Iraq Prisoners Faced 'Sadistic' Abuses - New Yorker Magazine ["sodomy and beatings" etc.]

Reuters ^ | May 1, 2004 | Caroline Drees

[AntiGuv]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iraqi prisoners faced numerous "sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuses" by U.S. soldiers, including sodomy and beatings, according to a U.S. Army report quoted by the New Yorker magazine.

The New Yorker said it had obtained a 53-page, internal U.S. military report into alleged abuses at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad. In an article posted on its Web site on Saturday, the magazine said the report had been authorized by Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top U.S. officer in Iraq, and was completed in February.

The May 10 issue of the magazine goes on sale on Monday.

The army report listed abuses such as "breaking chemical lights and pouring the phosphoric liquid on detainees; ... beating detainees with a broom handle and a chair; threatening male detainees with rape; allowing a military police guard to stitch the wound of a detainee who was injured after being slammed against the wall in his cell; sodomizing a detainee with a chemical light and perhaps a broom stick."

The report, written by Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, said evidence to support the allegations included "detailed witness statements and the discovery of extremely graphic photographic evidence."

A U.S. defense official, who asked not to be identified, said he had not specifically heard about the report cited by the New Yorker, but said:

"We take all reports of detainee abuse seriously. All allegations of mistreatment are investigated. We are committed to treating all persons under our control with dignity, respect and humanity ... . The U.S. Army has acted immediately in all cases of alleged abuse."

INVESTIGATION UNDER WAY

News of the military report comes days after photographs showing abuse by U.S. troops of Iraqi prisoners were published and broadcast around the globe.

The photos showed U.S. troops smiling, posing, laughing or giving the thumbs-up sign as naked, male Iraqi prisoners were stacked in a pyramid or positioned to simulate sex acts with one another.

President Bush said on Friday he was deeply disgusted by the abuse but said only a "few people" were to blame. He defended the conduct of the U.S. occupation forces as the White House scrambled to head off a backlash in Iraq and across the Arab world.

A British newspaper also published pictures showing British soldiers apparently urinating on a shackled Iraqi prisoner of war. Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Saturday that abuse of Iraqi prisoners was "completely and totally unacceptable."

U.S. officials said on Thursday that the military is weighing disciplinary action against the Army general who was in charge of the Abu Ghraib prison, a center of torture and executions under toppled President Saddam Hussein's government.

The U.S. military now holds several thousand prisoners at Abu Ghraib, most of them rounded up on suspicion of carrying out attacks against U.S.-led forces.

The U.S. military announced on March 20 it had brought criminal charges against six soldiers with the 800th Military Police Brigade, which could lead to courts-martial. The charges, stemming from a probe launched in January, relate to accusations of abuses carried out in November and December 2003 on around 20 detainees at the prison.

The charges included indecent acts with another person, maltreatment, battery, dereliction of duty and aggravated assault, Morgenthaler said.

[AntiGuv]

Here is the rather lengthy New Yorker article, by Seymour Hersh: Torture At Abu Ghraib.

[cyborg]

Hmmmm you think this is the first time these high brow brie cheese eating liberals ever heard of torture.

[Clara Lou]

This is utterly disgusting. The perverts who participated in this need to be breaking rocks for a very long time. We certainly don't need them wandering around here (the US) freely.

[AntiGuv]

The report, written by Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, said evidence to support the allegations included "detailed witness statements and the discovery of extremely graphic photographic evidence."

[FairOpinion]

"There was evidence dating back to the Afghanistan war, the Ryder report said, that M.P.s had worked with intelligence operatives to “set favorable conditions for subsequent interviews”—a euphemism for breaking the will of prisoners.

“Davis also stated that he had heard MI insinuate to the guards to abuse the inmates. When asked what MI said he stated: ‘Loosen this guy up for us.’‘Make sure he has a bad night.’‘Make sure he gets the treatment.’” Military intelligence made these comments to Graner and Frederick, Davis said. “The MI staffs to my understanding have been giving Graner compliments . . . statements like, ‘Good job, they’re breaking down real fast. They answer every question. They’re giving out good information.’”
"

===

These were a bunch of terrorists, who have been ambushing our soldiers, who needed to be interrogated, to prevent future attacks.

