Rolling Stone obtains copies of report on abuses..

[jesse_ewiak 0]

Rolling Stone has obtained copies of the still-secret annexes to General Taquba's report on the abuses at Abu Ghraib:

 

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story...sion=6.0.11.780

 

Highlights...

"The new classified military documents offer a chilling picture of what happened at Abu Ghraib -- including detailed reports that U.S. troops and translators sodomized and raped Iraqi prisoners. The secret files -- 106 "annexes" that the Defense Department withheld from the Taguba report last spring -- include nearly 6,000 pages of internal Army memos and e-mails, reports on prison riots and escapes, and sworn statements by soldiers, officers, private contractors and detainees. The files depict a prison in complete chaos. Prisoners were fed bug-infested food and forced to live in squalid conditions; detainees and U.S. soldiers alike were killed and wounded in nightly mortar attacks; and loyalists of Saddam Hussein served as guards in the facility, apparently smuggling weapons to prisoners inside.

 

The files make clear that responsibility for what Taguba called "sadistic, blatant and wanton" abuses extends to several high-ranking officers still serving in command positions. Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, who is now in charge of all military prisons in Iraq, was dispatched to Abu Ghraib by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld last August. In a report marked secret, Miller recommended that military police at the prison be "actively engaged in setting the conditions for successful exploitation of the internees." After his plan was adopted, guards began depriving prisoners of sleep and food, subjecting them to painful "stress positions" and terrorizing them with dogs. A former Army intelligence officer tells Rolling Stone that the intent of Miller's report was clear to everyone involved: "It means treat the detainees like shit until they will sell their mother for a blanket, some food without bugs in it and some sleep."In the files, prisoner after prisoner at Abu Ghraib describes acts of torture that Taguba found "credible based on the clarity of their statements and supporting evidence provided by other witnesses." The abuses took place at the Hard Site, a two-story cinder-block unit at the sprawling prison that housed Iraqi criminals and insurgents, not members of Al Qaeda or other terrorist organizations. In one sworn statement, Kasim Mehaddi Hilas, detainee number 151108, said he witnessed a translator referred to only as Abu Hamid raping a teenage boy. "I saw Abu Hamid, who was wearing the military uniform, putting his dick in the little kid's ass," Hilas testified. "The kid was hurting very bad." A female soldier took pictures of the rape, Hilas said."

 

"According to England, Staff Sgt. Ivan Frederick made an X on another prisoner's chest with his finger and said, "Watch this." Then the six-foot-tall Fredericks punched the man in the chest. The hooded prisoner lurched backward and fell to his knees. He gasped for air. "Frederick said he thought he put the detainee in cardiac arrest," Sivits later told investigators. England was asked why she thought Frederick assaulted the man. "I guess just because he wanted to hit him," she said."

 

"The prison was filled far beyond capacity. Some 7,000 prisoners were jammed into Abu Ghraib, a complex erected to hold no more than 4,000 detainees. Prisoners were held in canvas tents that became ovens in the summer heat and filled with rain in the cold winter. One report found that the compound "is covered with mud and many prisoner tents are close to being under water." Another report described the conditions in one compound: "The area is littered with trash, has pools of water standing around latrines, and the bottles of water carried by detainees for water consumption are filthy. The tents lack floors and are inadequate to provide protection from the elements." Detainees wore soiled clothes because laundry facilities were inadequate; mentally ill detainees were "receiving no treatment."

 

In a series of increasingly desperate e-mails sent to his higher-ups, Maj. David DiNenna of the 320th MP Battalion reported that food delivered by private contractors was often inedible. "At least three to four times a week, the food cannot be served because it has bugs," DiNenna reported. "Today an entire compound of 500 prisoners could not be fed due to bugs and dirt in the food." Four days later, DiNenna sent another e-mail marked "URGENT URGENT URGENT!!!!!!!!" He reported that "for the past two days prisoners have been vomiting after they eat." "

 

"According to an internal Army investigation contained in the secret files, the civilian-run Coalition Provisional Authority had hired at least five members of Fedayeen Saddam -- a paramilitary organization of fanatical Saddam loyalists -- to work as guards at the prison. An Iraqi guard, probably one of "Saddam's martyrs," had smuggled the gun and two knives into the prison in an inner tube, placed them in a sheet and tossed them up to the second-story window of Cell 35. In May, when Taguba testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen.Wayne Allard asked him a direct question: "Did we have terrorists in the population at this prison?" Taguba answered, "Sir, none that we were made aware of." His own files make clear, however, that a more accurate response would have been: "Yes, sir -- but only among the guards." "

[Guest MikeSC]

*yawn*

-=Mike

...Too busy not caring to start caring now...

