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One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scandal

By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 12:21:08 PM EST
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Today is the one year anniversary of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. Senator Edward Kennedy has released this statement, saying it's time to "reflect on how well we've responded as a nation." Here are his main points, in direct quotes:

  • First, we must acknowledge that the rule of law is not a luxury to be abandoned in time of war, or bent or circumvented at the whim and convenience of the White House. It is a fundamental safeguard in our democracy and a continuing source of our country's strength throughout the world.
  • Second, we must acknowledge and apply the broad consensus that exists against torture and inhumane treatment.

It is clear beyond a doubt that we cannot trust this Republican Congress or this Republican Administration to conduct the full investigation that should have been conducted long before now. We've had enough whitewashes by the Administration and Congressional Committees.

  • Finally, to implement these values, we need a full and independent investigation of our current detention, rendition, and interrogation policies, including an honest assessment of what went wrong in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo.

The investigation will require genuine candor and cooperation by all officials and agencies in the Bush Administration, full accountability, a clear statement of respect for human rights, and a plan for protecting those rights throughout the government. Only a truly independent and thorough investigation can restore America's reputation and put us back on the right path to the future.

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    One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scandal | 25 comments (25 topical)
    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 01:25:52 PM EST
    there are more than two million inmates in American prisons with more than 100 thousand of those prisoners working for Unicor. An honest assessment of what is going on in the prisons inside the USA. Maybe if they quit manufacturing kevlar helmets and a whole range of products for the US military, the amount of killing going on around the world would subside to some degree. What went wrong in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo went wrong inside the borders of the USA a long time ago. I doubt if there is any hope for any kind of change. The empire keeps steaming along into oblivion. Jobs, prosperity and a little peace is what is needed, not some dumb war. That we can do without.

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 03:29:52 PM EST
    I'd be willing to bet that most Americans have never heard of Unicor. Just the million or so of us that ave been in a Federal facility. For those who don't know, Unicor is a company that manufactures products for the US Government. Unicor has tremendously low overhead because they use primarily inmate labor, average wage in the $0.75 to $1.25 per hour range. Good old American jobs being outsourced to low wage localities. Who'd a thunk it.

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#3)
    by cp on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 03:52:23 PM EST
    you know, sen. kennedy neglected to mention that, as usual, only enlisted personnel were nailed, with the single officer being a female reserve general, who wasn't even there. classic military cover-up. this administration will only be unmasked when it's out of office, and no longer able to control the flow of information to the american public. don't be surprised if gw hints at attempting to amend the constitution, to get rid of the 22nd amendment. he certainly has more to fear from that than reagan did.

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#4)
    by Richard Aubrey on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 04:16:49 PM EST
    Hum. Talking about a coverup after quoting Teddy Kennedy (D-Chappaquidick) ought to embarrass even a lefty.

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 05:13:58 PM EST
    Hmmm, perhaps as an anniversary gift we can send Sen. Kennedy a pair of women's panties.

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 05:15:20 PM EST
    oops - hit the button too soon. To be placed on the heads of any Repub prisoners he takes during the judical debates.

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 07:22:38 PM EST
    There's really nothing that can be done til after the midterm elections. I appreciate Ted reviewing the matter.

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 07:26:28 PM EST
    CA - Maybe right before the elections he can review the people who had their heads chopped off.

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 07:35:16 PM EST
    Many people like Russ are saying its a good idea, and we need more abu ghraib here in the USA, And torture and inhumane treatment is the way to go, until that person gets arrested and tortured for nothing, and that day is coming, the Real I.D., Act is the start, and its not to keep people out but to keep you inside. how long brfore we see a movie?

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#10)
    by Che's Lounge on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 08:07:29 PM EST
    Jim, They can list the behheaded under "Post War Planning".

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#11)
    by Walter on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 08:14:10 PM EST
    Che.....what else do you suppose was on that post war planning to do list......nothing?

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#12)
    by cp on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 08:50:47 PM EST
    mark, historically, torture doesn't get you much in the way of useful information. that, and it puts you on the same level as those you purportedly are better than. what has always worked has been treating prisoners kindly, getting them to see you as a bud, someone they can trust. granted, it takes a tad more time, but is much more profitable in the short and long runs. who are you going to believe, someone who blurted out what you want hear, as you're pulling out their fingernails one by one, or someone who voluntarily divulges the info, when they don't have to?