""The US military now holds several thousand prisoners at Abu Ghraib, most of them rounded up on suspicion of carrying out attacks against US-led forces."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1098210.htm

And from another article:

"60 Minutes also quoted, however, from an e-mail which Frederick reportedly sent to his family, in which he said of Iraqi prisoners: 'We've had a very high rate with our styles of getting them to break; they usually end up breaking within hours.' "

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/10521131?source=Daily

[Diogenesis]

PARTIAL LIST OF TERRORIST ACTIVITIES

1968 Robert Kennedy assassinated
1972 Munich Olympics Sep-5,1972 (Black September)
1976 Entebbe Hostage Crisis, June 27, 1976
1979 Iran Hostage Crisis, Nov. 4, 1979 444 days
1979 Grand Mosque Seizure, Nov 20,1979
1981 Assassination of Egyptian President, Oct 6,1981
1982 Assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister, Sept 14, 1982
1983 Bombing of US Embassy in Beirut6, April 18,1983
1983 Bombing of Maring Barricks, Beruit, Oct 23,1983
1984 Hizballah Restaurant Bombing, April 12,1984
1985 Egyptian Airliner Hijacking, Nov 23,1985
1985 Rome Airport murders
1985 TWA Flight 847 hijacked, U.S. Navy diver murdered
1985 Achille Lauro hijacking, Homacidal maniac lived in saddams Iraq
1986 Aircraft Bombing in Greece, March 30, 1986
1988 Pan Am 747 Flight 103 Bombing, Lockerbie, 100's murdered
1988 Berlin Discoteque Bombing, Dec 21,1988
1992 Bombing in Israeli Embassy in Argentina, March 17,1992
1993 Attempted Assassination of Pres. Bush Sr., April 14,1993
1993 First World Trade Center bombing, February 26th, 7 Killed, Hundreds injured, Billions
1994 Air France Hijacking, Dec 24,1994
1995 Attack on US Diplomats in Pakistan, Mar 8,1995
1995 Saudi Military Installation Attack, Nov 13, 1995
1995 Kashmiri Hostage taking, July 4,1995
1996 Khobar Towers attack
1996 Sudanese Missionarys Kidnapping, Aug 17,1996
1996 Paris Subway Explosion, Dec 3,1996
1997 Israeli Shopping Mall Bombing, Sept 4, 1997
1997 Yemeni Kidnappings, Oct 30,1997
1998 Somali Hostage taking crisis, April 15,1998
1998 U.S. Embassy Bombing in Peru, Jan 15, 1998
1998 U.S. Kenya Embassy blown up, 100's murdered
1998 U.S. Tanzania Embassy blown up, 100's murdered
1999 Plot to blow up Space Needle (thwarted)
2000 USS Cole attacked, many U.S. Navy sailors murdered
2000-2003 Intifada against Israel - 100's dead and injured
2000 Manila Bombing, Dec 30,2000
2001 4 Commercial airliners hijacked, 250+ murdered
2001 World Trade Center attacked, 2800+ murdered
2001 Flight 93 murders
2001 Pentagon attacked, 180+ murdered
2002 Reporter Daniel Pearl, kidnapped and murdered
2002 Philippines American missionary, Filipino nurse killed
2002 July 4, El Al attack Los Angeles LAX, several murdered
2002 Bali bombing - 200 dead, 300 injured
2002 Yemen, French Oil Tanker attacked
2002 Marines attacked / murdered in Kuwait
2002 Washington D.C. sniper
2002 Russian Theater attacked, 100+ dead
2002 Nigerian riots against Miss World Pageant, 200 dead, dozens injured
2002 Mombasa Hotel Attacked, 12 dead, dozens injured
2002 Israeli Boeing 757 attacked by missiles, fortunately no one injured
2002 August Hotel bombing in Jakarta, Indonesia. 12 dead, dozens injured.
2003 Rusian concert bombing
2003 Phillipines airport and market bombing
2003 Foiled SAM plot in the USA
2003 UN Baghdad HQ Bombing
on and on and on and on their terrorism has gone .........

