Abuse at the Hands of the Protector

For years America was viewed internationally as a beacon of hope, where those who were looking for a better life would be welcome and be afforded an opportunity to make a better life. America was the protector of the weak, the beaten, the abused. Now, once again, there is more evidence of America being the abuser.

First, it was the photos of the abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Proof of the maltreatment, the humiliation and disrespect for human dignity as experienced by Iraqi prisoners (many being held without being charged of any wrongdoing).

Then, first-hand accounts of civilian abuses at Fallujah, the killing of innocent civilians at a wedding party, the cold-blooded shooting of a wounded Iraqi hidden in a mosque and captured on film for the world to see.

Now, more evidence is released to further prove the degree to which American forces have used excessive force during detentions. What is becoming evident is the extent to which the Geneva Convention has been repeatedly violated.

In the UK Independent Online daily, the article "Fresh details emerge of Iraqis' abuse by American soldiers", evidence for the case against violations of human rights by American forces continues to build:

Damning evidence of American soldiers abusing detainees at another prison in Iraq was made public yesterday. It details how prisoners were "systematically and intentionally mistreated" at a military base in Mosul, culminating in the death of one. Nobody was court-martialled over the abuse.

An investigation by a US officer after a prisoner's jaw was broken found that inmates were hit with water bottles, made to do exhausting physical exercises until they collapsed, deprived of sleep, subjected to deafening heavy metal music and had cigarette smoke blown into sandbags they were forced to wear as hoods. One soldier said troops "always harassed the hell out of detainees"; another said that at times "the detainees would get so scared they would piss themselves".

The investigation was triggered by the case of Salah Salih Jassim, 20, who had his jaw broken in detention. He was not a suspect but had been arrested along with his father, an officer in Saddam Hussein's Fedayeen militia. Mr Jassim was held in a room with 70 other prisoners.

Unfortunately, it is very unlikely anyone at the top will be held accountable for any of these actions. It will be the bidders for those truly responsible which may pay some price.

Technorati Categories: Human Rights, Prisoner Abuse, War