Memo Shows Reports of Iraqi Troops' Abuse (DoD knew early this year)

[Barrett808]

Memo Shows Reports of Iraqi Troops' Abuse
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON - Senior U.S. military commanders in Iraq have known since early this year of reports that Iraqi security forces had physically abused detainees, according to Pentagon documents.

The first widely reported abuse case came to light when U.S. and Iraqi forces discovered 173 malnourished Iraqi detainees at an Interior Ministry bunker in Baghdad on Nov. 13. Some inmates reportedly showed signs of torture, and a U.S. general was so concerned that he took immediate control of the facility.

More than five months earlier, Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, wrote a policy memorandum on the importance of Iraqi security forces being trained to respect the rule of law and basic human rights.

"Over the past several months I have received reports of serious physical abuse of detainees by ISF," he wrote on June 22, using the acronym for the Iraqi security forces.

In the memo, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, he said he forwarded the reports to Iraqi government officials. He did not elaborate in his memo on specifics of the reported physical abuses.

"Abuse of detainees by ISF is a violation of Iraqi law and counterproductive to all of our intended efforts here," Casey wrote.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051207/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_us_military

[acmavm]

1. Oh no shit? I'd laugh if it weren't just so damn sad. We're are now a

laughingstock amongst nations. It's just so damn sad.

[cantstandbush]

2. Well, if you believe how some NG and military treated Katrina victims

it is not a stretch to believe we have committed horrific atrocities in Iraq.