6 US Troops charged for maltreating Iraqi jail inmates

[The diplomat]

I think we should have a public trial televised on Arab tv networks. it could show the Arab wolrd that we are serious about punishing these soldiers for what they did. It won't convince all, but it might help even in a small way to reduce anti-american feelings.

[lightblue]

Here's the link. Admittedly the story broke in "The Mirror" but the pcitures seem real enough.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3675215.stm

[Pax]

1. The one small telling piece of evidence is the electrodes that were attached to the prisoner. That seems odd to have something like that just laying around does it not. Just having something like that in a prison would lead me to believe that electric shock torture is going on in Iraq. It's a smoking gun.
2. Furthermore, It does not take the Geneva convention to tell me or anyone else that electrocuting my genitals is cruel and unusual.
3. I don't see how anyone could believe that this event is isolated to a few people.

The soldiers involved in this recent event are animals. Human animals just like you and me capable of all kinds of evil. Just like you and me. We have pretenses that somehow human nature has changed in the western world when really we are capable of as many evils as any person or group from history that has been labeled bad.

[Chemical Ollie]

They probably read "Bravo Two Zero" and want revenge.

[DanS]

This is pretty disgusting and I hope the Army cleans this crap up.

[Chemical Ollie]

Originally posted by Pax Africanus
1. The one small telling piece of evidence is the electrodes that were attached to the prisoner. ---

I guess Saddam's guards left the gear they used.

3. I don't see how anyone could believe that this event is isolated to a few people.

I believe it is. At least I hope so. But the Brigadier was dismissed (or resigned, whatever), so I guess the behaviour was widespread in this unit at least.

He reminds me of Jack Nicholsons character in the movie "A Few Good Men" (other actors Tom Cruce, Kevin Bacon, Demi Moore). Nicholson's monologue in that movie is one of the best pieces of acting I have ever seen (not because I support his character, but because Nicholson is so full of passion).

[Pax]

It's more like the army colonel from the battle of algiers.
If the equipment was left there it would have either been destroyed or locked away. It would not be laying around a military establishment for no reason. It goes against the concept of military order to have unused equipment not stored away.

[Gibsie]

So has anyone expressed any doubts over the veracity of these photos?

[Ted Striker]

no

[Alexander's Horse]

No - and now it looks like some Brits have been at it too!

Brits probe new prisoner abuse claims
May 1, 2004

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British military officials confirmed today they were investigating new allegations that their soldiers abused a prisoner in Iraq.

The report came as the Daily Mirror newspaper published photos of a hooded prisoner who was reportedly beaten and had teeth broken at the hands of British troops.

"All allegations are already under investigation," General Michael Jackson, chief of the General Staff, told a late night news conference.

"If proven, the perpetrators are not fit to wear the Queen's uniform. They have besmirched the good name of the army and its honour."

The Mirror said it was given the pictures by serving soldiers from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, who were concerned that "rogue elements" in the army were undermining attempts to win support from the Iraqi people.

The newspaper quoted the unidentified soldiers as saying the unarmed captive had been threatened with execution during eight hours of abuse, and was left bleeding and vomiting. They said the captive was then driven away and dumped from the back of a moving vehicle, and it was not known whether he survived.

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A spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair said he supported Jackson's statement.

"The prime minister agreed that allegations of this nature are treated most seriously, but they should not be taken as a reflection of the general behaviour of coalition forces and the work they are doing with the Iraqi people," Blair's office said.

Earlier today, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that military authorities were considering whether to prosecute eight soldiers for allegedly abusing prisoners in Iraq.

The case came to light a year ago, when The Sun newspaper reported that a soldier had a roll of film showing an Iraqi detainee bundled up in netting and suspended from a forklift truck. The Sun claimed the film also showed troops performing sex acts near captured Iraqis.

The ministry said the Royal Military Police's Special Investigations Branch had completed its investigation, and the army's prosecuting authority was deliberating whether to press charges.

None of the soldiers has been publicly identified.

"Where allegations are made, they will be investigated by the SIB and that's what every soldier who wears the British uniform knows," Blair's official spokesman said.

The British case was mentioned by Blair's spokesman at a morning press briefing, as journalists sought the government's reaction to alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners of war by US soldiers.

"The US army spokesman has said this morning that he is appalled, that those responsible have let their fellow soldiers down, and those are views that we would associate the UK government with," said Blair's official spokesman, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

"This is not representative of the 150,000 soldiers that are in Iraq," the spokesman said, adding that the coalition should not be judged on the alleged actions of a few.

The comments came after the American CBS network broadcast images of Iraqis stripped naked, hooded and being tormented by their captors.

AP

This kind of thing is very bad.

[Ted Striker]

at least nobody is trying to sugar coat it or cover it up

[MrFun]

** MrFun uses a crane to dump crates of sugar **

[Drake Tungsten]

General Michael Jackson, chief of the General Staff

That article is an obvious joke...

[Seeker]

"Frederick is one of six members"

I think 'Chip' is the hero in this story. He tried to stop what was going on around him, and because he stuck up for what was right, they offered HIM up as the sacrificial lamb.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Chemical Ollie


The brother who died in 'Nam? I guess it was before they sent him there. What was he suspected for? (Really none of my business, I'm just curious. If you don't want to share it, don't)

He died years after 'Nam, but due to Agent Orange induced cancers. After his tour in 'Nam was up, he still had a year to go on his enlistment, so he was putting in time at Fort Ord. With about three months to go, he just decided to desert. The irony was that the Army was reducing forces at the time, and he could have just asked for an early discharge, since he'd already done a tour in 'Nam and had been decorated.

After a year or so on the run, he turned himself in, and ended up at Leavenworth, but they wanted nothing to do with prosecuting him under his circumstances and with his service record at that (very late) point in the war. He was there about six weeks before the decision went through all the bureaucratic channels to just release and discharge him.