AP: Navy Probes New Iraq Prisoner Photos

AP ^ | Dec 3 | SETH HETTENA

[West Coast Conservative]

The U.S. military has launched a criminal investigation into photographs that appear to show Navy SEALs in Iraq sitting on hooded and handcuffed detainees, and photos of what appear to be bloodied prisoners, one with a gun to his head.

Some of the photos have date stamps suggesting they were taken in May 2003, which could make them the earliest evidence of possible abuse of prisoners in Iraq. The far more brutal practices photographed in Abu Ghraib prison occurred months later.

An Associated Press reporter found more than 40 of the pictures among hundreds in an album posted on a commercial photo-sharing Web site by a woman who said her husband brought them from Iraq after his tour of duty. It is unclear who took the pictures, which the Navy said it was investigating after the AP furnished copies to get comment for this story.

These and other photos found by the AP appear to show the immediate aftermath of raids on civilian homes. One man is lying on his back with a boot on his chest. A mug shot shows a man with an automatic weapon pointed at his head and a gloved thumb jabbed into his throat. In many photos, faces have been blacked out. What appears to be blood drips from the heads of some. A family huddles in a room in one photo and others show debris and upturned furniture.

"These photographs raise a number of important questions regarding the treatment of prisoners of war (POWs) and detainees," Navy Cmdr. Jeff Bender, a spokesman for the Naval Special Warfare Command in Coronado, said in a written response to questions. "I can assure you that the matter will be thoroughly investigated."

The photos were turned over to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which instructed the SEAL command to determine whether they show any serious crimes, Bender said Friday. That investigation will determine the identities of the troops and what they were doing in the photos.

Some of the photos recall aspects of the images from Abu Ghraib, which led to charges against seven soldiers accused of humiliating and assaulting prisoners. In several of the photos obtained by the AP, grinning men wearing U.S. flags on their uniforms, and one with a tattoo of a SEAL trident, take turns sitting or lying atop what appear to be three hooded and handcuffed men in the bed of a pickup truck.

A reporter found the photos, which since have since been removed from public view, while researching the prosecution of a group of SEALs who allegedly beat prisoners and photographed one of them in degrading positions. Those photos, taken with a SEAL's personal camera, haven't been publicly released.

Though they have alarmed SEAL commanders, the photographs found by the AP do not necessarily show anything illegal, according to experts in the laws of war who reviewed photos at AP's request.

Gary Solis, a former Marine Corps prosecutor and judge who teaches at the United States Military Academy, said the images showed "stupid" and "juvenile" behavior - but not necessarily a crime.

[West Coast Conservative]

Not this crap again...

[theDentist]

We

Don't

Care.

If it means getting info out of the worthless rags, that's fine with us.

[Wolfstar]

The U.S. military has launched a criminal investigation into photographs that appear to show Navy SEALs in Iraq sitting on hooded and handcuffed detainees, and photos of what appear to be bloodied prisoners, one with a gun to his head.

Oh, puhleeese. What good is a terrorist for except to sit on them. And if they weren't at least a little bloodied, I'd be disappointed.

[Prime Choice]

Okay, once more for the terminally dense:

Pulling this crap is BAD.

Taking photos while pulling this crap is IDIOTIC.

[Bigh4u2]

Of course it could be that they took the 'insurgents' off the field and some of them were struggling with our boys because (and I just Can't understand why) THEY DON'T LIKE BEING CAUGHT!

The AP is nothing but a propaganda rag for the enemy!

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Here we F'ing go again! The libs couldn't win the election with the first set, now they have to try to start up with more photos.

[Americanwolf]

When is the AP and the MSM going to learn when we take prisoners that we cannot play patty cakes with them. The AP has either got photos that were taken prior to ABU Graib, or they are trying another smear campaign with out giving the full info on the photos. Flaming Crapweasels!

[Voice in your head]

Why does this information get released? Is it necessary to hand propoganda to the enemy, in order to do an investigation?

[TomGuy]

Just what the lib MSM needs, another 'worse than' Abu Ghraib to beat.

[RetiredArmy]

I concur. I don't understand why anyone is talking a stinking camera into combat with them anyway. What the hell do you need it for?

[Santana]

"A mug shot shows a man with an automatic weapon pointed at his head and a gloved thumb jabbed into his throat."

Big deal. If it was them against us, it would not be a thumb jabbed into the throat, it would be a knife cutting off our head.

[marty60]

you mean

WE

DON'T

CARE

[gov_bean_ counter]

Used to work with a Vietnam Era Marine, Force Recon. He used to say, "We didn't take prisoners".

[finnman69]

Lets see the video tape of Margaret Hassan being drenched with buckets of water and getting shot.

[dead]

Contrite US Soldiers Atone for Torture by Taking Iraqi Prisoners to Disney World

Feeling just terrible about the whole alleged torture fiasco, a group of US reservists put down their batons this week, and escorted a jubilant group of Iraqi prisoners to Disney World.

“People think we’re such monsters,” said Pvt. Kenny Stepelkovich, “But we have a soft side too.”

“The time I am having is good!” screamed Samir al-Mashhadani, while posing for photos in front of Cinderella’s Castle. Samir kept his legs pressed tightly together as he shuffled hurriedly towards Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, barking German Shepards in tow.

“It gives me quite a kick to see him having such fun,” laughed Pvt. Stepelkovich, running off after Samir and the dogs.

“Splash Mountain was more fun than Mecca during the Haj!” giggled Husam Tawfiq al-Tikriti, as he toweled water off his hood.

“For why then were you like a girl screaming?” playfully taunted his best friend, Nusayyif al-Jizrawi. Not wanting his good time to be spoiled by the ribbing, Husam stabbed Nusayyif in the heart with a Country Bear Jamboree souvenir pen and ran off to try the Jungle Cruise ride.

“Who wants ice cream?!” bellowed Specialist Charles Pacifico into the face of a startled Mahmud Zubaydi. After some initial trepidation as to Pacifico’s motives, Mahmud selected bubble gum ice cream in a waffle cone.

“Some of the rides which are big and fast bring to me a trembling with fear,” confided Mizban al-Naqib, “I am happy for to ride on the Great Satan’s Carousel of Princesses. I can feel refreshing breeze through my eye slits as we spin slowly.”

“Let’s go visit The Frontierland Grill for some pork sausage!” joked Staff Sergeant Carl Morse, playfully swatting Samir in the head. “Heck, I’m just having some fun with ya! You need sunscreen, big guy?”

[theDentist]

Yes. I just didn't want to cop an attitude with it being Friday and all.

[26lemoncharlie]

I am very pleased to see the Seals doing their job. Our Tax money has certainly NOT being wasted here. The Seals are a Kickass NO BS organization. It's fine by me that the world see's these picture's, that way they know exactly what they are in for if the Screw with us.

Our troops don't get the treatment we have given the Terrorist we hold, and when your in a combat zone, the gloves are off, weapons are released.

[anymouse]

Seals not playing by the rules in order to get the job done? Imagine that. :)

[YOUGOTIT]

The Associated Press is again trying to sink our defenders of freedom. This is war and the left-wing press and their support for the enemies of the American people is disgusting.

[Chemist_Geek]

When is the AP and the MSM going to learn when we take prisoners that we cannot play patty cakes with them.

And when are FReepers going to learn that harming prisoners is an Evil Thing?