and complain loudly!

[tedzbear]

34. Where are more pictures?

More CDs must be out there somewhere. I hope someone will give them to CBS soon.

[JoFerret]

36. What a convenient conclusion

it must be right

[Tellurian]

37. kick

[Democat]

38. Democrats, the wimpiest politicians ever!

Where are the quotes from outraged Democrats standing up against these liars?