[zarf]

Yes it is. When the Arab world is held to a similar standard maybe someday there will be world peas.

[FairOpinion]

What is your suggestion about how to get hardened terrorists to talk, so can save the lives of US soldiers, not to mention innocent civilians?

So you favor not hurting a hair and bowing to the terrorists with the utmost respect, and rather allow their fellow murderers to kill more Americans?

People need to wake up and smell reality.

[Stew Padasso]

Glad to see that a number of posters are lining up with Alan Dershowitz on this one.

[bvw]

Tear down that damned prison.

[Clara Lou]

What is your suggestion about how to get hardened terrorists to talk, so can save the lives of US soldiers, not to mention innocent civilians?
I can tell you this: Sodomy would never be part of the treatment. There are a million other methods to use. Sodomy is pure perversion.

[AntiGuv]

Well, I realize these postings aren't directed at me, per se, but I thought I'd reiterate that I'm not a moral relativist so there's no point in attempting to persuade me that such vile, contemptible, repugnant behaviors are justified. In any case, I will stay out of this thread for the rest of it because I don't enjoy debating the topic. I'm simply deeply disappointed at what I've seen here, but what can you do? It's not like I'm some kind of wilting lily born yesterday so why should I be surprised?

[cheme]

How many have been shot in the head at point blank range? How many have been killed by slitting their throat while stepping on their head? How many have been blown up with C4 in a bag full of nails? How many have had their teeth pulled with pliers? Where is the outrage over the real brutal barbarism? Why is there only outrage when the US is involved?

[faithincowboys]

It was wrong for the soldiers to have done this, but it is even more wrong for the media to publish it!!!

[ozzymandus]

Oh, boo-hoo. Were they burned alive and their bodies hung from a bridge? Or do you believe everything you read in the RAT media?

[Stew Padasso]

The people responsible should be publicly punished (for the media).

[Clara Lou]

I repeat the point of an earlier post. Sodomy is perversion. Look that up in your Bible.

[FairOpinion]

They do what they have to do to get information QUICKLY, which is one of the objectives, to prevent the next attack.

They are dealing with hardened terrorists, who most likely already have the blood of our servicemen on their hands, they were captured, when they were ambushing our soldiers.

I don't want to hear about how they get the information either, but hardened terrorists don't tell you everything, just because you go "boo".

[faithincowboys]

I think what happened was wrong, but I think the media exposing it could get people who had not a damn thing to do with it killed. The media hates America.

[Stew Padasso]

Parade these idiots in front of the media and show that we do not tolerate animals.

[cyborg]

eat crap troll

[cyborg]

just you asshat

[Stew Padasso]

"Is it true that all American's are stupied"

You certainly register on the bell curve.

[Burkeman1]

I seem to remember that a few US soldiers were taken prisoner by the Iraqis- including one black woman. I remember feeling very scared for them and the tortures they must be enduring. Well- it turned out they were treated reasonably well. Their biggest complaint was boredom and that they never wanted to see chicken and rice again after eating so much of it while in captivity for several weeks. The insurgents who are holding that kid from Ohio now have said that they will treat him well and according to moslem law on POWS. I hope they are true to their word even after seeing such as this.

[Stew Padasso]

Haha! can't have that, can we? Someone just made my point.

[Destructor]

"Tear down that damned prison."

So, whose side are you on anyway?

[eastforker]

I don't think Jessica Lynch was treated that nice.You are about one step from getting on my nerves.

[Zeroisanumber]

The fact that they were terrorists is no excuse for the guards' behavior.

