'Wish lists' of harsh tactics against Iraq prisoners

[G_j]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/04/19/MNG12CB3CN1.DTL

'Wish lists' of harsh tactics against Iraq prisoners cited
2 cases of abuse followed e-mails in 2003

Josh White, Washington Post

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Washington -- Army intelligence officials in Iraq developed and circulated "wish lists" of harsh interrogation techniques they hoped to use on prisoners in August 2003, including tactics such as low-voltage electrocution and blows with phone books -- suggestions that some soldiers believed spawned abuse and illegal interrogations.

The discussions, which took place in e-mails between interrogators and Army officials in Baghdad, were used in part to develop the interrogation rules of engagement approved by Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, then commander of U. S. troops in Iraq. Two specific cases of abuse in Iraq occurred soon after.

Army investigative documents released Monday, as well as court records and files, suggest the tactics were used on two prisoners: One died during an interrogation in November 2003 while stuffed into a sleeping bag, and another was badly beaten by inexperienced interrogators using a police baton in September 2003. The documents indicate confusion over what tactics were legal in Iraq, a belief that most prisoners were not covered by Geneva Conventions protections and alleged abuse by interrogators who had tacit approval to "turn it up a notch."

In both incidents, a previously disclosed Aug. 14, 2003, e-mail from the joint task force headquarters in Baghdad to top U.S. human-intelligence gatherers in Iraq is cited as a potential catalyst.

..more..

[bushisanidiot]

1. What a christian nation we are..

Jesus would be proud that we put "in God we trust" on our currency.
and look what we do in His name..

[sexybomber]

2. This sentence really got me.

<snip>

"Today's enemy" only understands force.

</snip>

Yep, there you go, dehumanize your enemies so you have no qualms about violating their human rights. It seems that they think of the prisoners as no better than animals.

(Note that I don't support using force against animals either!)

But that's the trick. If the soldiers realize that the people they're fighting have families too, I think they would be a little more reluctant to kill/harm so many of them.

I think it was Sting or U2 who had a song back in the 80s (at the height of the Cold War) that was called "Russians Have Mothers Too". Maybe we should send copies of that song to every GI in Iraq. Either that or a letter or something.

[G_j]

3. & how does the word "enemy"

apply? It has been demonstrated that many of these prisoners were just "swept up" with zero evidence that they had done anything.

[sexybomber]

4. Well that's another part of it....

US Army System For Determining Who Is And Is Not Your Enemy

Entity is white --> entity is friendly
Entity is not white --> Go to 2.

2. Entity is wearing US combat fatigues --> entity is friendly
Entity is not wearing US combat fatigues --> entity is your enemy