Who is Guilty of Prison Torture?

[hedda_foil]

http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/052404_daf_prison.html

Who is Guilty of Prison Torture?

by
Dale Allen Pfeiffer




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May 24 , 2004 1100 PST (FTW) -- When I look at the pictures from Abu Ghraib and elsewhere, I am as disgusted as any other normal human being. This is a crime against humanity which must be thoroughly investigated. But we will not redress these wrongs simply by punishing the perpetrators. That response would sweep the matter under the rug without examining why these soldiers acted so inhumanely. The soldiers (and contractors) directly responsible for these heinous acts are themselves victims. It is obvious from reviewing these pictures that something has demoralized these soldiers. And every act of torture or humiliation which they inflict serves to further benumb their conscience and cut them off from their own humanity. These soldiers should have had the moral strength to refuse to take part in these actions. They should have known that there are times when you have to disobey orders. Their failure to obey higher orders is an indictment of our entire society.

These soldiers were not born monsters. They were themselves victimized and dehumanized to the point that they have become capable of monstrous actions. And their victimization took place in the context of modern society in the United States. Their actions are a measure of the failure of this system, and we are all culpable. Instead of just these few kids, our entire society should be on trial here. Our family structures, our schools, our religious institutions, our communities, and our media are all responsible for this. We long ago gave up moral considerations in pursuit of profits, replacing co-operation with competition, replacing brotherhood and sisterhood with an insular and selfish ignorance which is the hallmark of capitalist greed. And so now we find ourselves in the same position as Nazi Germany: we are invading foreign countries and committing war crimes while our citizens at home proudly wave their flags and proclaim their moral superiority. Wake up America, and admit your own shame!

This torture of war prisoners is not an isolated act; it is the latest in a long line of despicable actions attributable to US imperialism. Reports from soldiers and Iraqis, as well as from the Red Cross and other independent observers, tell us that such abuse is all too common in Iraq - as it is in Afghanistan and in the prison camp at Guantanamo. In this sense, these acts are simply more evidence of what our military has become over the last 50 years: a repressive policing instrument for capitalist power. What is happening in Iraq is nothing new; just ask natives of Guatemala, Salvador, Haiti, and almost any Latin American country. They have been the victims of torture for years, torture conducted by interrogators trained in the US. Or ask residents of Indonesia, the Philippines, or Indochina, or the people of Nigeria and other African nations. They will tell you that the US is the greatest supporter and exporter of torture in the world.

[riverwalker]

1. When I knew we turned the corner

Shortly after 9/11 when Alan Dershowitz and Hannity and some others were all over the airwaves blithely discussing torture as a tool against terrorism, I knew what was down the road. They were as calm and mundane as if discussing gardening or the best way to remove wallpaper. When Americans in their living rooms just listened silently instead of loudly protesting shock and outrage to even suggest such a thing, I knew then the terrorists had won.

[salib]

2. Yes, it was such a depressing time

Because we did know "what was down that road." And so, the terra'st have won, but not the Saudi's that were pointed out as such. No, it is the ones we have been fearing for a long time. The ones truly among us. All those baser forms of greed, selfishness, hatred and unapproachable fear, were suddenly being paraded out in the open. Some people felt "free", free to express all those emotions of based upon that fear, and could say "I told you so" and "See!?!"

Well, having said that, I for one do not want to say "See!?!" to them now. Their fear is incomprehensible, unapproachable, and I do not want to motivate by fear anyway. Instead, what will gradually allow us to move beyond this quagmire, both at home and abroad, will require a more positive and reasoned approach. It will not "get us out of" this mess, it will merely allow us to proceed on, in our slow patient ebbs toward civilized society.