Senators seek demolition of Iraqi prison [CNN]

[truthisfreedom]

http://cnn.allpolitics.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=CNN.com+-+Senators+seek+demolition+of+Iraqi+prison+-+May+5%2C+2004&expire=&urlID=10134587&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2004%2FALLPOLITICS%2F05%2F05%2Fcongress.abuse%2Findex.html&partnerID=2001

Senators seek demolition of Iraqi prison


From Ed Henry
CNN Washington Bureau



WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A bipartisan group of senators is urging the Pentagon to demolish the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq in order to exorcise a symbol of both Saddam Hussein's torture chambers and an embarrassing episode for the U.S. military.

The Baghdad prison is the focus of a controversy over treatment of Iraqi prisoners by their U.S. captors.

"I think we ought to raze that prison," Senate Intelligence Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, told reporters Wednesday evening after his panel heard testimony from CIA and Defense Department officials about physical and sexual abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib.

"I think we ought to take it down -- take the damn thing down," said Roberts, who also serves on the Armed Services Committee.Committee.

<snip>

the article goes on to talk about Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska, who first brought the idea up this week.

[Wickerman]

1. The Administration commits war crimes - the resolution - take it out on an

inanimate object. geeeesh.

[Politicub]

3. I think they want to destroy the evidence

What better way to get rid of the evidence than to raze the prison?

[Just Me]

18. No offense, BUT,...this is a positive prospect: to make "that" extinct!!!

Shut that "hall of terror" down!!!

Involve all the Iraqi people in so doing!!!

I imagine a JOINT effort to destroy that "item" of pain would be one step towards healing.

[loftycity]

19. So true --Raze that chamber of horrors to the ground

Yes and let the Iraq people take down the whole place. It needs to go.

[wubbathompson]

5. What the hell good would that do

They need to court martial those who commited these crimes and fix the institutional problem which led to this. Destroying the building is the equivalent on an exorcism. It won't do a damn thing.

[Tellurian]

9. Here are two INCONGRUOUS statements from the link:

Intelligence hearing

....statement made by Roberts:"Following the closed-door hearing Wednesday of the Intelligence Committee, Roberts said there is "no evidence" that intelligence personnel "directed any of the abuses" at the Abu Ghraib prison."


....statement made by eye witness Karpinski:"The former commander of military police at U.S. prisons in Iraq, Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski, has said that MPs implicated in the abuse of Iraqi prisoners were being given instructions by military intelligence, who were trying to extract information."


I have concerns over the rush to destroy the prison...

Why are we in such a hurry to destroy evidence?

[54anickel]

2. I had this thought when all this crap first came out. But then I changed

my mind as it should be up to the Iraqi people whether or not to tear it down. If we do it, it may be taken as trying to hide something. If they do it, that is their decision. In a way I'd like to see it stay as a reminder and part of history, but I wouldn't blame the Iraqis if they wanted it razed. I just don't think it's a decision for the US to make.

[Cocoa]

4. I hope they don't do this

the problem is not with the building, I'm afraid that our Congress is going to embrace this gesture just to put this behind us. I hope instead we use this opportunity to make real change.

[Dudley_DUright]

7. The building was infamous in Iraq

and should never have been used by US troops as a prison in the first place. Even before these atrocities were revealed the symbolism was terrible. Now of course, it is way too late. The damage has been done and the blowback will likely be horrendous.

[Grey]

8. I think it should be kept,

"as is" for a war memorial, other countries have their holocaust museums or historical monuments.

[Tinoire]

13. I vote the same. Keep it as a war memorial/testament of shame. n/t

[Tellurian]

14. Most likly the reason they want to tear it down! nt

[maddezmom]

15. not to mention the forensic evidence that needs to be examined n/t

[aquart]

17. No. It exists. It will be used.

[maddezmom]

6. great idea, empty it, do a full investigation

then take the damn thing down. There is too much forensic evidence there to just raze it now.

[Solly Mack]

10. America had the chance to "wash-clean" the blood of Abu Ghraib

already made infamous before the invasion...but America blew it.

You think razing some of the concentration camps made them any less there? That somehow out of sight became out of mind?

Razing the prison won't bring absolution. It won't bring closure.

You want closure? Bring justice. Raze hate.

[hippiechick]

11. ... and Halliburton gets the demolition contract ....

:eyes:



:hippie:

[mulethree]

12. and the reconstruction contract to build the prisons to replace it

[bushgottago]

16. It's the BUILDING'S Fault

The building did it. If you tear down the building the problem is solved !!!!

Brilliant!

[rocktivity]

20. Don't tear it down, convert it to condos

Isn't there a homeless problem in Iraq?

:headbang:
rocknation

[Ganja Ninja]

21. Senators: "Let's bury this embarrassing reality as fast as we can."

So America can go back to pretending it's the "last best hope of mankind."