U.S. more open on detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan: ICRC

[ProSense]

U.S. more open on detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan: ICRC

By Stephanie Nebehay

(Reuters) - The United States has become far more transparent about the prisoners it is holding in Iraq and Afghanistan, a marked improvement since the dark days of Abu Ghraib, a top Red Cross official said on Friday.

Pierre Kraehenbuehl, director of operations at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said the agency was satisfied with its confidential talks with U.S. officials related to the sensitive issues of detention and accountability.

The ICRC is the only outside group with regular access to security detainees in U.S. custody in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. It conducts private interviews and monitors conditions in internment, screening and transit facilities.

"Since the summer of 2009 we are notified of any person held by the U.S., by the Department of Defense, wherever it is in Afghanistan or Iraq within a maximum of 14 days," Kraehenbuehl told Reuters in an hour-long interview in his office.

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[Robb]

1. Frankly, I'm surprised. Pleased, but surprised.

Kraehenbuehl took the lead on Abu Ghraib. Hell, if he's satisfied, anyone would be.

[ProSense]

2. It would be great if

this piece attracted as much attention as the negative portrayals of the administration. It's a report from early this morning.

[Pirate Smile]

3. Kick and Rec - but still below zero. Anti-Obama stories sell much better.

I'm not surprised by this article.

[annabanana]

4. kicked and rec'd. . Kraehenbuehl can be a good touchstone.

I'm very sorry to see that my rec didn't help

[great white snark]

5. K&R. Hopefully the Iraqi government will follow suit.

Thank you ProSense.

[impik]

6. Wow, zero recs! Why am i even surprised? Instead of this

being a front page item, it's being unrec and sink to page 2. And i suppose to believe that this is a "Democratic" site?? Yea, sure.