Report: Many died in U.S. custody in war

[seemslikeadream]

Posted on Wed, Mar. 16, 2005
JOHN J. LUMPKIN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - At least 108 people have died in American custody in Iraq and Afghanistan, most of them violently, according to government data provided to The Associated Press. Roughly a quarter of those deaths have been investigated as possible abuse by U.S. personnel.

The figure, far higher than any previously disclosed, includes cases investigated by the Army, Navy, CIA and Justice Department. Some 65,000 prisoners have been taken during the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, although most have been freed.

The Pentagon has never provided comprehensive information on how many prisoners taken during the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have died, and the 108 figure is based on information supplied by Army, Navy and other government officials. It includes deaths attributed to natural causes.

...

"Despite the military's own reports of deaths and abuses of detainees in U.S. custody, it is astonishing that our government can still pretend that what is happening is the work of a few rogue soldiers," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. "No one at the highest levels of our government has yet been held accountable for the torture and abuse, and that is unacceptable."
more
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/politics/11149830.htm

[cthrumatrix]

1. there needs to a "full 3rd party investigation".... this is wrong

[Mari333]

2. as long as the GOP is in charge, and Dems roll over

there wont be any investigations.

[Voltaire99]

6. Exactly: Dems voted for the war, and continue to enable the abuse

Whenever I see posts blaming Bush, I laugh bitterly.

This is as much the fruit of Hillary Clinton's collaboration as it is of George Bush's leadership.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

12. AMEN !!!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. do you know which democrats voted against the war ?? Kennedy

[diamond14]

3. Scores died in US Custody, military officials report (108 POWs killed)

(amazing: reported in USA Today.....)


http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-03-16-prisoner-deaths_x.htm

Posted 3/16/2005 9:30 AM

Scores died in U.S. custody in war zones, military officials report


WASHINGTON (AP) — At least 108 people have died in American custody in Iraq and Afghanistan, most of them violently, according to government data provided to The Associated Press. Roughly a quarter of those deaths have been investigated as possible abuse by U.S. personnel.

The figure, far higher than any previously disclosed, includes cases investigated by the Army, Navy, CIA and Justice Department.


"Despite the military's own reports of deaths and abuses of detainees in U.S. custody, it is astonishing that our government can still pretend that what is happening is the work of a few rogue soldiers," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. "No one at the highest levels of our government has yet been held accountable for the torture and abuse, and that is unacceptable."

[UpInArms]

4. Report: 108 Died In U.S. Custody

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/16/terror/main680658.shtml

(AP) At least 108 people have died in American custody in Iraq and Afghanistan, most of them violently, according to government data provided to The Associated Press. Roughly a quarter of those deaths have been investigated as possible abuse by U.S. personnel.

The figure, far higher than any previously disclosed, includes cases investigated by the Army, Navy, CIA and Justice Department. Some 65,000 prisoners have been taken during the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, although most have been freed.

The Pentagon has never provided comprehensive information on how many prisoners taken during the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have died, and the 108 figure is based on information supplied by Army, Navy and other government officials. It includes deaths attributed to natural causes.

To human rights groups, the deaths form a clear pattern.

"Despite the military's own reports of deaths and abuses of detainees in U.S. custody, it is astonishing that our government can still pretend that what is happening is the work of a few rogue soldiers," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. "No one at the highest levels of our government has yet been held accountable for the torture and abuse, and that is unacceptable."

...more...

Democracy does not spread like peanut butter - the stench of death and destruction follow the BFEE and its minions everywhere. That our country leads the way down this hellish path shall never be forgotten by the world and we shall reap what we sow.

[paineinthearse]

5. Scores died in U.S. custody in war zones

Scores died in U.S. custody in war zones
Unclear how many deaths attributable to U.S. personnel abuse

The Associated Press
Updated: 10:49 a.m. ET March 16, 2005


WASHINGTON - At least 108 people have died in American custody in Iraq and Afghanistan, most of them violently, according to government data provided to The Associated Press. Roughly a quarter of those deaths have been investigated as possible abuse by U.S. personnel. The figure, far higher than any previously disclosed, includes cases investigated by the Army, Navy, CIA and Justice Department. Some 65,000 prisoners have been taken during the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, although most have been freed. The Pentagon has never provided comprehensive information on how many prisoners taken during the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have died, and the 108 figure is based on information supplied by Army, Navy and other government officials. It includes deaths attributed to natural causes.

ACLU: Hold someone accountable
To human rights groups, the deaths form a clear pattern. “Despite the military’s own reports of deaths and abuses of detainees in U.S. custody, it is astonishing that our government can still pretend that what is happening is the work of a few rogue soldiers,” said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. “No one at the highest levels of our government has yet been held accountable for the torture and abuse, and that is unacceptable.”

To the Pentagon, each death is a distinct case, meriting an investigation but not attributable to any single faulty military policy. Pentagon officials point to a number of military investigations which found that no policy condoned abuse. Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. John Skinner said the military has taken steps to reduce the chance of violent uprisings at its prisons and the use of excessive force by soldiers, and also has improved the health care available to prisoners. “The military has dramatically improved detention operations, everything from increased oversight and improved facilities to expanded training and the availability of state-of-the-art medical care,” he said in a statement.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7203233/

[indepat]

7. All this is a.o.k. with most Americans, i.e., everyone eligible to vote

who did not vote for Kerry.

[Up2Late]

8. (BBC) US detainee death toll 'hits 108'

Wednesday, 16 March, 2005, 18:57 GMT

At least 108 people have died in US custody in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to figures compiled by the Associated Press news agency.

Most deaths were violent and some 25% are being investigated as possible abuse by US personnel, the agency said.

The death toll - far higher than previously thought - was based on information the agency obtained from the US army, navy and other officials.

The Pentagon said it was important to bear in mind the context of each death. Some had died of natural causes, others had been victims of insurgent attacks on US detention facilities and some killed in violent prison uprisings, a spokesman told the BBC News website.

(more at link)

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4355779.stm>

[derby378]

9. The Pentagon claims only 24 died from "criminal homicide"

So what happened to the other 86? Were their reports 86ed?

[Up2Late]

10. Here's your answer

"...The Pentagon said it was important to bear in mind the context of each death.

Some had died of natural causes, others had been victims of insurgent attacks on US detention facilities and some killed in violent prison uprisings, a spokesman told the BBC News website..."

And we ALL know they NEVER Lie:eyes: :mad:

[Laura PourMeADrink]

11. Absolute travesty. Statue of Liberty should be crying. n/t

[daleo]

14. Nice passive wording.

Many died, most of them violently...
instead of
...many killed.

[struggle4progress]

16. Yes. eom

[Octafish]

15. Is that counting the Taliban stuffed in the cargo boxes?

Australian Broadcasting Corporation
LATELINE
Late night news & current affairs

TV PROGRAM TRANSCRIPT
LOCATION: abc.net.au > Lateline > Archives
URL: http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/s586222.htm

Broadcast: 19/6/2002

Mass grave discovered in Afghanistan

Human rights groups are urging that mass gravesites in northern Afghanistan be immediately secured and investigated for evidence of possible war crimes involving United States military personnel. An Irish documentary maker has secretly filmed mass graves near the northern city of Mazar-e-sharif and interviewed witnesses who claim that container loads of prisoners were dumped in the desert. It's alleged that most suffocated in the sealed containers, but those left alive were shot on the spot. Key aspects of his claims are backed up by a detailed report from the group Physicians for Human Rights.

---------
Compere: Tony Jones
Reporter: Jonathan Harley

TONY JONES: Human rights groups are urging that mass gravesites in northern Afghanistan be immediately secured and investigated for evidence of possible war crimes involving United States military personnel.

An Irish documentary maker has secretly filmed mass graves near the northern city of Mazar-e-sharif and interviewed witnesses who claim that container loads of prisoners were dumped in the desert.

It's alleged that most suffocated in the sealed containers, but those left alive were shot on the spot.

Key aspects of his claims are backed up by a detailed report from the group Physicians for Human Rights.

In a moment we'll speak to the documentary maker, and to the author of the report by Physicians for Human Rights.

CONTINUED...

http://flag.blackened.net/pipermail/infoshop-news/2002-June/001170.html