Monday, May 03, 2004
Bremer Knew About Prisoner Abuse
Holy crap:
FORMER Iraqi human rights minister Abdel Basset Turki said today US overseer Paul Bremer knew in November that Iraqi prisoners were being abused in US detention centres.
"In November I talked to Mr Bremer about human rights violations in general and in jails in particular. He listened but there was no answer. At the first meeting, I asked to be allowed to visit the security prisoners, but I failed," Turki said.
"I told him the news. He didn't take care about the information I gave him."
The coalition had no immediate comment about Turki's meeting with Bremer.
The minister, whose resignation was formally accepted by the coalition yesterday, said he told Bremer about his meetings with former detainees.
What if Bremer did know in November, as the Iraqi human rights minister says? First, he should be sacked now. Second, a full independent UN supported investigation by non-CPA countries should take place to find out how pervasive this problem is. Third, Rumsfeld & Wolfowitz should lose their jobs for being uniquely unqualified to re-build a nation they so thoroughly helped to destroy. (Not as easy as it looks on paper, eh boys?)
Of course none of this will happen. The President is already "outraged" about the entire situation and will "get to the bottom of the situation." Baloney. He will ask a five-star to look into what's happening, a couple of the "old boys club" will have a beer and that's the last we'll hear of it. I can already see the story buried in the Times and WaPo now: .....regrettable actions by few......not representative of our military.....isolated incidents.....the guilty have been punished.
The thing that frustrates me the most is that the ones who are most guilty will never be punished.
It also makes me sad to be this cynical. Thanks W.
| Permalink Here
Holy crap:
FORMER Iraqi human rights minister Abdel Basset Turki said today US overseer Paul Bremer knew in November that Iraqi prisoners were being abused in US detention centres.
"In November I talked to Mr Bremer about human rights violations in general and in jails in particular. He listened but there was no answer. At the first meeting, I asked to be allowed to visit the security prisoners, but I failed," Turki said.
"I told him the news. He didn't take care about the information I gave him."
The coalition had no immediate comment about Turki's meeting with Bremer.
The minister, whose resignation was formally accepted by the coalition yesterday, said he told Bremer about his meetings with former detainees.
What if Bremer did know in November, as the Iraqi human rights minister says? First, he should be sacked now. Second, a full independent UN supported investigation by non-CPA countries should take place to find out how pervasive this problem is. Third, Rumsfeld & Wolfowitz should lose their jobs for being uniquely unqualified to re-build a nation they so thoroughly helped to destroy. (Not as easy as it looks on paper, eh boys?)
Of course none of this will happen. The President is already "outraged" about the entire situation and will "get to the bottom of the situation." Baloney. He will ask a five-star to look into what's happening, a couple of the "old boys club" will have a beer and that's the last we'll hear of it. I can already see the story buried in the Times and WaPo now: .....regrettable actions by few......not representative of our military.....isolated incidents.....the guilty have been punished.
The thing that frustrates me the most is that the ones who are most guilty will never be punished.
It also makes me sad to be this cynical. Thanks W.
| Permalink Here
