Military Releases Nearly 1,000 Detainees From Abu Ghraib Prison

[steve2470]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB6QFOIVCE.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The U.S. military announced Saturday that it has released nearly 1,000 prisoners from Abu Ghraib prison in response to a request by Iraqi authorities.

The move, the largest prisoner release to date, followed appeals by Sunni representatives to start releasing thousands of prisoners who have been languishing in the jail for months without being charged.

After a meeting with President Jalal Talabani Thursday, Sunni negotiator Saleh al-Mutlaq said the president agreed to release many detainees before the Oct. 15, referendum on the constitution. Al-Mutlaq said hundreds of detainees, most of them Sunni Arabs, were to be set free.

"This major release ... marks a significant event in Iraq's progress toward democratic governance and the rule of law," the U.S. statement said.

<snip>

[Maple]

1. More like....

"This major release ... marks a significant event in American progress toward democratic governance and the rule of law," the statement said.

[wli]

2. in the meantime the US holds 1 million "drug war" prisoners n/t

[lala_rawraw]

3. Ah, so now we have the army to fight us, good hate training?

God, what the hell are we doing to these people?

[me b zola]

4. If these people are innocent enough to release...

Can you imagine the wrath that will be unleashed?

Good God, what are we doing there??

[ngGale]

5. There are no words to describe ...

this.

<"Those chosen for release are not guilty of serious, violent crimes - such as bombing, torture, kidnapping, or murder - and all have admitted their crimes, renounced violence, and pledged to be good citizens of a democratic Iraq.">

[leftchick]

6. 1000 new rebels to fight the occupiers

good going rummy. If they were not fighters before they went in you can bet they have a good reason to be now.