Iraqi Security Tactics Evoke the Hussein Era -LAT

[Rose Siding]

BAGHDAD — The public war on the Iraqi insurgency has led to an atmosphere of hidden brutalities, including abuse and torture, carried out against detainees by the nation's special security forces, according to defense lawyers, international organizations and Iraq's Ministry of Human Rights.

Up to 60% of the estimated 12,000 detainees in the country's prisons and military compounds face intimidation, beatings or torture that leads to broken bones and sometimes death, said Saad Sultan, head of a board overseeing the treatment of prisoners at the Human Rights Ministry. He added that police and security forces attached to the Interior Ministry are responsible for most abuses.

The units have used tactics reminiscent of Saddam Hussein's secret intelligence squads, according to the ministry and independent human rights groups and lawyers, who have cataloged abuses.

"We've documented a lot of torture cases," said Sultan, whose committee is pushing for wider access to Iraqi-run prisons across the nation. "There are beatings, punching, electric shocks to the body, including sensitive areas, hanging prisoners upside down and beating them and dragging them on the ground…. Many police officers come from a culture of torture from their experiences over the last 35 years. Most of them worked during Saddam's regime."

.....MORE....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-fg-detainees19jun19,0,5477828.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Rape Rooms:

"Under New Management"

:grr:

[cornermouse]

2. Shame on us.

[magellan]

3. Oh yes, and we're perfectly willing to admit these reports "concern" us

...because it's the (American trained) Iraqi forces who are doing it, not Americans.

[neohippie]

4. They hate us for our freedom

This is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you, I have to punish you because you are an "evil doer" or you know an evil doer or have seen evil, or you have thought about evil ah whatever, anybody got a camera get in there and give me a thumbs up pose.

[atreides1]

5. True

But if your dog bites the mailman, it's your fault not the dogs.

[geek tragedy]

6. Why do these critics hate Iraq? eom

[daleo]

7. What was the invasion for, again?

Something about Saddam violating human rights, wasn't it? Well, that was one of the many post-invasion justifications given, anyway.

And these guys will try him?

[GetTheRightVote]

8. They hate our freedoms, but we are not free when lies support it all

This nation is in a serious time of crisis, I hope it survives.

:kick:

[Chauga]

9. Well hell, we trained 'em how to do it at places like Abu Ghraib.

Why is anyone surprised?

[Igel]

12. Sultan said

"Many police officers come from a culture of torture from their experiences over the last 35 years. Most of them worked during Saddam's regime."

But I'm sure you're right. He must have misspoken and meant 35 months.

[Chauga]

10. Well hell, we trained 'em how to do it at places like Abu Ghraib.

Why is anyone surprised?

[LynnTheDem]

11. Except WORSE than Hussein; less potable drinking water, less electricity,

less security, less employment, more malnutrition, more deaths...

Iraq is worse off under bush than it was under Hussein. Way to go, bush.

[baldguy]

13. That's right - blame the torture on Saddam.

Those damn heathen Iraqis treat each other like animals anyway.

:sarcasm:

[struggle4progress]

14. Torture of insurgent detainees reported: Iraqi police forces accused ..

.. of abuse

By JEFFREY FLEISHMANand ASMAA WAGUIH
Los Angeles Times
June 20. 2005 8:00AM


BAGHDAD, Iraq - <snip>

Up to 60 percent of the estimated 12,000 detainees in the country's prisons and military compounds face intimidation, light beatings or more intense torture that leads to scars, broken bones and sometimes death, said Saad Sultan, head of a board overseeing the treatment of prisoners at the Human Rights Ministry. He added that police and security forces attached to the Iraqi Interior Ministry are responsible for most violations.

"We've documented a lot of torture cases," said Sultan, whose committee is pushing for wider access to Iraq-run prisons across the nation. "There are beatings, punching, electric shocks to the body including sensitive areas, hanging prisoners upside down and beating them and dragging them on the ground. . . . Many police officers come from a culture of torture from their experiences over the last 35 years. Most of them worked during Saddam's regime."

The ordeal described by Hussam Guheithi is similar to many cases. When Iraqi National Guardsmen raided his home last month, the 35-year-old Sunni Muslim imam said they lashed him with cables, broke his nose and promised to soak their uniforms with his blood.

He was blindfolded and driven to a military base where he was interrogated and beaten until the soldiers were satisfied that he wasn't an extremist. <snip>

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050620/REPOSITORY/506200336/1013/NEWS03

Death Squad Johnny's their mentor ...

[Julius Civitatus]

15. The downward spiral

out of control.

Is it Vietnam already?

:shrug:

[Omonko]

16. sounds like a solution

Now we know where to send the prisoners at GITMO.

[mbperrin]

17. LIGHT beatings?

Why don't they just use clubs?


I'm sure beating the man has kept him from becoming an extremist!


Didja ever get the feeling somedays that everybody else is on oxy?

[Igel]

18. Same old-same old. n/t

[Porcupine]

19. America! We're the torture people.

just ask our clients in El Salvador and Guatamala.