(Red Cross) Group demands probe of Iraq prison abuse

[maddezmom]

GENEVA -- The international Red Cross has regularly visited Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison and reported its findings to the United States, the agency said Tuesday as it demanded an investigation into alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. forces.

The agency has visited thousands of U.S.-held prisoners in Iraq in the past year, many of them in Abu Ghraib, the notorious Saddam Hussein-era prison on the western edge of Baghdad, spokeswoman Antonella Notari said.

Notari declined to disclose whether the neutral, Swiss-run group had uncovered cases of prisoner abuse or torture, but said it was the top priority of the ICRC to watch for such mistreatment and stop it.

"We will not publicly confirm the information that is available to us," Notari said. "We've been visiting Abu Ghraib since last fall regularly, and we've been reporting our observations and recommendations to the U.S. authorities. These reports are not public and will not be public. That does not mean that they are not effective."

~snip~
more: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Red%20Cross%20Prisoner%20Abuse

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. We will not publicly confirm...

Ok when was the last time I heard that from the ICRC? Oh yes,
Bosnia.

We will not publicly confirm reports of abuse at Serbian Camps.

I even remember the US Government moving pretty fast after that..

Didn't photos emerge pretty fast just before that declaration?

Boys and girls, the ICRC JUST CONFIRMED what Batuba found... now how far up the stink goes?

[fryguy]

2. Red Cross Critical of US's Actions?

Which of the Administration henchman/woman will be called on to condemn them as a terrorist organization?

[maddezmom]

3. Karen has her book signings....don't know if she's available this week

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Of course they are terrorists

You didn't know that?

I mean how more terroristic can you get? Go out, meet new and interesting people, hear horrible stories, and at times get shot at...

[gottaB]

5. Rod Paige said "....Fool me - you can't get fooled again...."

All eyes turn to Tommy Thompson.

[TahitiNut]

6. (uhh...) International Red Crescent, right?

:eyes:

[KansDem]

7. Now just wait and everybody calm down...

Don't get excited; here's an explanation:

We've been visiting Abu Ghraib since last fall regularly, and we've been reporting our observations and recommendations to the U.S. authorities

This just might be simply another case of not "connecting the dots."

See...don't you feel better now? :grr:

[ConcernedCanuk]

8. From the ICRC site

.
.
.What is the ICRC's position on the reported abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US and UK forces?

"ICRC delegates regularly visit Abu Ghraib and other places of detention in Iraq (including those under the responsibility of UK forces). At Abu Ghraib visits have taken place about every 5-6 weeks since late last year when the US began to intern Iraqis and other nationals at the prison.

/snip/

In these reports – which are confidential so as to prevent humanitarian issues from becoming politicized – the ICRC requests that appropriate action be taken, where necessary, to stop the mistreatment of prisoners or to improve their conditions.

Along with other legal norms, international humanitarian law prohibits torture and mistreatment at any time, irrespective of the status of the person detained. Reports of such acts must be properly investigated and perpetrators brought to justice. Detaining authorities are also duty bound to take all necessary measures to prevent any such abuses happening or recurring.

http://www.icrc.org/Web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/5YNJ5R?OpenDocument