Anger grows over Iraqi prisoners

[JoFerret]

http://www.iht.com/articles/518107.html

....
The Bush administration, facing a setback at a crucial point in its efforts to prepare Iraq for a limited handover of sovereignty on June 30, has sent out a series of spokesmen in recent days to condemn prisoner abuse vigorously, insist that only a tiny minority of military personnel were involved, and promise appropriate punishments. Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez.....And just a week after the State Department praised the cooperation of several Arab countries in the fight against terrorism, these efforts, too, might be eroded by negative publicity about how prisoners are treated.
.
In Brussels....
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In Copenhagen.....
Spain’s foreign minister....
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In Baghdad....
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Reporters and human rights groups have turned up anecdotal evidence in recent days of more widespread abuse....

The State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, acknowledged Monday that there were ‘‘certainly a lot of people who are very disturbed by the pictures and the reports’’ from Abu Ghraib. But ....
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The matter has engendered some friction between, on the one side, the U.S. Army Reserve, and on the other, the CIA and U.S. Army intelligence, blamed by some reservists for pressuring them to break down prisoners’ defenses.
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[anarchy1999]

1. What direction are we supposed to point this damned BLAME GUN in?

Stop spinning and just let the gun be fired.

[chaska]

2. This is all just so unbeleivably disingenuous.

These assholes in Washington acting like they've never seen anything like this in their lives. "Oh, my my, this is just terrible." Bullshit! This is war. This is what happens in war. They all know this shit happens and couldn't care less ... until someone shines a spotlight on it. Then suddenly these virtual saints act all outraged and shocked that our side could do something like this. It disgust me worse than the abuse itself.

I don't think it was widely reported in the mainstream press but I read a story with pics about a year ago about British troops abusing Iraqi POWs. They know this stuff happens.

God damn, I hate a hypocrite.

[yardwork]

3. The news is worse and worse.

See other threads for reports from former inmates of these prisons, and the abuse they suffered at the hands of coalition forces in several different prisons.

This is a LOT more widespread than the * administration has acknowledged. This is clearly systemic torture that was mandated by people at the top, in an effort to get information out of civilians.

According to reports, civilians were arrested on hear-say evidence and held without being charged with any crime. They were tortured and then released weeks and months later.

This is hideous. This is the worse thing I have ever heard the American government doing. It is beyond appalling.

What did the Iraqi people ever do to us? They had nothing to do with 9/11! We invaded their country for no reason, then occupied their cities and arrested and tortured civilians!!

[Leezamarie]

10. This orchestrated, public sexual assault on groups of men is a new low

Particularly with women as the perps. I really don't think that anything quite like this has ever happened before. Even Saddam's prisoners say that he didn't strip people naked
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/03/1083436542947.html
For a comparison, I think Caligula would be the closest and he didn't make orgy sketches and show them around the Empire. These people were busted because they bragged and showed the pics to friends.

[Domitan]

14. How ironic

http://www.tarpley.net/bushint.htm

Check out the title of this introduction to Poppy Bush's unauthorized biography.

[oblivious]

12. It's not just in war it happens

British troops 'gang raped Masai women'

...'I saw the soldiers and I started to run because I knew British soldiers raped....

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,815403,00.html

[alcuno]

4. As if things were just going fine if it wasn't for this.

It's much worse than what they are telling us on the news. This is unspeakable degradation to Muslims.

[ugarte]

5. They keep talking about abuse

As bad as it is, a bugger question is how many prisoners did they murder?

[happynewyear]

9. seems to be a whole former soccer field of them

I don't know the exact #. Not sure I want to know the exact #. No matter what is said, it is shame shame shame on you America, you have lost face, what was left of it that is!

War is hell.

[MrPrax]

6. "anecdotal evidence in recent days"???

"The former head of US military prisons in Iraq, Brigadier General Janis Karpinski, who was relieved of her command earlier this year, yesterday alleged that military intelligence officers discouraged her from entering the cell block at Abu Ghraib where they interrogated prisoners. They also went "to great lengths to try to exclude" the International Red Cross from their prison wing."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1208332,00.html


NEW YORK: Ahmed Chalabi, a long-time Pentagon favourite to become leader of Iraq after maintenance Hussein's ouster, and some of his top aides supplied Iran with sensitive information on American occupation of Iraq which could "get people killed," a media report said on Monday quoting top Bush administration officials.

The electronic intercepts of discussions between Iranian leaders indicate that Chalabi and his entourage told Iranian contacts about American political plans in Iraq, Newsweek quoted American officials as saying.
http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/articleshow?msid=655150

And then Juan's spin...
http://www.juancole.com/2004_05_01_juancole_archive.html

Looks like Chalabi is out for complaining...

what other anecdotals?

Then there is Seymour who has been pretty consistent...
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?040510fa_fact

http://www.correspondences.org/archives/2004_05.html

etc etc

[CHIMO]

7. S. Hersh

Was on "Democracy Now" today discussing the same article that is given above.
He feels that there has been a system breakdown. Also he will have more articles on the topic.

This is bad and looks like it will be a turning point.

[progressivebydesign]

8. Here I'm thinking those involved should go to prison..

..but as I predicted, most have gotten only a reprimand.

[happynewyear]

11. they should all be coutmarshaled & dishonorably discharged

... and then sent to prison for the rest of their lives for their acts as war criminals. Nothing else would satisfy my anger nor the world's anger in any other fashion that I can see.

[Leezamarie]

13. Afghan POWs shot through walls of containers and then buried alive

The convoy of death is getting a mention.
Read "US had role in Afgan deaths"
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=648372002