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11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib

By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 02:18:43 PM EST
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Former Brigadier General Janis Karpinski told investigators that one of the prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq was 11 years old.

Karpinski, who was in charge of Abu Ghraib from July to November 2003, said she often visited the prison's youngest inmates. One boy "looked like he was 8-years-old," Karpinski said.

"He told me he was almost 12," Karpinski said. "He told me his brother was there with him, but he really wanted to see his mother, could he please call his mother. He was crying."

[link via Suburban Guerilla.]

The transcript of the interview was among the documents released yesterday pursuant to the FOIA request by the ACLU. While the Pentagon says no juveniles were abused, there's plenty of evidence to the contrary, including:

The documents include statements from six witnesses who said three interrogators and a civilian interpreter at Abu Ghraib got drunk one night and took a 17-year-old female prisoner from her cell. The four men forced the girl to expose her breasts and kissed her, the reports said. The witnesses — whose names were blacked out of the documents given to the ACLU — said those responsible were not punished.

.... Another soldier said in January 2004 that troops poured water and smeared mud on the detained 17-year-old son of an Iraqi general and "broke" the general by letting him watch his son shiver in the cold.

You can read the latest documents of abuse on the ACLU's website here.

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    11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib | 30 comments (30 topical)
    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#1)
    by wishful on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 02:56:31 PM EST
    I must have missed class the day this administration explained their new rules for bringing freedom and democracy to an oppressed people.

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 03:02:44 PM EST
    I've come to the conclusion that democracy is pretty much what the guys in power call it

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#3)
    by Darryl Pearce on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 03:37:05 PM EST
    So, um, er, uh... when do we add pictures of women and children do that POW/MIA flag?

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 03:50:08 PM EST
    I must have missed class the day this administration explained their new rules for bringing freedom and democracy to an oppressed people. Well, you might have missed the class, but I assume you watch tv or read a newspaper occasionly. And if you do, you'll notice the following countries making democratic reforms: Iraq;Lebannon;Egypt;Saudi Arabia not to mention the Palestinians and the recent women's demonstrations in Kuwait. If we had the democrats in charge, what we have? More continued opression of the Middle Eastern people, more hate mongering, more danger to the US. Don't ever question the democratic reforms going on in the Middle East. What's your standing to question the democratic changes over there? The changes are nothing short of stunning are revolutionary, and if you had your way, they would never be happening. Slogan of the Democrats: More Oppression Everywhere!

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#5)
    by soccerdad on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 03:50:58 PM EST
    wishful, this will explain everything

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#6)
    by Darryl Pearce on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 03:58:23 PM EST
    If we had the democrats in charge, what we have? $200 BILLION in the bank 1,500+ unbroken American families uncounted, unbroken collaterally undamaged families

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 04:24:33 PM EST
    Off topic here, but I wanted you to know that I caught you on MSNBC with Ron Reagan and you did a great job! Jeff was upset you didn't mention him...lol

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 04:24:36 PM EST
    So did Karpenski let the child call his mother? Did she order his release or did she wash her hands of him?

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#9)
    by Kitt on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 04:26:15 PM EST
    "Well, you might have missed the class, but I assume you watch tv or read a newspaper occasionly. And if you do, you'll notice the following countries making democratic reforms: Iraq;Lebannon;Egypt;Saudi Arabia..." It's pretty obvious your knowledge of the Middle East is severely lacking if you think Egypt and Saudi Arabia are making democratic reforms. Hints from Mubarek means absolutely nothing without action and followup. As for Saudi Arabi....can we say m-o-n-a-r-c-h-y with the fascist underpinnings of a theocracy (in this case, Wahbihism). As for Iraq - we'll see; it certainly isn't now. Lebanon is a republic with the office of president, vice-prez (and another office) reserved for specific religious group members. I think the president has to be Maronite, the Vice-President = Sunni and the third I can't remember off the top of my head.

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 04:40:22 PM EST
    Hey, we all know kids can't do harm, so why'd they have him locked up? It's unfair to compare them to the PLO kids strapped with dynamite. It's not the same, is it?

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#11)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 04:52:27 PM EST
    A Vietnam vet I worked with many years ago told me of the time he had been shot in the head at a range of about 5 feet by a 10 year old N. Vietnamese kid.

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#12)
    by wishful on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 05:18:57 PM EST
    soc, thanks. It's nice to know you can get the notes when you miss class.

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#13)
    by nolo on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 05:30:58 PM EST
    So, sarcastic unnamed one, are you saying that Iraq's just another Vietnam?

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#15)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 05:36:47 PM EST
    nolo - you know I'm not.

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#16)
    by wishful on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 05:45:01 PM EST
    Devon, maybe you should offer your services as an investigator. You seem to be able to get to the bottom of things magically.

