Death in Detention Marine Reservists Face Charges in Iraqi Prisoner Death

ABCNews ^ | 05/07/2004 | Brian Ross

[pitinkie]

May 7, 2004 — As Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld faces questioning on Capitol Hill over the abuse and humiliation of prisoners at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, ABCNEWS has obtained new photographs in a case in which an Iraqi prisoner died at a makeshift prison camp run by U.S. Marines in southern Iraq.

The photographs show a 52-year-old former Baath Party official, Nadem Sadoon Hatab, who died at the detention center last June after a three-day period in which he was allegedly subjected to beatings and karate kicks to the chest and left to die naked in his own feces.

Abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Camp White Horse was allegedly carried out by U.S. Marine reservists. The accused reservists have told their lawyers they were given orders to "soften up" the men in their custody for interrogation by what were known as human exploitation teams from military intelligence.

After the prisoners were allegedly softened up, "the interrogations were conducted by these human exploitation teams that as far as we can tell didn't report to anybody in the normal chain of command," according to Don Rehkopf, an attorney for one of the accused reservists.

[Mr. K]

Does any one else suspect the media has known about this for a little while and was holding off until it would have maximum effect in the elections?

[pitinkie]

Veeeerrrry Inteeerresting...

[darkwing104]

Looks like a game of oneupmanship between the lib media outlets on who can do the most damage to the military.

[thoughtomator]

A Ba'ath party official dies naked and bleeding in a pile of his own feces? Sounds like justice to me. What exactly is the problem here? No pig guts mixed in?

[anniegetyourgun]

I think it wasn't really an issue until the libs in the media and the pols on the left got together to whip things into a frenzy. They've been trying to find something...anything...that will generate overreaction among the citizenry. They were hoping it would be a matter of convincing the Amerian public that it is the president who needs to be blamed for 9/11. That didn't work, because Americans aren't that stupid. Now they are working on these photos, but the problem is that they can't tie them directly to W. Next best thing is to pick off their favorite folks to hate within the administration: Ashcroft, Rice, Rummy, Wolfowitz, Rove, etc.

I do worry that the apparent attempts to gin up national hysteria might stick. We'd better just keep hoping that the lib/dems continue to overplay their hands. If Kennedy, Hillary, Kerry, et al keep acting the drama queens, people will remain suspicious of their blatantly political motivations. Keep praying that the libs continue their outlandish lunatic ravings. I am left to trusting that Americans will recognize this nonsensical arm-waving for what it is.

[Wiggins]

I'm not so quick to believe this story as it is written. Especially from ABC News.

[TheDon]

If so, they pulled the trigger much too soon.

[TheDon]

They should be cut some slack, they didn't humiliate him before he died did they?

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

One dead terrorist? That's a nice start.

[Maria S]

Sorry, Mr./Mrs. 5-7-04; I don't believe what you're trying to pass off as facts. A small portion MAY have credibility...the rest is pure socialist agenda.

[mfulstone]

Does any one else suspect the media has known about this for a little while and was holding off until it would have maximum effect in the elections?

Yes, but how did the media get the photos? It appears that someone on our side is not exactly on our side! Probably some Bush-hater in the military.

Additionally, that kind of evidence should NEVER be made public until it can no longer taint the jury pool or the until defense has a chance to challenge its admissibility. As I said on a thread about the Abu Ghraib pics; the pre-trial, world-wide distribution of those pictures is a defense attorney's wet dream.

[SwatTeam]

Yes, but how did the media get the photos? It appears that someone on our side is not exactly on our side! Probably some Bush-hater in the military.

This is what I am wondering. Today Rummy said those pictures made it into the media's hands before they ever got to the pentagon. CBS has had those pictures for at least 3 weeks, they had them 2 weeks prior to the broadcast. These pictures were classified secret material along with the other investigation materials. It is illegal to release classified material. I called my senator and wrote him today asking him to start an investigation into the leaking of these pictures and all the rest of the leaking of classified material that has been coming out of the Pentagon and the State Department. I believe we have a 5th column at work here in this country. Tomorrow I am going to call and write to every other senator I can and also to Dennis Hastert and as many other sources as I can. If enough stink is raised maybe someone will do something.

[Becki]

I called my senator and wrote him today asking him to start an investigation into the leaking of these pictures and all the rest of the leaking of classified material that has been coming out of the Pentagon and the State Department.

This morning, one of the generals, I cannot remember his name right now, (Not Hunt) was on F&F. He was trying to make the point that whoever leaked these was trying to make sure that the abusers would not get a fair trial in the military.

But E.D. was so intent on asking him why Rummy hadn't told W, that she kept interupting him and he did not get to finish the point.

Becki

[monkeywrench]

"...soften up" the men in their custody for interrogation by what were known as human exploitation teams from military intelligence."

Who are these guys? DNC plants?

[livius]

Interesting point. However, I don't think military justice takes that (prejudice against defendant) into consideration.

[Khurkris]

"...said Jane Siegel, attorney for the former officer in charge at Camp White Horse, against whom charges have been dismissed."

WTF...?

[pitinkie]

Sounds fishy.

[joesnuffy]

"Baath party member"?...oh you mean nerve gasser of Kurdish children...pedophile rapist murdering thief terrorist....exporter friend and ally of those who killed Americans during 09-11

That Baath Party?

If only one died....the Marines are slacking off on the job

imo