and torture of children. According to reports over 60 children under the age of 18 were captured and tortured, at least one sodomized as the crime was applauded and photo-graphed by members of the US military.
Sy Hersch, as early as 2003 reported on these crimes and was the first to mention the torture of children. I did not actually believe it and hoped his information was incorrect at the time.
In an interview with Sy Hersch on cable news several years ago, he appeared to be really frightened about the direction this country had taken. When asked by the interviewer, 'what should we do'? Hersch responded 'get another passport?' He knew and probably still knows more than we will ever know unless he writes a memoir to be putlished after his death. He looked like a man who was haunted.
While the US military was deeply involved in much of the crimes reported, there WERE heroes.
I will never forget or forgive the 12 Democrats who voted for the egregious Military Commissions Act essentially removing the right to Habeas Corpus right before the 2006 election.
The heroes who may have saved the reputation of the military were the defense team in this case. Their story alone is a long, tortuous journey through through the travesty of what was laughingly called 'military justice' during a time when defending Gitmo prisoners was viewed as almost treasonous.
http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/09/21/the-unsung-heroes-who-helped-secure-mohammed-jawads-release-from-guantanamo/The Unsung Heroes Who Helped Secure Mohammed Jawad’s Release From GuantánamoThe ACLU deserves a special thank you for their role in this case, also organizations like UNICEF, Human Rights Watch and others.
The military prosecutor who quit and became a witness for the defense, and so many others who never gave up despite everything obstacle that was thrown in their way.
All International laws were broken and yet, not one of the criminals have been brought to justice.
All child prisoners who have been recruited into conflict, are supposed to be viewed as victims, not criminals, agreed to by the US.
Until justice is done with the prosecution of the torturers and child abusers, this will remain a stain on the US for a very long time to come and undermine any efforts this country may try to make to speak out on human rights abuses elsewhere. We have no moral authority to do so until someone demands the prosecution of those who took the US down this dark road.
I will thank Obama when his DOJ begins to look at these crimes. The torture of children has to be the lowest act a human being can engage in. Shameful is too good a word. May Rumsfeld, Cheney et al be haunted by these tortured children for the rest of their lives.