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 05:58:02 PM EST
    Yeah, what a little cretin; how dare he defend his country against an illegal occupation. I can't help but wonder how many of his family members have been killed by American artillery in his lifetime.

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 06:03:01 PM EST
    So whats your point we have 11 year olds in our prisons here and many just like the ones in Iraq.

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 11, 2005 at 11:01:08 PM EST
    wouldn't the elected interim tell the U.S. to leave if it was an illegal occupation?

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 12, 2005 at 12:18:53 AM EST
    Thanks, Rightwingsparkle! Which Jeff?

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 12, 2005 at 04:37:20 AM EST
    wouldn't the elected interim tell the U.S. to leave if it was an illegal occupation? If they do, how do you suggest they enforce it? Also, the interim government has authority only via the US military occupation: why would they tell the source of their authority to get lost.

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 12, 2005 at 06:26:53 AM EST
    TL, Oh sorry....Jeff G. of course. So be careful at the Rocky Mountain Bash. He might put something in your drink and take pictures later....;-)

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#23)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 12, 2005 at 09:30:55 AM EST
    In United States, 11 year old in prison cannot be executed any more.

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#26)
    by Richard Aubrey on Sat Mar 12, 2005 at 02:26:48 PM EST
    This is ridiculous. I wonder of Karpinski is telling the truth. Anybody who's been in the service knows generals, even one-stars are Big JuJu. There isn't much they can't make happen. If she didn't like kids being there, the kids wouldn't have been there. What are they going to do? Tell her she won't get her second star? And if she goes public with the reason? Smell test trouble here. On the other hand, if he was attacking US soldiers, he has to be kept from doing so. Your suggestion on how to avoid that? And the thought that lefties grieve for fallen soldiers.... They do make good political points, though, when used judiciously.

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#27)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 12, 2005 at 08:45:40 PM EST
    on the other hand, if he was attacking US soldiers, he has to be kept from doing so. Your suggestion on how to avoid that? uh... let me think... How about don't send the troops to occupy his country, his neighborhood? Don't drop the cluster bombs? Don't raze Fallujah? I don't know, was there any way to avoid this kind of mess?

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#28)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 12, 2005 at 08:46:50 PM EST
    9:45 was me.

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#29)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 12, 2005 at 08:51:32 PM EST
    "Posted by: Richard Aubrey: "If she didn't like kids being there, the kids wouldn't have been there." Since she admitted a long time ago that she lost control of that wing of the prison, because of orders from On High, your illusions about subordinate power, even with a star on it, are military nonsense. Par for you. Care to go for a bogie? Btw, she's one of the persons named in the CCR complaint to the German authorities. Most of Centcom ought to be up on charges. How many stars on your jacket do you need to free the 50,000 children murdered by Bushliar's invasion forces? Oh, that's right...their moms are dead with them.

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#25)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 12, 2005 at 09:20:19 PM EST
    US Marines open probe into February 27th 2005 assaults on Iraqi detainees

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Mar 13, 2005 at 12:54:37 AM EST
    So what scapegoat will go to prison for this one?

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#31)
    by Richard Aubrey on Sun Mar 13, 2005 at 02:44:57 PM EST
    Paul. Most of your comments are silly, not to mention obsolete. But to address Karpinski's situation at the jail: If she said let somebody go and send me the paperwork, it would have happened. How many pix of Saddaam do you guys have on your walls to kiss before you go to sleep? Unfair? Well, turnabout's hell. Find a more adult way of discussing this.

    Re: 11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib (none / 0) (#32)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Mar 13, 2005 at 05:51:36 PM EST
    Posted by Richard Aubrey: "Most of your comments are silly, not to mention obsolete." Another nonresponsive comment from one of Bush's fools. "But to address Karpinski's situation at the jail: If she said let somebody go and send me the paperwork, it would have happened." As I pointed out, she's complicit in what went on. Your assertion, though, is meant to shift the blame to her, but the reason why she lost control of that wing of the prison is because military intelligence, under direct orders from Rumsfeld/Bush, took over -- with the assent of Centcom. "How many pix of Saddaam do you guys have on your walls to kiss before you go to sleep?" Since I've been protesting Hussein's crimes for over fifteen years, vociferously, it is YOU, Reagan/Bush supporter, who has the crush on Hussein and his ilk. Like your new pal Kadafi, or Allawi (who shot six men point-blank without a trial or ANY evidence of guilt other than custody). Or that nuclear-armed Musharaf cat that Cheney needs for his pipeline. You have quite a list of love letters to write, Rich. Get to it.

    11 Year Old Was Held Prisoner at Abu Ghraib | 30 comments (30 topical)