A.C.L.U. Presents Accusations of Serious Abuse of Iraqi Civilians -NYT

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 - The American Civil Liberties Union released documents on Monday describing complaints of serious abuse of Iraqi civilians, including reports of electric shocks and forced sodomy, and accused the military of not thoroughly investigating the cases.

The documents list dozens of allegations of abuse at American detention centers - the use of cigarettes to burn prisoners, aggressive dogs, electric shocks, sexual humiliation and beatings - that began at about the same time such acts were occurring at Abu Ghraib prison.
...
The documents list several sites where abuses are reported to have taken place, many of them at the detention center at Adhamiya Palace, one of Saddam Hussein's villas in Baghdad. The documents contain allegations from detainees about being abused and statements from American contractors who said they saw the effects of beatings.

In one case, a detainee said that while at Adhamiya Palace, his nose was pinched while water was poured down his throat, a wooden stick was inserted forcefully into his anus and electric shock was applied to his genitals. Some of the allegations were directed against Iraqi policemen. One contractor who said he was assigned to screen detainees brought to Abu Ghraib said that many who had come from Adhamiya arrived with serious injuries, including one boy with a bleeding rectum. He said the boy had told him that an Iraqi policeman had sodomized him with a soda bottle and that American soldiers were present.
...
The new accusations generally concern the behavior of American Special Forces, as opposed to prison guards or interrogators, who have been accused at Abu Ghraib.
http://nytimes.com/2005/01/25/international/middleeast/25abuse.html?hp&ex=1106629200&en=1e3e248c07d24961&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Pam-Moby]

1. OMG here we go again...this is so sad...n/t

[Rose Siding]

2. Without photos, how far will it go?

No one believes it unless they see it. Time for some more leaks.

[Solly Mack]

4. Even with photos they call it "pranks"

:(

[struggle4progress]

3. Human rights watchdog calls for prison abuse probe

NEW YORK — Human Rights Watch has urged the U.S. government to name a special prosecutor to investigate the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal, calling it one of the most flagrant examples of human rights violations in 2004.

In its annual survey of human rights around the world, HRW dubbed the abuse of Muslim and Arab prisoners by U.S. forces in Iraq as one of the two most serious rights abuses, along with the displacement and killing of tens of thousands of people in Sudan’s Darfur region. <snip>

According to HRW Director Kenneth Roth, “The U.S. government is less and less able to push for justice abroad because it’s unable to see justice done at home.” Recent U.S. actions in Iraq have compromised Washington’s authority, he noted, since “Washington can’t very well uphold principles that it violates itself.”

http://www.vermontguardian.com/dailies/0904/0125.shtml


US rights group opposes nomination of Gonzales for attorney general

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US-based Human Rights Watch said it opposes Alberto Gonzales' nomination as US attorney general because he "played a key role in providing legal justification for policies that led to torture and abuse of detainees in US custody."

The rights group said it was the first time it opposed a nomination of a cabinet official in the United States, but that while it respected President George W. Bush's prerogatives, it was also mindful of "the US senate's role in ensuring that nominees are minimally fit to serve." <snip>

http://www.turkishpress.com/world/news.asp?id=050125161233.u7eroz9z.xml


Abuse, Torture by Iraqi Police Called Routine
Jim Lobe

WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (IPS) - Despite the millions of dollars spent by the U.S. and other nations to improve their performance, Iraqi police still routinely abuse and often torture detainees, according to a report released Tuesday by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Methods of torture include routine beatings using cables, hosepipes and other implements; kicking, slapping, and punching; prolonged suspension from the wrists with hands tied behind the back; electric shocks to sensitive parts of the body, including the earlobes and genitals; and being kept blindfolded or handcuffed continuously over several days, according to the 93-page report. <snip>

Contrary to the provisions of Iraq's Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP), which requires a defendant to be brought before a judge within 24 hours of arrest, the vast majority of ex-detainees had been held without appearing before a judge for a far longer period, in some cases for almost four months.

The detention system was also found to be rife with corruption, according to the report, which noted that police officials routinely demand bribes for visits by family members and attorneys, for appearances before a judge, and even for food and water. <snip>

http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=27163

[no_to_war_economy]

5. will add fuel to the

insurgency fire .. have we created 2 million USAMA BIN LADENs yet?

[VegasWolf]

6. just college kids acting up! right. n/t

[two gun sid]

7. Lt. Col. Pamela Hart:

"The Army has aggressively investigated all credible allegations of detainee abuse and we've held soldiers accountable for their actions."

Welllll...I feel better about it now. A couple of enlisted pukes will do time in a military prison for the Bush Administration. Sounds about typical for this mess.

What happened to a few incidents on the night shift at Abu Ghraib?

[RockStar]

8. Not the soldiers fault, isolated incidents STOP MAKING EXCUSES

The soldiers are taking advantage of every situation. I refuse to support them!! they can burn in hell, they are childmolesters, murderers, rapist, thiefs, and dont give me that crap a few isolated incidents. PEOPLE NEED TO WAKE UP. ANYONE OVER 18yrs old is considered and adult and therefore need to take responsibility for their actions. This is bullshit to let these idiots run around with guns raping, torturing, killing...These are acts that were witness..Can you image the shit we dont know about what they have done.