US report on prison abuse a 'whitewash'

[floda]

US report on prison abuse a 'whitewash'
US newspapers The New York Times and The Washington Post have opened fire at the conclusions of a report by the US Army on abuses in prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan, with the Times calling it a "whitewashing" to exonerate the high command.

"A newly released report by the Army's inspector general shows that Mr Rumsfeld's team may be turning over stones, but it's not looking under them," the Times said in an editorial.

"The authors of this 300-page whitewash say they found no 'systemic' problem - even though there were 94 documented cases of prisoner abuse, including some 40 deaths, 20 of them homicides; even though only four prisons of the 16 they visited had copies of the Geneva Conventions; even though Abu Ghraib was a cesspool with one shower for every 50 inmates; even though the military police were improperly involved in interrogations; even though young people plucked from civilian life were sent to guard prisoners - 50,000 of them in all - with no training," it said.

"Even the report's release on Thursday was an exercise in misdirection, timed to be overshadowed by the 9/11 commission's report," the Times noted.

more...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200407/s1161215.htm

[gottaB]

1. Rumsfeld needs to be gone

His continued presence is detrimental to US credibility and influence, and an outrage to people of good conscience.

The Times editorial that was mentioned:

Abu Ghraib, Whitewashed

[0007]

2. Just a few bad apples?

"This conclusion is contradicted by the independent investigations and reports of the International Committee of the Red Cross, by an earlier Army investigation undertaken before the scandal became public, and by testimony given to Congress.

"the probe concluded by sounding the defence offered up by the Pentagon ever since the photographs from Abu Ghraib prison were published: that the crimes did not result from Army policy and were not the fault of senior commanders but were 'unauthorised actions taken by a few individuals'.


"Oddly, it doesn't even square with some of the findings buried in the inspector general's own report, which confirm that commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan ordered 'high-risk' interrogation procedures to be used on prisoners without adequate safeguards, training or regard for the Geneva Conventions," the Post added.

[efhmc]

3. A warning, please, for those of us who have not seen and are not

prepared for these pictures. Thanks.

[Disturbed]

4. A Massive Cover Up of War Crimes.

The Bush Admin., Pentagon, In-Justice Dept. and Congress are keeping this in a jar with the lid glued on.

[0007]

5. With a warning on that jar with the lid glued shut that sez do not "OPEN"

DANGER

If you open the jar of Abu Ghraib your against us
If you leave it closed your with us

[Judi Lynn]

14. Amen to THAT, 0007.

I can't imagine anyone hasn't seen these photos yet. Having seen them, I can't imagine anyone would want to deny anyone should care.

[2Design]

6. Just send note to John Warner

Iraq Torture is being whitewashed. The usa needs to call it what it is TORTURE, not abuse. You need a independent counsel looking into this. The torture was directed from high up in the government and is not being handled. The reports are still whitewashing this.

The first guy to go to jail was the one who took the pictures. It seems Rumsfeld thinks the crime is picture taking. The crime is the torture and The Bush administration directed that torture and needs to be prosecuted for war crimes against humanity.

Our military can NOT be safe when Bush administration ignores geneva convention. And we have concentration camps all over the world and on ships. This must stop and they must be held accountable.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/24/opinion/24sat1.html

http://web.amnesty.org/pages/irq-140704-action-eng

[The Doctor.]

7. In General....

I find it so hard to believe how much absolutely blatant abuse of power is being exercised by this administration. And so many people are BLIND to it!
I am in contact with many so-called 'Republicans'. (I'm a REAL Republican and independent thinker - this administration is not any thing that belongs to this country.) As a Republican I find I have instant edification with other 'Republicans' because they believe I will agree with them carte-blanche. I love to make this one point every once in a while;
"I'd rather the President of the United States were impeached for selling weapons to anti-US third world countries, For manipulating intelligence on a path to war, or For abrogating the Geneva Convention, rather than for lying to a grand jury about whether or not he had sex with an intern."

- I don't attack or accuse - that would give the 'Republican' impetus to go counter-offensive. I rather deliver my concern in a more thoughful tone with a hint of irony... they almost always walk away very thoughtful of what I've said.

Something is VERY wrong here when these things are allowed to go on after an entire country got bent out of shape over whether or not a guy lied about a BJ!

I'm trying to get people to wise up - but so long as people have their SUV's, their Satellite TV, and they're being told what they want to hear, it's just too much work for them to think for themselves. Worse... when I see someone catch a glimpse of what's really happening - I can see a flash of real fear erase the image from their mind. Forever to forget and live in comfort.

We cannot let this happen.

[merh]

8. Welcome to DU Dr_eldritch!

We are all trying to not let this happen again. We want this admin out and an end to their abuse of powers.

:hi:

[intheozone]

10. Welcome to DU Dr. E.

:hi: I am not a Republican but I agree with you what you say. It is truly very wrong and VERY SCARY what is happening in our country today. We need to take our country back and Republicans need to take their party back!

[The Doctor.]

11. Halleluja!!!

[stepnw1f]

12. Welcome Dr_e

You are a "Real" Republican. It's really good to see.

[SOS]

9. The Bush Admn. and their employees

at CNN can whitewash all they want. It doesn't change the facts and it doesn't stop the coverage in the rest of the world.
Whitewashing this story is dangerous. Lee Hamilton, this morning on MTP, said that the opinion of the US in Egypt is now 100% negative. In Jordan it's 99% negative. And these are "friends" of America on the governmental level.
Our leaders lie, deceive, whitewash and then take the summer off.
We are courting disaster.

[Disturbed]

13. Rumsfailed admitted to violating the Genva Convention.

Rumsfailed admitted in public that when CIA Tentet requested that a prisoner be sent to a secret Afghan/US Prison that Rumsfailed did so. After four months a DOD Attorney stated that this was an illegal act so Rumsfailed ordered that this prisoner be sent back to Abu Graib but the prisoner was not listed there on purpose. That is two violations of the Geneva Convention. Not one complaint or charge was made regarding Rumsfailed, not even by any Dem in Congress. Does the US no longer follow the Geneva Convention? It appears so.

[truthspeaker]

15. I loved McCain's questioning: "You've seen no evidence of that? I have."

Talking about unmuzzled dogs used in interrogations. McCain said he'd seen documentation that Sanchez approved it. Acting Secretary of the Army claimed not to know anything about it.

[opihimoimoi]

16. Tis a sad event for America...Don't those Pubs know it??

Are they that numb they don't get it? That this will cost us more blood...as it has already?