Iraqis hostile over plan to raze Abu Ghraib

[UpInArms]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040526/IRAQ26/TPInternational/TopStories

BAGHDAD -- George W. Bush might have imagined he was offering a great gift to Iraq when he promised to tear down the infamous Abu Ghraib prison, but many Iraqis say he is simply missing the point.

The U.S. President cannot erase the prison- abuse scandal by razing the jail, Iraqis said yesterday.

"I don't think the building itself has any meaning, positive or negative," Iraqi Interior Minister Samir al-Sumaidy said. "We give it meaning by how we use it."

At the gates of the prison, the families of the inmates were unimpressed by the Bush plan. "We would be happy if Abu Ghraib is destroyed, but not if the prisoners are just transferred to another jail," said Maha Abdulkarim, who was tearfully begging the U.S. soldiers to let her visit her two brothers.

She was skeptical of Mr. Bush's pledge to build a new "humane" prison to replace Abu Ghraib.

<snip>

It appeared odd that Mr. Bush was deciding the prison's fate in the same speech in which he promised that Iraqis, not Americans, would have full control of key decisions. Some Iraqi officials said the fate of the prison should be determined by the next Iraqi government, not by Mr. Bush.

...more...

"The Americans are liars," she said. "They should just let the prisoners go."

[Iceburg]

1. It should become a museum to preserve the history

and serve as a memorial to those who died and/or were tortured under the Saddam and Bush regimes.

[oasis]

2. Maybe rolling heads in the the Defense Department would have real meaning.

Starting with Rummy.

[rooboy]

3. I hope they don't raze Abu Ghraib...

I really want the Nick Berg movie to be shot "on location".

[rex 555]

4. But its a brand new American prison.

Who wants to bet that it isn't the prison corp. that Mommy Bush doesn't own stock in? Any takers? I thought not. The possibilies are so endless when rackteers control evertthing.

[Turbineguy]

5. Did Bush mention

tranferring the prisoners before knocking down the prison, or are we just assuming again?

[ze_dscherman]

6. Cartoon on the proposed new prison

From German TAZ www.taz.de

Can't link directly to the cartoon.


Translation: In contrast to the crappy Abu Ghraib prison - the new one has facilities to sit!

[maddezmom]

7. Iraq Official Chides Bush on Prison Plan

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The head of Iraq (news - web sites)'s Governing Council said Wednesday that President Bush (news - web sites)'s idea of demolishing the notorious Abu Ghraib prison was a waste of resources.


"We must not be sentimental," Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer told reporters. "Torture has taken place in every vault in Iraq. As the Governing Council, we do not agree with demolishing it and the matter will be left for the transitional government" which takes office Jan. 30.


He called the idea of destroying the prison "a waste of resources."


Bush told an audience Monday night at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., that Abu Ghraib prison, notorious for torture under Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) and scene of prisoner abuse by U.S. troops, will be destroyed "as a fitting symbol of Iraq's new beginning."


However, the idea has found little resonance in Iraq.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=3&u=/ap/20040526/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_abu_ghraib

[kittykitty]

8. Didn't we just spend a lot of money to renovate Abu Ghraib?

I thought I read we spent several million to renovate it. I tried to Google for info, but couldn't find any reference. If, so--what a waste!

[Randers]

9. "They should just let the prisoners go."

That is an outrage if they are still holding (probably) innocent people there.

What's up with that?

[Zhade]

10. KICK

Kick

[BeHereNow]

11. Halliburton stockholders:

Tear it down and build again.
On the taxpayer dollars of course...
BHN :mad:

[daleo]

12. Iraqis don't understand BFEE Science

It is a well known fact that destroying a building washes clean all memories of bad things that went on inside said building.

[0007]

13. The Iraqis have got it right. I wish FAUX news could get it straight,

so they could tell junior his plans sucks.

[saigon68]

14. THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER SODOMIZED BY HALLIBURTON

CHIMP CHENEY AND THE CABAL

[dansolo]

15. Will there be another no-bid contract

to build the replacement prison? You gotta hand it to them. These guys can figure out how to make a profit even from their scandals.

[Disturbed]

16. New prison first

I read that the plan was to build a new prison then demolish the old one. DimSon said the Iraqi people approve of this. Damn, that azzhole tells so many freakin' lies that it is hard to keep track of them.

Will a new prison erase the memories of the old one?

Bushco is comprised of moronic, Sociopaths.

[0rganism]

17. "We give it meaning by how we use it." Smart guy. Can we trade for him?

"We'll give you a Rumsfeld, a Powell, and throw in a Ridge for your al-Sumaidy."

"No way, we're keeping him."

[killbotfactory]

18. It's a freedom prison!

Tear down that old oppression prison! Put up a shiny new FREEDOM PRISON! Hooray for Bush!

Imagine if Reagan proposed putting up a brand new wall in place of the Berlin wall.

Bush can't even do a meaningless symbolic gesture right.