The only thing that surprises me is that we have looked the other way for so long.
What did we imagine we were dealing with after this?
Showing posts with label Abu Ghraib. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abu Ghraib. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
The Face of Barbarism. What, We're Surprised?
The only thing that surprises me is that we have looked the other way for so long.
What did we imagine we were dealing with after this?
Friday, May 29, 2009
The Pictures You'll Never See
Now that president Obama has ditched plans to release any more Abu Ghraib pix, there's some speculation as to just what they showed that hasn't been seen already.
According to the British newspaper, The Telegraph, there's plenty including rape of both male and female prisoners.
Detail of the content emerged from Major General Antonio Taguba, the former army officer who conducted an inquiry into the Abu Ghraib jail in Iraq.
Allegations of rape and abuse were included in his 2004 report but the fact there were photographs was never revealed. He has now confirmed their existence in an interview with the Daily Telegraph.
At least one picture shows an American soldier apparently raping a female prisoner while another is said to show a male translator raping a male detainee.
Another apparently shows a female prisoner having her clothing forcibly removed to expose her breasts.
Maj Gen Taguba, who retired in January 2007, said he supported the President’s decision, adding: “These pictures show torture, abuse, rape and every indecency."
“I am not sure what purpose their release would serve other than a legal one and the consequence would be to imperil our troops, the only protectors of our foreign policy, when we most need them, and British troops who are trying to build security in Afghanistan.
“The mere description of these pictures is horrendous enough, take my word for it.”
Well, now that is out in the open, next question. Since these damning photographs have been viewed by everyone from Rumsfeld and Bush to members of Congress and, of course, senior US military personnel, just what in hell have they done about what they've seen?
How many of these animals have been arrested, charged and tried for anything? How many of their superiors have been held to account? General Taguba's description of what's in these photos is bad enough but everyone in authority who has seen those pictures and sat by doing nothing needs to be prosecuted as well.
According to the British newspaper, The Telegraph, there's plenty including rape of both male and female prisoners.
Detail of the content emerged from Major General Antonio Taguba, the former army officer who conducted an inquiry into the Abu Ghraib jail in Iraq.
Allegations of rape and abuse were included in his 2004 report but the fact there were photographs was never revealed. He has now confirmed their existence in an interview with the Daily Telegraph.
At least one picture shows an American soldier apparently raping a female prisoner while another is said to show a male translator raping a male detainee.
Another apparently shows a female prisoner having her clothing forcibly removed to expose her breasts.
Maj Gen Taguba, who retired in January 2007, said he supported the President’s decision, adding: “These pictures show torture, abuse, rape and every indecency."
“I am not sure what purpose their release would serve other than a legal one and the consequence would be to imperil our troops, the only protectors of our foreign policy, when we most need them, and British troops who are trying to build security in Afghanistan.
“The mere description of these pictures is horrendous enough, take my word for it.”
Well, now that is out in the open, next question. Since these damning photographs have been viewed by everyone from Rumsfeld and Bush to members of Congress and, of course, senior US military personnel, just what in hell have they done about what they've seen?
How many of these animals have been arrested, charged and tried for anything? How many of their superiors have been held to account? General Taguba's description of what's in these photos is bad enough but everyone in authority who has seen those pictures and sat by doing nothing needs to be prosecuted as well.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Tortured to Death in Abu Ghraib
America doesn't torture. Of course it doesn't. But, when it does, it goes to crazy lengths to conceal it.
If you've got a strong stomach, I urge you to check out Errol Morris' piece, "The Most Curious Thing," published in today's New York Times:
http://morris.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/the-most-curious-thing/?8ty&emc=ty
If you've got a strong stomach, I urge you to check out Errol Morris' piece, "The Most Curious Thing," published in today's New York Times:
http://morris.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/the-most-curious-thing/?8ty&emc=ty
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)