Red Cross: Iraqi abuse widespread, routine; most detained by mistake

[Judi Lynn]

Dec. 10, 2004
Red Cross: Iraqi abuse widespread, routine; most detained by mistake

The Associated Press



GENEVA — Up to 90 percent of Iraqi detainees were arrested by mistake, according to coalition intelligence officers cited in a Red Cross report disclosed Monday. It also said U.S. officers mistreated inmates at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison by keeping them naked in totally dark, empty cells.

While many detainees were quickly released or no longer mistreated after interrogation, high-ranking officials in Saddam Hussein's government — including those listed on the U.S. military's deck of cards — were held for months in solitary confinement, The Associated Press has learned.

The 24-page report by the International Committee of the Red Cross says abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers was broad and "not individual acts," contrary to President Bush's contention that the mistreatment "was the wrongdoing of a few."

The report, confirmed by the Red Cross as authentic after it was published by The Wall Street Journal on Monday, says a military intelligence officer told the agency that abuse of prisoners by U.S. forces in Iraq is generally "part of the process."
(snip/...)

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/breaking/051004_Iraq.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Red Cross claim abuse of prisoners was systematic

11/05/04
Red Cross claim abuse of prisoners was systematic

By Alexander Higgins
THE international Red Cross saw US military intelligence officers mistreating prisoners under interrogation at Abu Ghraib prison and said up to 90% of Iraqi detainees were arrested by mistake.

US President George Bush said the mistreatment "was the wrongdoing of a few," but the report by the International Committee of the Red Cross backs up with detail the neutral agency's contention that US prisoner abuse was broad and part of a system, "not individual acts".
The report said "high value detainees" were singled out for special mistreatment. The report did not specify who they were,


but it was thought they included some of the 55 "deck of cards" top officials of the former regime of Saddam Hussein.

"Since June, 2003, over a hundred 'high value detainees' have been held for nearly 23 hours a day in strict solitary confinement in small concrete cells devoid of daylight," said the report. "ICRC delegates directly witnessed and documented a variety of methods used to secure the cooperation of the persons deprived of their liberty with their interrogators."
(snip/...)

http://www.examiner.ie/pport/web/Full_Story/did-sgsBiWG30LzjMsg7IQHSmeYhNE.asp
(Free registration required)

[mike1963]

2. CBS and ABC evening news reporting this right now

how many smoking guns do we need?
:grr:
:grr:

[DemosthenesOfTheWest]

3. That is what makes this so terrifying.

It is just the tip of iceberg. It will be literally years before we know the extent of the crimes. And that's assuming a Kerry victory.

[Malva Zebrina]

7. Obviously we need a blue dress with some semen stains on it

the murders and the toture of prisoners, in the manner of total, decadent, barbarism, is not enough\

And there are , incredibly, Americans who believe this is just and necessary

[UpInArms]

4. here's a timeline on BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3701887.stm

[leftchick]

5. 90 PERCENT!

Think about that! I do every time I see those horrible photos. Those people were most likely INNOCENT to begin with! unfuckingbelievable!
:mad:

[acmavm]

6. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Wasn't it said somewhere that thousands of

Iraqi civilians were just rounded up and incarcerated? Aren't there still thousands still being incarcerated that shouldn't be? (Maybe they gave some American a dirty look or something.) AT WHAT FRIGGING NUMBER DOES A CONTINUAL OCCURRENCE CEASE TO BE A MISTAKE???? A thousand? A hundred thousand? Two hundred thousand. When does it become a continual pattern of arrogant abuse?

Mistake my ass. This is just a tactic to try to intimidate the entire population of a sovereign nation. Give me a big big break.

[Just Me]

10. "Liberation" PNAC-style,...

,...we have been shamed,...we have become the neo-nazis of the 21st century led by fundie "Christians" and "Jews" who betray the best of those whose trust they abuse.

Un-freakin-believable!!!

I hope the neocon-backed PNACers are scorned for the rest of their lives. They deserve it,...arrogant, greedy craps.

[AspenRose]

8. What do you expect....

I mean geez, all BROWN people look alike; who cares if the wrong ones were detained? They're all guilty. God Bless Ammurika!

/sarcasm OFF

:mad:

[DemosthenesOfTheWest]

9. "International hyperventilation" -Rumsfeld

You have to break a few eggs to make and omlet, right?

[MrSlayer]

11. Why is this story dated Dec 10, 2004?

Anyone else notice this?