For the last 30 years, Iraqis inside Iraq had little knowledge of the full extent of Saddam Hussein's oppressive tactics. Many Iraqis who have documented his regime's history argue that Coalition authorities have not done enough to make this history known to the Iraqi people, and proponents of more stringent de-Baathification argue that until this education is completed, Saddam-era officials cannot be trusted with the rule of the new state.
Much of the recent controversy surrounding Abu Ghraib has made only vague reference to the prison's nightmarish past. Under Saddam Hussein, some thirty thousand people were executed there, and countless more were tortured and mutilated, returning to Iraqi society as visible evidence of the brutality of Baathist rule instead of being lost to the anonymity of mass graves.
Private Mail to be added to or removed from the GNFI (or Pro-Coalition) ping list.
Bump!
"MR. PERLE: ...........but it seems to me that what we have seen today should be seen generally. And unless I'm mistaken, none of our networks has seen fit to cover it.
I've been in many meetings related to Iraq over the last few years. This room was generally full and the room next to it full. It isn't today. I think it's obvious that the interest on the part of the press in this story is a good deal less than the interest on the part of the press in other stories, including obviously stories about Abu Ghraib today."
The press isn't even feigning interst in this story. Says a lot.