[EricMM 0]

Mike in this instance it would probably be better to say nothing than to say "I don't care."

 

I would guess that everyone agrees that what happened at Abu Graib wasn't right.

[Guest Wildbomb 4:20]

Ding, ding, ding, I think we have a winner.

 

--Ryan

...you know, I'm surprised this isn't a bigger election issue (Bush Failure #49012318913 according to the Dems) than it is, but hey, I don't run the campaigns...

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

If Kerry makes it an issue then Bush will turn around and say "Kerry doesn't support our troops. I, unlike that turncoat, am proud of our military - they're protecting us from freedom*"

 

(*assuming Bush would mess it up)

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Just because it's an issue that appears in an election year doesn't mean it becomes an election issue. I doubt Kerry will say anything at all.

 

In one sworn statement, Kasim Mehaddi Hilas, detainee number 151108, said he witnessed a translator referred to only as Abu Hamid raping a teenage boy. "I saw Abu Hamid, who was wearing the military uniform, putting his dick in the little kid's ass," Hilas testified. "The kid was hurting very bad." A female soldier took pictures of the rape, Hilas said."

 

 

<Mike>Mere humiliation. Ho-hum</Mike>

[Justice 0]

Just because it's an issue that appears in an election year doesn't mean it becomes an election issue. I doubt Kerry will say anything at all.

 

In one sworn statement, Kasim Mehaddi Hilas, detainee number 151108, said he witnessed a translator referred to only as Abu Hamid raping a teenage boy. "I saw Abu Hamid, who was wearing the military uniform, putting his dick in the little kid's ass," Hilas testified. "The kid was hurting very bad." A female soldier took pictures of the rape, Hilas said."

 

 

<Mike>Mere humiliation. Ho-hum</Mike>

Well, considering we have H.S. football players doing things like shoving pinecones up freshmen's ass, there could certainly be worse things...

 

At any rate, this is old news. We knew these things happened months ago (Rumsfeld said there was worse shit and I'd believe him), and they are already in the process of taking care of it. If there were, well, recent developments or recent abuses, then this would be news. But just as well, it's all old.

 

Plus, would you really consider Rolling Stone an unbiased source?

[EricMM 0]

I care more about Mikes response than any news in the article (or in this case, olds)

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

You know, I was going to correct JOTW in his Mike impersonation, but Powerplay hit all the marks I was going to shoot for... bastard.

 

I think the "news story" here is more of ...

 

The files make clear that responsibility for what Taguba called "sadistic, blatant and wanton" abuses extends to several high-ranking officers still serving in command positions. Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, who is now in charge of all military prisons in Iraq, was dispatched to Abu Ghraib by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld last August. In a report marked secret, Miller recommended that military police at the prison be "actively engaged in setting the conditions for successful exploitation of the internees." After his plan was adopted, guards began depriving prisoners of sleep and food, subjecting them to painful "stress positions" and terrorizing them with dogs.

 

and

 

In a series of increasingly desperate e-mails sent to his higher-ups, Maj. David DiNenna of the 320th MP Battalion reported that food delivered by private contractors was often inedible. "At least three to four times a week, the food cannot be served because it has bugs," DiNenna reported. "Today an entire compound of 500 prisoners could not be fed due to bugs and dirt in the food." Four days later, DiNenna sent another e-mail marked "URGENT URGENT URGENT!!!!!!!!" He reported that "for the past two days prisoners have been vomiting after they eat."

 

 

Where it's not _just_ an issue confined to one prison, or "a bunch of frustrated soldiers ", it's a systematic problem as well.

[Justice 0]

I care more about Mikes response than any news in the article (or in this case, olds)

I don't think you can deny that there is something wrong about it, or write it off as 'humiliation'. But to whine about it months afterwards when it's A) No longer happening and B) Those involved are currently going through the trial process, I don't see how this is really an issue anymore. What MORE can we do? Hell, Abu Ghraib is being demolished soon enough, so you won't even have to bitch about that thing existing anymore. Just please explain to me how this has any more relevance at all, and I'll change my mind. But if it's already being dealt with, and none of the candidates can truly do anything to effect such things than is already being done by the military itself, why should I really give a damn?

[Justice 0]

You know, I was going to correct JOTW in his Mike impersonation, but Powerplay hit all the marks I was going to shoot for... bastard.

Ah, thank you. Logical minds think alike, I guess.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

But to whine about it months afterwards when it's A) No longer happening and B) Those involved are currently going through the trial process, I don't see how this is really an issue anymore

 

The files make clear that responsibility for what Taguba called "sadistic, blatant and wanton" abuses extends to several high-ranking officers still serving in command positions. Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, who is now in charge of all military prisons in Iraq, was dispatched to Abu Ghraib by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld last August. In a report marked secret, Miller recommended that military police at the prison be "actively engaged in setting the conditions for successful exploitation of the internees." After his plan was adopted, guards began depriving prisoners of sleep and food, subjecting them to painful "stress positions" and terrorizing them with dogs.

 

Ah, thank you. Logical minds think alike, I guess.

 

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Prisoners were fed bug-infested food and forced to live in squalid conditions

 

So how is this any different than how they were living before?...

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

It was a terrible thing but I do have problems caring right now. I've had the same facts beaten into me so many times that I just don't care unless they provide something new. You can only dress up the same fact so many times before people stop reacting. The people are being punished and the Army will take care of everything because it always does.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Just because it's an issue that appears in an election year doesn't mean it becomes an election issue. I doubt Kerry will say anything at all.

 

In one sworn statement, Kasim Mehaddi Hilas, detainee number 151108, said he witnessed a translator referred to only as Abu Hamid raping a teenage boy. "I saw Abu Hamid, who was wearing the military uniform, putting his dick in the little kid's ass," Hilas testified. "The kid was hurting very bad." A female soldier took pictures of the rape, Hilas said."

 

 

<Mike>Mere humiliation. Ho-hum</Mike>

Well, considering we have H.S. football players doing things like shoving pinecones up freshmen's ass, there could certainly be worse things...

 

At any rate, this is old news. We knew these things happened months ago (Rumsfeld said there was worse shit and I'd believe him), and they are already in the process of taking care of it. If there were, well, recent developments or recent abuses, then this would be news. But just as well, it's all old.

 

Plus, would you really consider Rolling Stone an unbiased source?

So because it happened before... that makes it all right?

 

I love it when the Right Wing circlejerk can't admit it was wrong.

 

 

LOVE IT

[Guest MikeSC]

I care more about Mikes response than any news in the article (or in this case, olds)

Good. I provided some actual substance to this pointless, old, rehashed story.

 

I'll give you a news flash: I could not care less about what happened in Abu Gharib. People are being punished, the story is very much over.

 

Hey, did you know Kerry served in Vietnam?

-=Mike

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Amazing that Mike "they were all Al-Qaeda who were being merely humilaited" SC posted what he did right after Zsasz posted what he did.

[Justice 0]

But to whine about it months afterwards when it's A) No longer happening and B) Those involved are currently going through the trial process, I don't see how this is really an issue anymore

 

The files make clear that responsibility for what Taguba called "sadistic, blatant and wanton" abuses extends to several high-ranking officers still serving in command positions. Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, who is now in charge of all military prisons in Iraq, was dispatched to Abu Ghraib by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld last August. In a report marked secret, Miller recommended that military police at the prison be "actively engaged in setting the conditions for successful exploitation of the internees." After his plan was adopted, guards began depriving prisoners of sleep and food, subjecting them to painful "stress positions" and terrorizing them with dogs.

 

Ah, thank you. Logical minds think alike, I guess.

 

I was responding to the first part. On the second part, I don't see any other reporting on this. Not even a "Rolling Stone reports" notice on CNN. I'm guessing that this report is just greatly exaggerated (As one would think Rolling Stone would be apted to do).

 

Just as well, the press and the military are watching the place like a hawk. Do you really think any other abuses would go on without the press jumping on it instantly?

 

So because it happened before... that makes it all right?

 

I love it when the Right Wing circlejerk can't admit it was wrong.

 

 

LOVE IT

 

...

 

First off, where did I condone it? I made that example to show that hey, worse things can happen to you. And secondly, I never condoned it. I admitted how horrible it was, but this is OLD NEWS. STUFF WE ALREADY KNEW. WE KNEW WORSE SHIT HAPPENED. What more do you want? I'll bet this is breaking news to you, too: Two planes crashed into the Two Towers, causing both to collapse and take 3,000 lives.

 

Wow, that's horrible... and three years old. Excuse me, but does that really constitute news anymore? No, not really.

[EricMM 0]

And that is WHY the Abu Greib story isn't news, but the current attitude of people like Mike IS persistant news.

 

Mmmm apathy towards people. Always a classic.

[Guest MikeSC]

And that is WHY the Abu Greib story isn't news, but the current attitude of people like Mike IS persistant news.

 

Mmmm apathy towards people. Always a classic.

Guess what, we all have it. I wouldn't care more if they shoved dynamite up their asses and had them blow up.

 

They're being punished --- but in a REAL shocker, the left thinks it's STILL news.

-=Mike

...Hey, how about Kerry changing his story about Cambodia --- the event "seared" --- SEARED --- into his memory?

[Slayer 0]

Plus, would you really consider Rolling Stone an unbiased source?

That anyone would consider RS as a news source in the first place is beyond laughable

[EricMM 0]

How about being punished in an illegal fashion?

 

How about you NOT change the subject?

 

How about Kerry's actions have NOTHING to do with this Rolling Stone article?

[Guest MikeSC]

How about being punished in an illegal fashion?

Guards are being punished. Pick up a paper and read once in a while, rather than reading the drivel of Rolling Stone for a change.

How about you NOT change the subject?

 

How about Kerry's actions have NOTHING to do with this Rolling Stone article?

I actually mentioned something new. You're simply re-hashing the same pointless story that nobody gives two shits about.

-=Mike

...Hey, why not do an expose on the genocide in Sudan and how the UN --- who we SHOULD be listening to, mind you --- refuses to even sanction the gov't to stop it...

[EricMM 0]

I understand that the guards getting punished is established and right and ok.

 

I don't like, and want to finish discussing, how people like you can be like, "I don't care that these atrocities happened. It wasn't wrong."

[Guest MikeSC]

I understand that the guards getting punished is established and right and ok.

 

I don't like, and want to finish discussing, how people like you can be like, "I don't care that these atrocities happened. It wasn't wrong."

Not atrocities.

 

And you can be upset that I don't give a shit about it until the cows come home. It won't make me suddenly begin to give a shit. The more you discuss, the LESS of a shit I'll give. Much more discussion and I'll begin to offer suggestions for what they should do next time (like put pillows over their head, so that when they nail them with bats, they won't bruise as badly).

 

When you realize what percentage of these claims are total BS, you'll stop giving as shit, too.

-=Mike

[EricMM 0]

Cool beans Mike.

 

Go from apathy to stupidity, apathy to ignorance.

[Guest MikeSC]

Cool beans Mike.

 

Go from apathy to stupidity, apathy to ignorance.

How do you manage to live a full life -- what with all of your crying, bitching, and moaning about all of the injustices in the world? *sniff* they were forced to wear women's underwear over their head. LIVE IS NOT WORTH LIVING!!!

 

Gee, Bush is only trying to get the world to act to save the Sudan. He is one inhumane bastard.

-=Mike

[BX 0]

Cool beans Mike.

 

Go from apathy to stupidity, apathy to ignorance.

How do you manage to live a full life -- what with all of your crying, bitching, and moaning about all of the injustices in the world? *sniff* they were forced to wear women's underwear over their head. LIVE IS NOT WORTH LIVING!!!

 

Gee, Bush is only trying to get the world to act to save the Sudan. He is one inhumane bastard.

-=Mike

Wha? How do you, of all people, get through life without dodg... ah shit..

 

I'll just say, "watch your head", and be done with it.

[NoCalMike 0]

Thr reason this is still relevent news, is because ever since the abuses have been discussed many of the talking heads on the right have reduced it to "college fraternity pranks" or "fooling around" and then you have Savage saying ludicrous statements like, "who cares if they had panties on their head, stupid liberals aghhhhh" like the "panties on the head" was even close to the BAD STUFF that was taking place. It just happens that is what the media chooses to show a picture of over and over again, so it is engrained into people's head that panties on the head/face WAS THE STORY, when it was really only the tip of the iceburg and the story was broke before it really had been fully investigated.

[geniusMoment 0]

I would imagine that this stuff has occured in every war since the begining of time, which does not make it right, but also tells one that it is virtually impossible to stop all together.

The military can try their best, but when you put thousands of young men in a life and death situation shit like this is going to happen, that is just life.

Until I find out that Bush knew what was occuring and did nothing about it, it does not change my opinion on anything, as it is part of war, unfortunatly it is something I feel no one can stop all together.

Now, if you want to argue this should not have happened because we should not have went to war that is a different matter.

I do not blindly think Bush is always correct, but I cannot blame him for this.