Bungled release of prisoners increases local resentment

[Barrett808]

Bungled release of prisoners increases local resentment
Released men driven past relatives and the press
Luke Harding in Baghdad
Friday January 9, 2004
The Guardian

The problem was that nobody knew who was getting out. Eight hours after relatives arrived outside Abu Ghraib prison soon after dawn yesterday, the doors swung open.

The US's top official in Iraq, Paul Bremer, had promised that 100 of the 9,000 Iraqi prisoners currently in US custody would be let out. In the end, only about 60 detainees emerged from what the Americans now call Baghdad central penitentiary.

The prisoners were driven out in two open trucks. They waved and smiled. To the horror of the waiting families the trucks kept going - a deliberate strategy to whisk the detainees away from the press.

Since invading Iraq the US military has taken thousands of Iraqis prisoner. Many of those released have complained that soldiers tortured and abused them. Yesterday the American authorities appeared to be doing their utmost to avoid embarrassing publicity - dumping the prisoners a mile away under a bridge.

...

The release of innocent detainees has been the top demand of Iraq's tribal leaders and of the US-picked Iraqi governing council. So far, though, the overwhelming majority of prisoners remain behind bars.

Karim Mohammed, who was arrested with his brother but released 10 days ago, said many Iraqis were now using the Americans to settle scores. "Anyone who wants to get his own back just goes to the Americans and reports that person as a resistance fighter."

(more)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1119075,00.html

[truthisfreedom]

1. fabulous. winning them over, one victim at a time.

this is a disaster of horrendous proportions.