Military Alters Afghan Prison Procedures (secret prisons)

[UpInArms]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4204176,00.html

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - The U.S. military promised Monday to improve its prison regime in Afghanistan after a top general inspected the network of 20 secretive jails, where allegations of abuse include the deaths of at least three detainees.

The military refused to say how procedures will be changed at the jails - amid accounts from former prisoners of hoodings, beatings and sexual abuse. But a spokesman promised ``comprehensive'' information on the general's findings would be made public within weeks.

Nader Nadery, a spokesman for the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, urged commanders to release the findings to convince Afghans - shocked by graphic pictures from Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq - that abuse in Afghanistan was not widespread.

``We're not satisfied, but hope all the results of the review will be made public, or at least shared with the Afghan government and the human rights commission,'' he said.

Lt. Gen. David Barno, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, ordered the prison review last month. He pledged rapid action if faults were found, but said details of techniques used on suspects will remain classified.

...more...

[plcdude]

1. you know I long for

the days when all we had to worry about was a sperm stained dress. We were safe, prosperous, and employed. O how things have changed for the worse.

[mongo]

2. It's funny how fast things change

when the evil empire gets in power. How did Clinton manage to keep the "shadow government" under control?

The whole thing with sexual abuse being an interagation tactic, first Iraq now Afganistan? This was conceived and approved at the highest level. We need to see Rumsfeld/Bush/Ascroft tried in the Haige.

[Disturbed]

3. Secret Prisons and secret torture methods.

Yes, this all fine with us Americans because the Military is keeping us safe.

The Constitution of The USA? We don't need that qaint Document anymmore.

[UpInArms]

4. Welcome to DU mongo!

glad to have you here :hi:

[Snazzy]

5. No pictures from Afghanistan

But same shit, no doubt. I think I read somewhere the same MPs (England and co.) were there first.

More form article:

It is also probing allegations of mistreatment brought by two former detainees last month. One, an Afghan police colonel, told The Associated Press he was beaten, stripped naked and sexually abused while in U.S. custody for nearly 40 days last year in Gardez, Kandahar and Bagram.

The allegations are similar to those against several U.S. soldiers in Iraq, and were submitted in a complaint to the Afghan rights commission in August 2003, well before the Iraqi cases became public.

The military says some 2,000 prisoners have been held at the jails since U.S. troops entered Afghanistan in late 2001 to topple the Taliban regime for granting sanctuary to Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida network.

Those suspected of fighting for the Taliban or al-Qaida are deemed "illegal combatants" rather than prisoners of war, and denied the full protection of the Geneva Conventions. Many have been sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for further questioning.

Got that here actually (same story):
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040614/D836ULQO0.html


So they thought the were acting under even loser rules in Afghanistan.