Monday, May 10, 2004

 

Maybe This Is The "Democracy" Bush Envisions For Us All?

From the Financial Times:

Coalition military intelligence officers believed 70-90 per cent of Iraqi detainees were "arrested by mistake", according to a leaked Red Cross report on prisoner abuse, further details of which were disclosed on Monday.

The confidential report, given to the US and British governments in February but covering events in March to November last year, describes a pattern of indiscriminate arrests involving destruction of property and brutal behaviour towards suspects and their families.

* * * * *

The report, published in full on Monday by the Wall Street Journal, said arrests tended to follow a pattern. "Arresting authorities entered houses usually after dark, breaking down doors, waking up residents roughly, yelling orders, forcing family members into one room under military guard while searching the rest of the house and further breaking doors, cabinets and other property.

"Sometimes they arrested all adult males present in a house, including elderly, handicapped or sick people. Treatment often included pushing people around, insulting, taking aim with rifles, punching and kicking and striking with rifles."

Not to mention that most if not all of this shouted, chaotic questioning takes place in a foreign tongue. On the basis of which, they throw you in prison indefinitely and torture you.

If this is what Bush means by "democracy," I'm signing up with the "terrorists" . . .

posted by Michael 3:36 PM