US troops face new torture claims - suggests systematic torture

[Thurston Howell IV]

Allegations that American soldiers routinely tortured and maltreated detainees have emerged from a third Iraqi city, renewing fears that abuse similar to that inflicted in Abu Ghraib jail in Baghdad has been systematic and widespread.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1304042,00.html

[librechik]

1. it's fairly obvious by now that the war in Iraq is criminal

why are no leaders coming forward to hold the Bush gang responsible? Are they really leaving it up to us? WTF can we do? We don't even have free elections anymore, don't doubt THAT for a second.

Remember how before the war the Bushies kept complaining that the Iraqi people wouldn't rise up and overthrow Saddam. Now they are doing it to us and suddenly they can't see a damn thing. Fuckers.

[struggle4progress]

2. kick for Bush in the Hague

and welcome to DU! :kick:

[Overseas]

3. Catch Sy Hersh on Democracy Now Sept 14 edition

I've just been listening to Sy Hersh on Democracy Now. Intense reporting on Chain of Command errors leading to Abu Graib and now beyond. He explains some twisted reasoning that was given to explain the horrible methods. Incredible that the torture techniques continue and Rumsfeld is still there. Don't these guys get it that they are putting our own troops in jeopardy for years to come?

[LynnTheDem]

4. The US military Maj. Gen. Taguba report

Has stated plainly & clearly that it is "widespread and systemic". But the "liberal" media hasn't bothered to talk about that, and instead just takes steno of bush lying and denying with his "a few bad apples" bushite.

bush knows better than US Military Major General Taguba who actually did the investigating. bush = god.

[JSJ]

5. thanks, troops, you're damn fine torturers and snipers- that is all! nt

[Thurston Howell IV]

6. I believe the correct term is "sharpshooters"

[LynnTheDem]

7. Snipers

In the US Army, 4th ID, the common term used is snipers.

[DrWeird]

8. no, no, no.

The correct term is now "freedom helpers."

[LynnTheDem]

9. LOL!

Well dang, somebody forgot to tell us at Ft Hood.

"freedom helpers'...that's good! :D

[JSJ]

10. that is good! nt

[pschoeb]

13. I prefer the term "Soul Liberators"

nt

[0007]

16. The correct term is paid "assassins"

[JohnnyCougar]

11. haha...you must have watched OUTFOXED!

[Thurston Howell IV]

17. Yep, Outfoxed is great.

Some people say that our sharpshooters are really soul liberators for christ.

[Voltaire99]

14. Support our sniper-torturers!

They need our prayers.

[Judi Lynn]

12. "Sadisms are us!" Looks as if the "small number of rogue soldiers"

at Abu Ghraib, coming from West Virginia created a franchise, then. They've got branch offices in Basra and Mosul, not to mention Guantanamo Bay.

Probably just linked up with fellow ne'r do wells for their own perverse purposes which they pursue with NO INSTRUCTIONS FROM WASHINGTON.

If I were _Bush or _Rumsfeld I'd start worrrying if somehow jr. enlisted soldiers hadn't assumed far too much authority, if they are suddenly take it upon themselves to start torturing U.S. prisoners, and do it all over Iraq!

Have they forgotten what a Christian _{the pResident} is?


Take time to be holy, like _Bush.

[Disturbed]

15. Cover Up

Basra and Mosul, not to mention Guantanamo Bay and at least 28 secret prisons, reported by the Red Cross. Well they are not secret to some but the Red Cross is not allowed access.Imagine what goes on in those.

There is no doubt that the US has commited numerous War Crimes.

In case anyone doesn't know what War Crimes are:


What is a war crime?
By Tarik Kafala
BBC News Online


Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention defines war crimes as: "Willful killing, torture or inhuman treatment, including... willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health, unlawful deportation or transfer or unlawful confinement of a protected person, compelling a protected person to serve in the forces of a hostile power, or willfully depriving a protected person of the rights of fair and regular trial, ...taking of hostages and extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly."


This, international lawyers say, is the basic definition of war crimes.

The statutes of The Hague tribunal say the court has the right to try suspects alleged to have violated the laws or customs of war in the former Yugoslavia since 1992. Examples of such violations are given in article 3:

* Wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity

* Attack, or bombardment, by whatever means, of undefended towns, villages, dwellings, or buildings

* Seizure of, destruction or willful damage done to institutions dedicated to religion, charity and education, the arts and sciences, historic monuments and works of art and science

* Plunder of public or private property.

The tribunal defines crime against humanity as crimes committed in armed conflict but directed against a civilian population. Again a list of examples is given in article 5:

* Murder
* Extermination
* Enslavement
* Deportation
* Imprisonment
* Torture
* Rape
* Persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1420133.stm


http://www.paranoidlarry.com
http://www.globalresearch.ca
http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/index.jsp
http://www.madcowprod.com
http://www.deepblacklies.co.uk
http://www.ndp.ca
http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com

[tom_paine]

18. Of course it was. Of course it was.

Besides, how else are the Busheviks going to practice for what will occur within the shores of the Empire in a decade or two unless they practice their skills on the Subjects of Imperial Freedomstan (formerly Iraq).