AMERICAN SHAME IN IRAQ
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
The prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison were humiliated, beaten and abused by American soldiers and interrogators in what is the worst scandal to engulf the United States military in my lifetime. I was saddened and dismayed as I saw what was done to these prisoners of war. I hope the doers of such crimes are put in a military prison for many years.
We got rid of Saddam Hussein. And then we committed some of the same crimes he did while claiming to be committed to helping the Iraqi people. All of America is now stained with the shame of these crimes.
The scandal, which also involves accusations that British troops were involved in mistreatment of prisoners, is creating severe problems for the Bush Administration at a time when it was already struggling with growing difficulties in Iraq and a soaring casualty rate. All this may cost Bush the election.
Yesterday, President Bush gave interviews to two Arab language TV channels in an effort to try to limit the damage the scandal has done to America's already tattered image in the region. He vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.
The most degrading aspect of the abuse was the sexual humiliation. During one session of abuse, prisoners were forced to get naked, then to straddle each other's backs and then made to commit oral sex. In another instance, a prisoner was forced to masturbate as he looked at a female soldier. In another instance, the soldiers began piling prisoners on top of each other to form human pyramids. The American soldiers even took photographs of all this.
Dozens of soldiers are facing courts martial on charges ranging from assault, cruelty, indecent acts and maltreatment of detainees. And it's near certain that many more will face similar charges once the investigation is completed.
We got rid of Saddam Hussein. And then we committed some of the same crimes he did while claiming to be committed to helping the Iraqi people. All of America is now stained with the shame of these crimes.
The scandal, which also involves accusations that British troops were involved in mistreatment of prisoners, is creating severe problems for the Bush Administration at a time when it was already struggling with growing difficulties in Iraq and a soaring casualty rate. All this may cost Bush the election.
Yesterday, President Bush gave interviews to two Arab language TV channels in an effort to try to limit the damage the scandal has done to America's already tattered image in the region. He vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.
The most degrading aspect of the abuse was the sexual humiliation. During one session of abuse, prisoners were forced to get naked, then to straddle each other's backs and then made to commit oral sex. In another instance, a prisoner was forced to masturbate as he looked at a female soldier. In another instance, the soldiers began piling prisoners on top of each other to form human pyramids. The American soldiers even took photographs of all this.
Dozens of soldiers are facing courts martial on charges ranging from assault, cruelty, indecent acts and maltreatment of detainees. And it's near certain that many more will face similar charges once the investigation is completed.