Cong. Meeks(D-NY) Sponsors Legislation Compensating 1991 Gulf War POWs

[papau]

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=117-12022003

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Sponsors Legislation Compensating 1991 Gulf War POWs Without Delay
12/2/03 10:44:00 AM

Contact: Candace Sandy, 718-949-5600 or 917-714-3275; Jennifer Stewart, 202-225-3461; both of the Office of Congressman Gregory W. Meeks

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) a member of the International Relations Committee sponsored legislation on Friday, Nov. 21, 2003 urging the dispensation of monetary compensation for 1991 Gulf War prisoners of war and their immediate families, as well as expediting payment. H. CON. RES. 344 justifies financial compensation to 17 POWs who have been thwarted from collecting millions of dollars in compensation since last summer, when they prevailed in a district court ruling against the government of Saddam Hussein. Despite the ruling, Bush administration lawyers have argued that the Iraqi assets should remain frozen in U.S. bank accounts to help pay for Iraq's post-war reconstruction.

In July, United States District Court for the District of Columbia awarded the former prisoners multiple millions of dollars for injury and suffering inflicted by the Republic of Iraq and its intelligence service, at the direction of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. The POWs, some captive for as long as 12 years, endured brutal torture including: systematic starvation, administration of electrical shocks, denial of medical care, intentional aggravation of existing injuries, sleep deprivation, confinement in filthy conditions, denial of the right to be inspected by the Red Cross, denial of requests to notify family members that they were alive and forced participation in propaganda tapes. Some of the injuries sustained by the POWs range from broken bones, nausea, and massive bruises to infection, perforated eardrums and nerve damage.

The White House maintains that the funds are urgently needed for national security needs, despite the physical torture and psychological brutality afflicted on the former prisoners by the Iraqi forces. The Department of Justice is now suing to nullify the District Court's award.

"President Bush continues to urge the American people to be patient while we pay billions of dollars for the reconstruction of Iraq, yet he totally disregards the plight of these ex-POWs who were severely tortured by Saddam Hussein and his minions," Representative Meeks asserted.<snip>

[blm]

1. Good for Meeks.

His work with Kerry on veteran's and military issues is making him a bolder congressman.

[papau]

2. I agree - but it is sad that this hits the wire as a PR release - not news

sigh....

but it did get on the wire!

:-)

[blm]

3. We'll take what we can get. It's just important that minority Democrats

are even seen as fighting for military issues, since the GOP has them stereotyped as anti-military.