Guantanamo Guards Accused of Mistreating Koran (WaPo rides to rescue of Newsweek)

Washington Post (Newsweek's parent company) ^ | May 25, 2005; 4:54 PM | Dan Eggen

[tgslTakoma]

Nearly a dozen detainees at the Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba told FBI interrogators that guards had mistreated copies of the Koran, including one who said in 2002 that guards "flushed a Koran in the toilet," according to new FBI documents released today.

The summaries of FBI interviews, obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union as part of an ongoing lawsuit, also include allegations that the Koran was kicked, thrown to the floor and withheld as punishment and that guards mocked Muslim prisoners during prayers.

The release of the new FBI documents comes in the wake of an international uproar over a now-retracted story by Newsweek magazine, which reported that an internal military report had confirmed that a Koran was flushed down a toilet. The retracted story has been linked by the Bush administration to deadly riots overseas.

(SNIP)

Amrit Singh, an ACLU attorney, said in a press release that "the United States' own documents show that it has known of numerous allegations of Koran desecration for a significant period of time."

"The failure to address these allegations in a timely manner raises grave questions regarding the extent to which such desecration was authorized by high-ranking U.S. officials in the first place," Singh said.

[tgslTakoma]

Looks like the Washington Post (proud parents of NEWSWEEK) didn't think there were enough riots and bloodshed from the now-retracted Newsweek story.

[facedown]

BWAHAHAHA. Can't put the toothpaste back in the tube, WaPo.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Hmmm....more documents just in the nick of time.

[Alouette]

guards had mistreated copies of the Koran

So now a Koran is a sentient being? What did they do, put panties on its head?

[baystaterebel]

My lord, give it up already. These are allegations made by detained terrorists.... Hello!

Funny you didnt give the Swift Boat Veterans the same amount of credit you give these detainees.

Just ask anyone in prison. They are all innocent and every guard abuses them.

[Chgogal]

Of course they are. They own the damn rag!

Here are the THREE faces of Newsweek. Gives two-faced, I mean three-faced a whole new meaning!

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=44433

[phoenix0468]

Wow, and to think they believe these American hating turds. Of course they are going to make accusations. They are going to say anything they can to incite violence against their enemy. Why in the world would the FBI allow this information out? And why can't the ACLU work for Americans and not terrorists?

[oceanview]

perhaps this will force the administration to issue a blunt message - any reports like this coming from detainees, their lawyers, or the "relief" agencies at Gitmo, should be assumed to be lies. Period.

[Jewelsetter]

Good, now they loose any shred of credibility they had too.

[Nick Danger]

Observe carefully. I shall now take totally unreliable statements from "a dozen detainees at the Guantanamo Bay military prison" and...

Presto! Majesto!

... turn them into "new FBI documents".

[Mercat]

Can we just have a flush in?

[Stellar Dendrite]

The enemy within knows no boundaries.

One day they will pay....big time.

[USAfearsnobody]

What did they desecrate that day?

[tgslTakoma]

The Washington Post doesn't want Newsweek to be the only Old Media to cause riots and protests against America.

[Fledermaus]

Who cares? Christians are beheaded in the country of the Koran fanatics for being Christians.

I'm getting so sick and tired of these thin-skinned, anti-American liberals in New York and DC.

I will continue to apply my considerable mental powers in transmitting bad thoughts their way in hope they meet some horrible, horrible demise.

Their lack of faith disturbs me! ;-)

[scheuber]

More powerful than my intended reply.

[dannyboy72]

What about "Separation of Church and State" from the ACLU. I thought the government should have no respect for any religion because if it does then it is in danger of becoming a theocracy. Sorry, but gaurds doing anything TO A BOOK is not news. It's not even intimidating. Can you see the Muslims now... "oh don't take my Koran, don't drop that pleae, I'll tell you whatever you want...." Yeah right.

I am outraged! Wait. No I'm not. I'm outraged any news organization is reporting this AS NEWS (regardless of whether it's true or not)

[phoenix0468]

This is some comments I have sent to the ACLU. Hope they get it and read it. Probably won't though:

To Whom it may concern,(not that anyone at the ACLU would be).

The ACLU is no longer a defender of freedoms but a defender of all things unAmerican. Your attacks on religion, patriotism, and conservatism are in direct opposition of your own stated mission. Your support of foreigners, terrorists, and other anti-American factions is on the verge of seditious. I have known for years the ACLU is diverging from the path of "Americana" under the guise of defending Constitutional rights. This is a farce and a travesty to the rights of the majority in this country. Because, as much as the ACLU likes to use the individual as their tool, it is a fact that the Constitution defines the Majority as the rulers of this nation. The ACLU attacks on laws and policies that are supported by the Majority of Americans is as Unconstitutional as lawmakers passing laws that support religion or suppress the media. And to use non-Americans, especially ones that would love to see this country destroyed, in its grievances is even more insulting to Americans.

Your uncovering of statements of abuses against the Koran by the terrorists being held at Guantanamo is ridiculous in the least. Are you so gullible as to believe these haters of freedom and democracy? The very things you claim to protect. Has the ACLU lost any form of objectivity? It is fundamentally illogical to take the word of any person who's motive is to seek the destruction of your society as anything but false.

Have you any other sources to validate these claims other than the FBI interviews of terrorists? Until you come up with any, it may be in the best interest of the ACLU to publicize them. Otherwise, it will be the opinion of this American, and many others, that the ACLU is anything but American, Civil, or for Liberty.

[FlingWingFlyer]

The Commies down at the aCLU would be celebrating if the terrorists had flushed a bible down the toilet. The scumbags at the Arab Civil Liberties Unions do not deserve to live in this country.

[swilhelm73]

So now a Koran is a sentient being? What did they do, put panties on its head?

You owe me a new monitor after that line. :)