Insider Blows Whistle on Guantanamo Abuse

I haven't seen anything on this account be Arab translator Erik Saar; it's late here in London so I don't have time to do a proper diary, but I thought it should be put out there.  As soon as someone else diaries on it, I'll delete this one.

...Saar also describes the effects prolonged confinement had on many of the prisoners. He details bloody suicide attempts and serious mental illnesses. One detainee slashed his wrists with razors and wrote in blood on a wall: 'I committed suicide because of the brutality of my oppressors'...

Saar was an enthusiastic supporter of George Bush in the 2000 elections but he has changed his world view after being exposed to Guantánamo Bay. 'I believe in America and American troops,' he said, 'but it has drastically changed my world view and my politics.'

Link to article

By the way, I got this from the Information Clearing House daily email digest; I highly recommend it to everyone:

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•  Thanks for the link

  I did a diary a while back about all the unreported suicides at gitmo.  The numbers just didn't add up.

  The situation there is far, far worse than we have imagined.  I'm glad someone has the courage and strength to step forward and reveal the nightmare to the world.

  by georgia10 on Mon May 09, 2005 at 04:43:49 PM PDT

  •  glad to know about your blog

    and also utterly astonished to learn that one of my Daily Kos heroes is 12 years younger than myself!  I guess that's what I get for being a hedonistic fuck-off for so many years before getting serious and beginning graduate school
    

    by Nate Roberts on Mon May 09, 2005 at 05:04:06 PM PDT

    •  hehe

      sheesh, I shouldn't have put my age in there!  I've gotten so many comments like yours, I feel like I should just pretend I'm older to get more cred, you know?

      But I'm starting to get some gray hairs, if that helps!  ;)

      by georgia10 on Mon May 09, 2005 at 05:11:45 PM PDT

      •  Good Lord! Recommend this diary, people!

        I haven't heard this anywhere else. Is it just me?

        by Smallbottle on Mon May 09, 2005 at 06:31:41 PM PDT

        •  hopefully someone else will...

          ...write a proper diary on this.  I think this one has long since scrolled into oblivion, but I am optimistic that it was seem by more than eight who recommended it.

          by Nate Roberts on Tue May 10, 2005 at 03:32:19 AM PDT

•  Erik Saar is a patriot

  and so is Aiden Delgado who is shining a light on the darkness of detention without trial in Iraq.

  I wish there was something I could do for these guys. They're gonna take so much heat.

  by nuttymango on Mon May 09, 2005 at 05:46:47 PM PDT

•  C-Span 2

  Erik Saar was on C-Span yesterday talking about the book he wrote about Gitmo "Inside the Wire".  I only tuned in to get part of the Q&A.  Talking about what he saw at Gitmo seemed to truly pain him.  He was very respectful to the people who asked questions and would only talk about what he knew.  He said something to the effect that the country he loved and the Army he served had let him down.  The day that this country threw away the Geneva Convention, was the day he knew we were heading down the wrong path.  

  by CD in TX on Mon May 09, 2005 at 06:54:06 PM PDT