If this administration doesn't understand the rights of detainees, suspected terrorists or prisoners of war then they must surely appreciate how this continued prison abuse affects our military troops abroad. Where is the incentive to be humane? It has been well chronicled and documented just how tyrannical other countries are to their own people. Why would we assume our troops will be treated any better? It is also a known fact that many of these countries have a loathing and hatred for America that is unprecedented.
The world is watching us to see what our ideal of justice truly is. In The New Standard, http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=911&printmode=true
Lisa Ashkenaz Croke and Brian Dominick report that there continues to be new evidence of ten US-run prisons in Iraq. "The fact-finding mission uncovered dozens of cases of physical and psychological abuse, sexual humiliation, religious desecration and rape in the prisons in Iraq."
A Michigan-based attorney, Shereef Akeel, spoke with 50 detainees in Baghdad about the treatment they received while in U.S. custody. Two U.S. companies, CACI International and Titan Corp. are implict sending interrogators and interpreters, and private contractors into the prisons across Baghdad and Iraq. This administration may see a difference in U.S. military personnel and private contractors but there is little doubt how Afghans, Iraqis or Muslims view these Americans.
One of the examples of abuse was found dating from July, 2003 to as recently as last month. Akeel reports the abuse of a 15 year old Iraqi boy, "He was told to go on all fours naked and was sodomized from behind. "He said they made him dance and he was crying."
The Christian Science Monitor, http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0901/dailyUpdate.html?s=rel
reports, U.S. Army investigators will recommend that charges be brought against 26 soldiers for their roles in the death of two Afghan detainees at the U.S. Baghram air base in Afghanistan. As reported in the Washington Post the deaths occurred in December, 2002. The charges range from "negligent homicide to less serious offenses such as dereliction of duty and failure to report an offense."
A source reported to the AP
that this story will not have the legs of previous investigations. It was stated that there are no pictures of the incident at Baghram. Coupled with the fact the abuse happened almost two years ago means the story is cold.
This is the very sort of action this administration tries, often successfully to hide or coverup. They remain unaccountable while blaming scapegoats in lesser positions to take the blame. The abuse that has happened or is still happening needs to be remembered, reported on and pressured to come to light.