Guantanamo Prisoner Abuse Continues Under Obama

[spooked911]

http://www.alternet.org/rights/140022/little_known_military_thug_squad_still_brutalizing_prisoners_at_gitmo_under_obama/

A horrific and disturbing story:

As the Obama administration continues to fight the release of some 2,000 photos that graphically document U.S. military abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan, an ongoing Spanish investigation is adding harrowing details to the ever-emerging portrait of the torture inside and outside Guantánamo. Among them: "blows to testicles;" "detention underground in total darkness for three weeks with deprivation of food and sleep;" being "inoculated … through injection with 'a disease for dog cysts;'" the smearing of feces on prisoners; and waterboarding. The torture, according to the Spanish investigation, all occurred "under the authority of American military personnel" and was sometimes conducted in the presence of medical professionals.

More significantly, however, the investigation could for the first time place an intense focus on a notorious, but seldom discussed, thug squad deployed by the U.S. military to retaliate with excessive violence to the slightest resistance by prisoners at Guantánamo.

The force is officially known as the the Immediate Reaction Force or Emergency Reaction Force, but inside the walls of Guantánamo, it is known to the prisoners as the Extreme Repression Force. Despite President Barack Obama's publicized pledge to close the prison camp and end torture -- and analysis from human rights lawyers who call these forces' actions illegal -- IRFs remain very much active at Guantánamo.

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Yes but it is Democratic torture now, it is Obama abuse,

and it seems that for many here, that is good enough for them.

Heck, what is all this sympathy for terrsts and furryners?

[dorkulon]

3. Obamabuse?

WaterBiden?

[Warren Stupidity]

4. GWOT Change?

[spooked911]

10. It is a war crime, Obama is liable, and it must end now.

I am simply outraged that this is still going on.

[pleah]

2. K&R Same as it ever was.

:(

[Karenina]

5. . .

[cali]

6. horrific. everyone should read the full article

and President Obama needs to replace those in charge at that cesspool until it's closed next year. Having said that, virtually every prison has an IRF team, so calling for the abolishing of such protocol isn't going to fly. they can however rewrite the guiding rules for use of such a team, including ensuring that they aren't used merely for minor infractions of the rules and not using the team for brutal actions against prisoners.

[spooked911]

9. indeed (n/t)

[emilyg]

7. k/r

[mzmolly]

8. It will take some time to clean up this mess I imagine?

:(

However, many of the tactics described as in use (after Obama took office) are unfortuntely used in US prisons as well.

[HopeOverFear]

11. That's no surprise; the abusers have gotten worse just to spite Obama

that's all that's about.