08 May 04
3 edits
Originally posted by steerpike"
If Iraqis alleged widespread abuse of prisoners was being carried out a month ago, would people have believed it if there was no photographs?
Red Cross saw 'widespread abuse'
The mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners in US custody is not limited to isolated cases but forms part of a systematic pattern, the Red Cross has said.
A spokesman said the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had been warning the US about such cases for more than a year.
"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3694521.stm
see also the timeline of admission:
doesn't begin until Jan 13, 2004 then seems to be kept quiet for several months:
"
Here are the key dates in the abuse scandal at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, from the January revelation from a US soldier to US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's testimony today to the US Congress:
Jan 13, 2004: Joseph Darby, a reservist in the military police, alerts his superiors of abuses at Abu Ghraib prison.
Jan 16: The US Central Command announces that an investigation "has been initiated into reported incidents of detainee abuse at a coalition forces detention facility." A Pentagon spokesman says a criminal investigation was underway. But no details are provided.
Jan 31: Major General Antonio Taguba is named the chief investigative officer and begins a review of procedures in the prison.
March 3: Taguba presents his preliminary findings to Lieutenant General David McKiernan. His report is classified, but copies leaked to the press say he found that military police were directed to change prison procedures to "set the conditions" for military intelligence interrogations. He singled out two military intelligence officers and two civilian contractors for blame.
April 6: McKiernan approves some recommendations of the Taguba report, which results in letters of reprimands for six military police officers and non-commissioned officers, and the relief from duties of two of them. Six guards are criminally charged.
April 28: CBS television's 60 Minutes II program airs photographs showing hooded, naked prisoners being forced to engage in simulated sexual acts. The network delayed broadcasting the images for two weeks at the request of top military officials.
April 30: US President George W Bush expresses "deep disgust" and Tony Blair's spokesman says the British prime minister is appalled. The Arab League calls on the US-led coalition to "punish everyone who has been involved in these savage acts".
May 5: US military gives a tour of Abu Ghraib jail to journalists. Bush gives interviews to two Arab-language television channels and calls the abuse "abhorrent." US media report the next day that Bush admonished Rumsfeld for failing to inform him about the photographs of the abuse.
May 6: The Washington Post publishes new photos from the jail, including one showing a woman soldier holding a leash tied around the neck of a naked man. Calls for Rumsfeld's resignation intensify. Bush offers apology during news conference with Jordan's King Abdullah II.
May 7: Rumsfeld appears before Congress and offers his "deepest apology," but he says he will not resign. He reveals the existence of more photos and videos of the prison abuse. The international Red Cross says the abuse it found in Iraq's US-run prisons was systematic and amounted to torture.
"
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/08/1083911445821.html
09 May 04
Originally posted by steerpikeThe US government announced in January that there had been severe violations of our policies and that six investigations were being put forth.
If Iraqis alleged widespread abuse of prisoners was being carried out a month ago, would people have believed it if there was no photographs?
Strange world. It was reported in detail. The abuse and the investigations. Not until "pictures" were available did anyone think about it. You don't suppose we are a shallow and silly civilization? Unable to reason from the written word? I think that is the case. Silly bunch. Oh well.
Pictures.
That is what we have come down to.
Oh well. I feel ... sick? sad? weary?
Reason and effort. We are a sad excuse for civilization.