| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"maff" |
| Date: |
02 May 2004 03:40:06 AM |
| Object: |
OT: Horrific new evidence of soldiers' brutality in Iraq |
Horrific new evidence of soldiers' brutality in Iraq
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=517323
Secret report from notorious Baghdad jail reveals beatings, rape and
torture of prisoners by US troops
By Raymond Whitaker, Andy McSmith and Andrew Johnson
02 May 2004
Shocking new evidence of brutality by coalition troops against Iraqi
detainees emerged last night in a secret US military report into the
treatment of prisoners at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison.
The revelation that US military police and intelligence officers had
beaten Iraqi detainees, set dogs on them and threatened them with rape
came as the world recoiled at photographs of British soldiers
seemingly mistreating Iraqis in custody. The sight of servicemen
humiliating and tormenting a bound and hooded Iraqi prisoner caused
fury in the Arab world and brought condemnation from Tony Blair.
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Horrific new evidence of soldiers' brutality in Iraq |
07 May 2004 09:27:05 AM |
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On 2 May 2004 01:40:06 -0700, (maff), Message ID:
<18510aff.0405020040.54f62b3a@posting.google.com> wrote in alt.atheism;
Horrific new evidence of soldiers' brutality in Iraq
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=517323
Horrific new evidence of soldiers' brutality in Iraq
Secret report from notorious Baghdad jail reveals beatings, rape and
torture of prisoners by US troops
By Raymond Whitaker, Andy McSmith and Andrew Johnson
02 May 2004
Shocking new evidence of brutality by coalition troops against Iraqi
detainees emerged last night in a secret US military report into the
treatment of prisoners at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison.
The revelation that US military police and intelligence officers had
beaten Iraqi detainees, set dogs on them and threatened them with rape
came as the world recoiled at photographs of British soldiers seemingly
mistreating Iraqis in custody. The sight of servicemen humiliating and
tormenting a bound and hooded Iraqi prisoner caused fury in the Arab
world and brought condemnation from Tony Blair.
Ill-treatment of prisoners, if proved true, was "completely and utterly
unacceptable", the Prime Minister said. He added: "We went to Iraq to
get rid of that type of thing, not to do it. In fairness, however, we
should say that there are thousands of British troops in Iraq doing a
very brave and extraordinary job on behalf of the Iraqi people and on
behalf of our country."
The photographs are now under close scrutiny by the Royal Military
Police. Last night there were reports circulating, apparently from
sources close to the regiment concerned, that the pictures are not
genuine.
They surfaced two days after pictures were published of laughing US
service personnel humiliating Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison. But
a 53-page report, obtained by the renowned US investigative journalist
Seymour Hersh and published in the forthcoming issue of The New Yorker
magazine, makes it clear that the mistreatment went much further than
that shown in the photographs.
The report into the military prison system in Iraq, by Major General
Antonio Taguba, said there were "sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal
abuses" at Abu Ghraib, and listed some of them: "Breaking chemical
lights and pouring the phosphoric liquid on detainees ... beating
detainees with a broom handle and a chair; threatening male detainees
with rape ... sodomising a detainee with a chemical light and perhaps a
broomstick, and using military working dogs to frighten and intimidate
detainees ... and in one instance actually biting a detainee."
Gen Taguba's report makes it clear that far from being isolated actions
by low-level personnel,intelligence interrogators encouraged the
military police to "soften up" detainees. He recommended disciplinary
action for at least two senior officers apart from Brigadier General
Janis Karpinski, whose suspension as chief of military prisons in Iraq
was revealed after the photographs were published last week.
The shaming news about British and American abuses in Iraq follows
Robert Fisk's revelation in The Independent on Sunday in January that a
Basra hotel receptionist, Baha Mousa, had died in British military
custody. Possible manslaughter charges are being considered by the
military authorities, who are still investigating six other deaths.
Such incidents, worsening local hostility against occupation forces, are
increasing pressure on Mr Blair not to embroil British troops any more
deeply in Iraq.
Privately, Mr Blair is being urged by military experts not to deploy
British troops in the parts of Iraq now under US control, in case they
become caught up in the violence, which could then spread to the
southern zone around Basra policed by the British.
The warnings have been echoed by Air Marshal Sir Tim Garden, a former
RAF deputy chief of staff named yesterday as a Liberal Democrat life
peer. "Certainly, the chiefs of staff would be saying, 'Hold on, we're
doing what we're doing - let's stick to that'," Sir Tim told The
Independent on Sunday. Asked about the possibility of Britain taking on
duties in the former Spanish zone, Mr Blair said it was "under review".
Meanwhile, the Government has banned ministers and other VIPs from
visiting Iraq, to avoid the risk of a high-profile kidnapping. Tony
Blair's human rights envoy to Iraq, Ann Clwyd MP, confirmed she is among
those forbidden to travel. She said: "I hope to get back in a fortnight,
but we shall have to see."
7 May 2004 07:21
© 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd
Stoney
"Designated Rascal and Rapscallion
and
SCAMPERMEISTER!"
When in doubt, SCAMPER about!
When things are fair, SCAMPER everywhere!
When things are rough, can't SCAMPER enough!
/end humour alert
alt.atheism military veteran #11
{so much for the 'no atheists in foxholes' rubbish}
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