In Iraq, torture is routine

[ivolsky]

According to Human Rights Watch , "Iraqi police, jailers and intelligence agents, many of them holding the same jobs they had under Hussein, are ‘committing systematic torture and other abuses.'" As a result, Iraqis are routinely beaten, hung and shocked with electrical wires . Meanwhile, the ACLU has released more documents of prison abuse in American-controlled prisons. Although it is unclear whether the abuses described in the documents are new, the documents indicate a 'clear pattern of abuse' that stretches well beyond "a few bad apples."

In an effort to "put security as our priority," Prime Minister Ayad Allawi "appears to be actively taking part, or is at least complicit , in these grave violations of fundamental human rights," Human Rights Watch concluded. "The majority of detainees . . . stated that torture and ill-treatment during the initial period was commonplace, routine beatings . . . using cables, hosepipes and metal rods . . . kicking, slapping and punching, prolonged suspension from the wrists," were just some of the torture techniques employed by Iraqi security forces. One abuse victim is quoted by the Washington Post as saying that "it was worse than Saddam's regime." (Human Rights Watch disputes this claim).

Thus, as abuse becomes a standard technique of operation, employed by both Iraqis and Americans, it will increasingly become an accepted method of interrogation. New reports of abuse are already seen as 'drops in the bucket', and the president's refusal to deal or address these charges only adds to their (increasing) faintness. The U.S. Army expects to keep its troop strength in Iraq at about 120,000 for at least two more years. This means that at least American-led instances of abuse will continue.

The actions of Iraqi forces are condoned by the prime minister (who is intent at wiping out the insurgency by any means possible). But instances of abuse, only fuel the opposition, and the violence intensifies. Moreover, open support for ill-treatment creates a political culture of acceptance and tolerance for 'kicking, slapping and punching, prolonged suspension from the wrists.' And a people who fight terrorism with terrorism can expect more terrorism.

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[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Yes, but it's the Iraqi way!

Our hands our clean! /sarcasm

[sui generis]

2. yes, and it's also common EVERYWHERE in the middle east

including Israel. fortunately we don't do it here - we send them to Gitmo first. When I was in Pakistan (before Musharraff) they were torturing children because their parents belonged to the wrong political faction, not to get information, but to terrorize their parents.

Iraq isn't special. We haven't even given Africa or South America a nod here yet. What made "the western world" and "the developed world" so different from the ENTIRE rest of the world at one point was that our leadership didn't think that torture was acceptable.

[Ms. Clio]

3. kick for the sickening truth

As Thomas Jefferson once said, "I tremble for my country, when I when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever."