Former spy claims Australian government covered up Iraq prisoner abuse

[Barrett808]

A former Australian spy contradicted government claims that no Australian was involved in interrogating Iraqi prisoners, saying he himself witnessed and reported the alleged abuse of Iraqis by their US captors.

Rod Barton, a former senior analyst for the Defense Intelligence Organisation (DIO) and a long-time Iraq weapons inspector, said he personally interrogated an Iraqi detainee at Camp Cropper, a US center which held so-called "high value" prisoners.

"Someone was brought to me in an orange jumpsuit with a guard with a gun standing behind him," Barton told Four Corners, a news program to be broadcast later Monday on Australian Broadcasting Corporation television.

"Of course I didn't pull any fingernails out but I think it's misleading to say no Australians were involved, I was involved," he said.

Last year after revelations that US soldiers were abusing Iraqis in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison, the Australian government steadfastly denied that any Australians were involved in the interrogation of Iraqi detainees.

Defense Minister Robert Hill testified in Parliament that "Australia did not interrogate prisoners".

(more)

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/132367/1/.html

[velvet]

1. More here ... a Must Read

This interview was screened last night on "Four Corners", and Rod Barton blew the whistle loud and clear, not only on the prisoner abuse noted above but on the ways the Iraq Survey group's WMD report was censored.

Program notes here ... http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2005/s1300705.htm

and the full transcript of the interview here ... http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2005/s1302767.htm

[Barrett808]

2. Wow, great stuff

Why is it that the Australian media seem to be doing so much better at covering Bush mob crimes?

I know, I know, rhetorical question.

[velvet]

3. LOL

Happy to report the Rod Barton interview is now causing major kerfuffle in Parliament.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1303612.htm?fp_news_stor

[Barrett808]

5. Let's hope this story has legs... n/t

[Synnical]

4. I agree, a must read

:kick: