Hamill: Abuse affected treatment

CNN ^ | may 8, 2004 | CNN

[FairOpinion]

MACON, Mississippi (CNN) -- Former hostage Thomas Hamill says photos of U.S. soldiers abusing Iraqis held in a Baghdad prison affected the way he was treated in the last days before he escaped.

Hamill, 44, was driving a truck for Halliburton Corp. subsidiary KBR when his convoy was ambushed on April 9.

Four other American contractors were found dead and two are still missing from the convoy. One U.S. soldier was later found dead and one soldier is still missing.

Hamill said he chose a low-key reception Saturday to prevent angering those who still hold his co-workers hostage.

The prisoner abuse scandal -- with photos of U.S. soldiers abusing Iraqis held in the Abu Ghraib prison -- emerged in his last week of captivity and it caused his conditions to worsen, he said.

"That had an affect on me, captive the last few days," Hamill said. "I hate that happened. They asked me about it."

"My treatment had changed and I was afraid it was going to get a lot worse," he said. "They moved me numerous times during the ordeal."

Despite his experience, Hamill said he thinks the U.S. should complete its mission in Iraq.

"We need to form a democratic government over there," he said. "We need to get that country on its feet. And we need to take care of those people that are trying to stop it."

[FairOpinion]

"Has anyone else heard Laurie Mansfield on Northeast Intelligence Network speak about some of these photos actually coming from a porno flick? "

===

Thanks for making that point. Here is an excerpt from that:

May 2004 - Arabic Language Jihadi Retract Faked Rape Photos

In the past few days, a number of postings have been made on the Arabic language jihadi websites urging all followers to stop passing around the photos that were alleged to show US servicemen raping Iraqi women. The photos were staged. They were actually taken from a porn flick, and were released in a deliberate attempt to inflame both US and Arab public opinion against the coalition forces.

http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/

The UK pictures are also greatly suspicious and there are doubts about their authenticity.

[Long Cut]

C'mon, FO, didn't you read the report? It was posted widely here. Oh, and didn't you hear SecDef say that WORSE was coming, possibly including murder?

When someone is taken captive by the US Armed Forces, they are considered POW's until such time as higher authority deems that they are not, and are to be treated as such, under the UCMJ, Geneva, and all concepts of human decency. Making them props in some twisted slackjaw's fantasies is against everything we in the military strive for. I cannot believe the number of FReepers I see blowing it off. I can tell you that it had incalculably damaged morale. NOT ONE active-duty serviceman I have spoken to disagrees with me.

[taxesareforever]

US investigations were already in process about this. Releasing the pictures served no other purpose, except to enhance anti-US sentiment and get our soldiers and civilians killed

You have hit the nail on the head, my friend. This should be shouted from the rooftops. The news media and their moles in the defense department did not need the photos to stop the abuse. They needed them to derail the war on terror, and that is their goal.

One other purpose it was used for was to undermine the administration and this country. I don't know if they have fully succeeded because the Demonrats and the media are not going to let this issue die.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

Save your rage for the real animals.

Yeah...I do. The very animals who caused 3000 of our citizens to die, the very animals who danced in the streets at the news, the very animals involved in Mogadishu, the same who just mutilated the bodies of 4 westerners and dragged them thru the streets, the very animals that slashed Daniel Pearls throat ON VIDEO, the very animals who torture, rape, murder and sell into slavery CHRISTIANS around the world, the very animals who party with glee while watching the Israelis scrape baby body parts off the streets, the very animals killing Christians and Jews all over the world today, the very animals who sacrifice their children to kill others so they can get their stinking 72 virgins.

[CyberAnt]

"Releasing the pictures served no other purpose"

You hit the nail on the head. There were descriptions already about the problems. No one needed the pictures. These pictures were released for 3 reasons - to embarrass the President and the USA, disparage the military, and hopefully get rid of Rumsfeld. Without Rummy to run the war, it would surely fail - which is the only goal the dems have.

Then Kennedy dropped the bomb - saying the President should fire Rumsfeld and replace him with Powell .. and we know why .. because the dems think they can manipulate Powell and that Powell will tattle on Bush.

[FairOpinion]

"WORSE was coming, possibly including murder?"

==

So a few terrorists didn't survive their interrogations.

I guess you prefer that we don't interrogate the terrorists and let them continue killing thousands of innocent -- including right here on our own soil.

I guess 9-11 made no impression on you.

What if there is another huge attack, and later we find out that some of those prisoners had information, which would have allowed us to foil the attack? But of course we didn't want to embarrass, or Heaven forbid actually interrogate the prisoner, which may harm or even kill him -- much better for thousands of innocent Americans to die. Is THAT your point? It sure sounds like it.

[familyop]

"...Hackworth still spewing his wierd opinions? Since this war has started, it seems like he's been having a series of small strokes or something."

IMO, he's always acted like a hippie who did too many drugs. Hmmm...which makes me wonder when he enlisted.

[Hacksaw]

Wow - are you in the military? You never mention it.

[Cate]

Maybe his enlisted bonuses were given out in pounds and came with handy dandy wrappers :)

[MJY1288]

I'm not excusing the behavior of anyone, My comment was about the pictures, not the disgusting acts by the perverts who are shown in the pics.

Relax bud, save your attacks for those who deserve them

[FairOpinion]

Actually you are doing a disservice to animals, for calling these unspeakable monsters animals. Animals would never do what they did and still planning to do, if they can -- unless we foil the attacks.

And how are we supposed to foil the attacks, if we aren't allowed to interrogate the terrorists?

[Long Cut]

"Why is it you believe everything you read, just as long as it shows the US in a bad light..."

Who the HELL do you think you're talkking to? I've supported the war from day 1! And you had no trouble with me when I was supporting Arnold Schwartzenegger for governor of California a few months ago!

I'M talking about the Pentagon's officila report of their investigation of this matter, which detailed everything I said, WITH PROOF, including photos, video, and sworn statements by the perps themselves!

"And again -- these are NOT POW-s."

They ARE, according to all US military doctrine and orders. They are to be treated as such until such time as they are deemed otherwise by MUCH higher authority than a sargeant in a prison.

Why are you defending such reprehensible behavior, and trying to deflect the blamne for it? I seriously thought you were better than that.

[Long Cut]

"So a few terrorists didn't survive their interrogations..."

I seriously misjudged you. I won'tmake that mistake again.

[Texasforever]

LC you are not being fair here. NO ONE IS EXCUSING WHAT WAS DONE! You take this as a personal insult and that is an admirable stance BUT there are MUCH BIGGER ISSUES. This is being used by our ENEMIES to defeat the war effort. It is being used by our enemies to weaken the United States. There is no real "outrage" out there, in fact, it is absolute GLEE that this happened and it is being used to defeat the United States. Yes, 7 MPs handed it to them on a silver platter and found willing allies in the press and with bitter ex-military types and Liberal politicians to serve it up to the public. I have to say this LC the absolute necessity of the United States winning this war is more important than your individual sense of betrayal by comrades in arms. The actions have been investigated and people will be punished and it is now time for us to stop wringing our hands and fight back at the cynical agenda involved with this "scandal".

[Bobber58]

shoot the dog...all yer other stuff is one Iraqi??? cite yer source and publish or perish

[Allegra]

Releasing the pictures served no other purpose, except to enhance anti-US sentiment and get our soldiers and civilians killed.

Exactly. This media feeding-frenzy is putting Americans in even more danger than that which already existed. Especially the military and contractors who are posted over at Abu Ghraib.

But the media-idiots don't care.

[FairOpinion]

There are people with whom I disagree on some issues and agree on others.

There are definite criteria for being considered POW-s, one of which is wearing a uniform. The actual war is over. These are terrorists who are ambushing our soldiers -- that makes them illegal combattants.

This whole prison "abuse" is being blown way out of proportion.

If you haven't, you might consider reading this article:

Getting a Grip on the Iraqi Prison Scandal
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1131996/posts

[ETERNAL WARMING]

Actually you are doing a disservice to animals

I apologize. :0)

You know, there is just no comparison to a few nudies on a leash which I call, PsyOps and the business as usual barbarism these people commit everyday.

[McGavin999]

The prisoner abuse scandal -- with photos of U.S. soldiers abusing Iraqis held in the Abu Ghraib prison -- emerged in his last week of captivity and it caused his conditions to worsen, he said.

Here it is, straight from the mouth of Hamill

[FairOpinion]

I am pragmatic.

We ARE in the fight for our lives, in the most literal sense. It really is "either them or us".

It's like you don't want to swat a mosquito, when you know it will spread yellow fever or whatever and kill thousands of people. Too bad for the mosquito -- but if you feel too compassionate for the mosqito, you may be condemning many thousands of people to death instead.

As I said, if you know or reasonably suspect, that some of these terrorists have information, which could help us save American lives, and you don't do whatever it takes -- or object to someone else doing it -- to find out that vital information, you are responsible for the deaths of the innocents.