Detainees say U.S. troops abused them

[struggle4progress]

By Paisley Dodds, Associated Press Writer | February 7, 2005

Eleven detainees say U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Pakistan abused them before they were sent to the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, allegations that include beatings with chains, electric shock and sodomy, according to a lawyer's notes that were recently declassified and released Monday.

Some of the men say they falsely confessed to being members of Afghanistan's ousted Taliban regime or the al-Qaida terror network to make the abuse stop, said Tom Wilner, a lawyer for the 11 Kuwaitis being held in the prison camp at the U.S. Navy base in eastern Cuba.

Human rights groups and defense lawyers have long charged that some of the information that led to incarcerations at Guantanamo Bay was obtained through abuse or torture. Many of the 545 prisoners have been held for more than three years, most without charge.

Maj. Michael Shavers, a Pentagon spokesman, said all "credible" abuse allegations are investigated but suggested the Kuwaitis' claims were consistent with al-Qaida tactics to falsely allege abuse or mistreatment. <snip>

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/02/07/detainees_say_they_made_false_confessions/

[mike_c]

1. the Kuwaitis claims are also consistent with Gonzales' memos...

...from the Justice Dept. to the White House regarding the quaintness of human rights standards....