NYT: Iraqi Police Cited in Abuses May Lose Aid

[brooklynite]

BAGHDAD, Sept. 29 — American officials have warned Iraqi leaders that they might have to curtail aid to the Interior Ministry police because of a United States law that prohibits the financing of foreign security forces that commit “gross violations of human rights” and are not brought to justice.

The American ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said in an interview on Friday that “at this point” Iraq had not been formally notified that its national police were in violation of the legislation, known as the Leahy Law. He said he remained optimistic that Iraqi officials would “do the right thing” and resolve the matter. Nonetheless, he said American officials had begun reviewing programs that might have to be ended.

The issue centers on one of the most sensitive subjects within the Iraqi government: the joint Iraqi-American inspection in May and subsequent investigation of a prison in eastern Baghdad known as Site 4.

Within the prison there was clear evidence of systematic abuse and torture, including victims who had “lesions resulting from torture” as well as “equipment used for this purpose,” according to a human rights report later published by the United Nations mission in Iraq.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/30/world/middleeast/30iraq.html?hp&ex=1159588800&en=c8e0cdf7d1487233&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Robbien]

1. Iraq: U.S. warns aid might be stopped (due to Iraqi torture of prisoners)

American officials have warned Iraqi leaders in Baghdad that they might have to curtail aid to the Interior Ministry police because of a U.S. law that prohibits the financing of foreign security forces that commit "gross violations of human rights" and are not brought to justice.

The issue centers on one of the most sensitive subjects within the Iraqi government: the joint Iraqi-American inspection in May and subsequent investigation of a prison run by the Interior Ministry in eastern Baghdad known as Site Four.

The inspection team found clear evidence of systematic abuse and torture, including victims who had "lesions resulting from torture" as well as "equipment used for this purpose," according to the United Nations.

The prison, run by an Interior Ministry national police unit, had more than 1,400 prisoners crowded into a small area. An American officer said some had been beaten or bound and hung by their arms. At least 37 teenagers or children were in the prison.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4226058.html

[w13rd0]

2. OH THE IRONY

The Irony! I just can't handle it anymore. I'm gonna pop, I swear.

[maddezmom]

3. kick

[Barrett808]

4. US may have to cut funds for Iraqi police (human rights violations)

NEW YORK (AFP) - The United States has reportedly warned Iraqi leaders that it may have to cut financial aid to Iraqi police because of a US law that prohibits the financing of foreign security forces that commit gross violations of human rights unpunished.

The New York Times said the US Ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said in an interview that "at this point" Iraq had not been formally notified that its national police were in violation of the legislation, known as the Leahy Law.

He said he remained optimistic that Iraqi officials would "do the right thing" and resolve the matter, the report said.

Nonetheless, he said American officials had begun reviewing programs that might have to be ended, according to the newspaper.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060930/pl_afp/usiraqpolice

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. won't happen. Bush will sign some statement excluding IraqNam

from those provisions

[ninkasi]

6. Apparently, human rights violations

are exclusively the right of G W Bush and his designated torturers. We know that Dubya has been adamant about claiming for himself the right to torture anybody he deems to be a terrorist, or a terrorist sympathizer, or anybody who has, at any point in time, ever dreamed about maybe talking to a person whose 3rd cousin just might associate with a group which may or may not be sympathetic to terrorist groups. Only Dubya can decide that.

It's really bad manners to have anybody claim the right to do what the President is able to do. He is, after all, the DECIDER, and can decide these things, whereas we lowly peasants are not supposed to think. We're supposed to vote for republicans, and donate to republicans, and keep our mouths shut the rest of the time.

[pinniped]

7. THis is another excuse to divert more of our money $$$$ to asshole's....

corporate crony buddies.

THe cabal doesn't give a shit about human rights.