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#13)
    by Walter on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 09:06:02 PM EST
    does anyone really believe that this was torture to get information or rather cruelty for cruelty's sake.

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 09:29:16 PM EST
    Pre-guidelines (1987)-- when the feds still had parole-- didn't you get extra good time if you worked for Unicor while in jail as opposed working other jobs? I seem to remember there was competition for those slots. Peter G. would remember if he's reading.

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#15)
    by john horse on Wed Apr 27, 2005 at 03:33:17 AM EST
    What I find interesting is that the apologists for Abu Ghraib no longer use the "a few bad apples" excuse. There are 2 reasons that they don't want an independent investigation. 1. The GOP is scared that the results may implicate Bush officials such as Rumsfeld, and possibly even George W himself. In other words, this is about maintaining power. 2. They sincerely believe that torture is necessary for winning the war (see Mark's post). In other words, this is about maintaining power. "What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the world, and lose his own soul..."

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#16)
    by john horse on Wed Apr 27, 2005 at 04:28:12 AM EST
    There should be an independent investigation of Abu Ghraib because George W Bush was right when he said "Our country is one that safeguards human rights and human dignity...I live in a transparent country where decisions made by government are wide open." The question is whether Bush means what he says. The excuses offered by his supporters for not having an independent investigation indicates that he does not.

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#17)
    by Walter on Wed Apr 27, 2005 at 04:47:05 AM EST
    Teddy..........still senator

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#18)
    by soccerdad on Wed Apr 27, 2005 at 05:35:08 AM EST
    might makes right It is the powerful who get to decide what is right and what is wrong, who is punished and who is rewarded, who is tortured and who is set free, when its a war crime and when its military tactics. There is no right or wrong just power and the all consuming passion to maintain power no matter what the cost to anyone outside of the cabal

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Apr 27, 2005 at 07:03:50 AM EST
    Ted speaks for me.

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#20)
    by kdog on Wed Apr 27, 2005 at 07:09:20 AM EST
    I love how the pro-torture clowns like Mark automatically assume every guy in Abu Gharib was a head-choppin', car-bombin' terr'ist. No chance of any innocent joe blow Iraqis ending up in there, eh? W...still a war criminal.

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Apr 27, 2005 at 07:11:43 AM EST
    So, have they rounded up all the pervs who tortured prisoners boo-boos at "Boo-Boo Grab" Prison? Or did they famously look the other way on the Special Ops and the CIA!? Inquiring minds want to know.

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Apr 27, 2005 at 07:15:15 AM EST
    More people have drowned in the back of Ted Kennedy's car than in Abu Ghraib prison" Not only is this statement inane it is completely inaccurate. The military has admitted that 108 detainees have died in U.S. custody in Afghanistan and Iraq, 76 of them violently, 27 of them classified as homicides. If that is what they are willing to admit to, who knows what the real numbers are. Remember that the Abu Garib pictures included pictures of a man who was tortured to death. No one was held responsible for that death. Donald Rumsfeld has publicly admitted to violating the Geneva Conventions at the request of George Tenet (hididng detainees from the ICRC) after the president declared unequivocally that all detainees in Iraq are protected by those conventions. Are we a country that believes in the rule of law and democracy or aren't we?

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#23)
    by john horse on Wed Apr 27, 2005 at 05:37:08 PM EST
    Freder, re: "Are we a country that believes in the rule of law and democracy or aren't we?" Good point. Since we are supposedly trying to establish the rule of law and a democracy in Iraq, lets think of what type of example we are setting. Apparently the new Iraqi government is following our example. They are doing many of the same things to their fellow Iraqi citizens that we did at Abu Ghraib which has earned them a spot on the State Departments list of countries that abuse human rights.

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#24)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Apr 27, 2005 at 05:47:08 PM EST
    If a foreign country invaded your country and imprisoned and tortured and murdered your relatives,how would you react?

    Re: One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scan (none / 0) (#25)
    by kdog on Thu Apr 28, 2005 at 10:56:43 AM EST
    According to neo-con dogma henry, by showering the torturers with flowers.

    One Year Anniversary of Abu Ghraib Prison Scandal | 25 comments (25 topical)