U.S. fights GIs' award for Iraqi torture

[GregD]

This is simply so pathetic!


U.S. fights GIs' award for Iraqi torture
Frozen funds intended for rebuilding

Washington -- The Bush administration is seeking to block a group of American troops who were tortured in Iraqi prisons during the Persian Gulf War in 1991 from collecting any of the hundreds of millions of dollars in frozen Iraqi assets that they won last summer in a federal court ruling against the government of Saddam Hussein.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/11/10/MNGLN2U2FO1.DTL

They simply know no shame whatsoever!

[DuctapeFatwa]

1. There is a very practical reason for this

If the US allows its nationals that were tortured by another regime to make monetary claims, it might increase the government's legal costs in future litigation involving any who survive torture at the hands of the bush regime.

[starroute]

2. Tom Tomorrow posted a priceless quote on this

From the press conference where Scott McClellan was asked about it:

"Q Scott, there are 17 former POWs from the first Gulf War who were tortured and filed suit against the regime of Saddam Hussein. And a judge has ordered that they are entitled to substantial financial damages. What is the administration's position on that? Is it the view of this White House that that money would be better spent rebuilding Iraq rather than going to these former POWs?

"MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know that I view it in those terms, David. I think that the United States -- first of all, the United States condemns in the strongest terms the brutal torture to which these Americans were subjected. They bravely and heroically served our nation and made sacrifices during the Gulf War in 1991, and there is simply no amount of money that can truly compensate these brave men and women for the suffering that they went through at the hands of Saddam Hussein's brutal regime. That's what our view is.

"Q But, so -- but isn't it true that this White House --

"Q They think they're is an --

"Q Excuse me, Helen -- that this White House is standing in the way of them getting those awards, those financial awards, because it views it that money better spent on rebuilding Iraq?

"MR. McCLELLAN: Again, there's simply no amount of money that can truly compensate these brave men and women for the suffering --"


And on and on at truly painful length. Apparently, if there's no amount of money that can compensation you, they don't have to pay you anything.

http://www.thismodernworld.com/weblog/mtarchives/week_2003_11_09.html#001200