[u-89]

>Glad to see that a number of posters are lining up with Alan Dershowitz on this one.

Also man of virtue "Blackjack" Bill Bennett and Sean Hannity - both endorsed torture. It will be interesting to see if on Monday's radio program Sean remembers his earlier stance or if he is now saddened by the idea.

[Burkeman1]

Yes- Lynch may have been treated very badly. But there is so much controversey around that story (and about a hundred long and heated threads on FR about it- that I always avoided) that I decided not to include her in my post.

[Stew Padasso]

If it's gay like this situation, they'll be against it. Otherwise, zap and punch all you want.

[TomGuy]

This is about the British photos.

[It is curious that photos trying to implicate both British and Americans at different locations would come out at the same time. Wonder who is in charge of the agenda?]

Doubt cast on Iraq torture photos
			Posted by demlosers On 05/01/2004 5:11:14 PM CDT with 1 comment bbc ^ | Saturday, 1 May, 2004 An investigation is under way into claims that British troops humiliated and assaulted an Iraqi prisoner before throwing him from a moving lorry. The claims were made in the Daily Mirror which carried photos allegedly taken during the man's ordeal. Sources close to the regiment said to be involved have told the BBC they are not convinced the pictures are genuine. Tony Blair says that if they are authentic it is "completely and totally unacceptable". However the BBC's defence correspondent Paul Adams says sources close to The Queen's Lancashire Regiment believe many aspects of the photographs are extremely suspicious.

[faithincowboys]

fINE, BUT WHY SHOULD THIS STORY HAVE BEEN TOLD-- iT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN!!!

[Burkeman1]

Oh- I have read a number of these threads. This one is so far- very atypical of Freeper opinion. 90 percent are horrified by these acts.

[eastforker]

I agree but maybe dio can provide the pics of the terrorist skinning pow's alive or the pics of them beheading soldiers, or, how about how they cut hands and feet off or killing 14 year old girls after they are kidnaped and raped for 6 days.

[hmmmmm]

I wonder if there's any connection between these pictures and this http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1124367/posts

[AndyJackson]

Glad to see that a number of posters are lining up with Alan Dershowitz on this one

A number of posters a lining up on the right side of the issue. If Alan Dershowitz saw the light of reason and chose to join that side - fine.

[Clara Lou]

I don't want to hear about how they get the information either, but hardened terrorists don't tell you everything, just because you go "boo".
I understand that and agree. But there's no need to resort to sodomy. There are a lot of other more effective methods to get information.

[livius]

It should have been told - but what should also be told is what the US is doing about it, the fact that we VOLUNTARILY investigated this as soon as it was known, and that these people are going to be punished.

But will that get coverage? Don't hold your breath.

[bvw]

Ours. That prison building itself surely has too many bad memories (on both sides now). Not to be too Steven Kingish about it, but sometimes turning such a place into dust of rubble and ash is the best thing.

[Burkeman1]

That is a good point. I think more thinking Iraqis will see that. Under a free society abuses happen. A free press uncovers them- and they are corrected. That didn't happen under Hussein. Unfortunately most Iraqis don't think in such western terms.

[Destructor]

I disagree. We still need a place to take the enemy combatants that will (by itself) fill their hearts with fear and dread!

[Thorin]

Most civilized people realize that the ends don't justify the means. There's a reason the Founders wrote prohibitions against torture into the Constitution.

[Zeroisanumber]

Again, no excuse for the guards' behavior. Charles Manson convinced his followers to kill a woman who was 8-months pregnant and then rip out the fetus. He's crazy, dangerous, wants to kill again and would if he ever got out. That still wouldn't make it OK for prison guards to beat and humiliate him. These guys need to be smacked down hard.

[Age of Reason]

What is your suggestion about how to get hardened terrorists to talk, so can save the lives of US soldiers, not to mention innocent civilians?

I guess pose with the prisoners and take more photos to pass around as souvenirs.

[Stew Padasso]

That's encouraging.