Iraqi Torture Tape Surfaces (Fox News Only)

Fox News ^ | 10/30/2003 | Bret Baier and Ian McCaleb

[Tatze]

Videotape Shows Saddam's Men Torturing Iraqis

WASHINGTON — A grisly videotape showing acts of torture carried out by Iraqi Republican Guard and Saddam Fedayeen militiamen has been declassified and obtained by Fox News.

After the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime in April, an Iraqi in Baghdad gave the tape to the U.S. Army's 308th Civil Affairs Brigade, V Corps. He told the soldiers he had more videos and was directly involved in their taping, having been ordered to do so by the Republican Guard.

The 23-minute long tape contains several scenes of Saddam Fedayeen (search) fighters carrying out corporal punishment and at least one execution, probably of a Saddam Fedayeen member.

Sources told Fox News that the man who handed over the current tape is cooperating with U.S. troops and will provide more tapes.

The punishments include fingers being chopped or shot off, tips of tongues being cut off, wrists being broken by sharp blows from a wooden rod, lashes by whip or cane, a bound man being tossed off a building, a beheading involving a sword and a knife and a man being humiliated by riding a donkey backwards.

[HarleyD]

It's interesting there's no mention of this tape in any of the "mainstream" media-on their websites or other places. Propaganda exists if it only paints one side of the picture. I wonder who is spewing the propaganda?

[DannyTN]

If I had a choice I know what I would choose. (Riding a donkey backwards)

That or feed me bacon.

[jtrowbr212]

Looks like the Iraqis know how to handle their 'liberals'

[pabianice]

Hmmm... not shown by ABC, CBS, or NBC? Can you say 'media bias'? I thought you could. The Libs would NEVER show anything to show why the war is justified.

[johnb838]

when the RATS start talking about how we had no business going into IRAN

It's North Korea that troubles me the most. I think that freak bastard may be doing in a million a year or so. And his apparatus is still up and running. In Iran I don't think they have as solid of a grip. They have the mob to deal with. I don't think the North Korean people have any fight left in them.

[JoJo Gunn]

I for one find it disgusting that Fox will bandy the "exclusive" term about like a carnival barker. There's nothing ethical to using video of the worst of human nature for self promotion.

[Molesworth]

>>Copies of several tapes have become brisk sellers in Baghdad marketplaces.<<

"Two snuff flicks and a pack of crisps, please." Yikes. You DON'T want to be a contestant when Fear Factor makes it to Iraq.

[Enterprise]

My understanding of why something is "classified" is that its disclosure could be harmful to the United States. I admit I am having difficulty in linking something made by Iraqis to the concept of something if released, could be harmful to the United States. I'm not saying that there is no reasonable explanation, but I do wonder what it could be.

[ostephani]

Look at it from a different perspective...Maybe Fox is the favored news outlet, and that is why they got it.

Also, why not see this as truth and be grateful that Bush is fighting back by having it released? I've been waiting for him to do something about the screeching libs.

Just some thoughts.

[Enterprise]

I agree. If enough American citizens see these videos then perhaps the concept of evil will be more clear. It's one thing to talk about torture and barbarity, but watching it powerfully imprints the consciousness. In future discussions of cruelty by Governments against their citizens, one can refer to the "Iraq torture videos" as a common and widely understood example of a brutal regime.

[Enterprise]

And I agree. What about these videos needs to be classified? And I am totally confused about any need to have them compartmentalized!

[jpl]

I didn't need to see this tape.

A lot of people in this country do though, because attention spans are notoriously short these days.

[eiffel]

It makes a good case for the invasion, even if it isn't quite the case that was made before the war.
I'm sorry, but a few torture videos, horrifying as they may be, do not make a case for war.
Reducing our reasons to a few clips of fedayeen scumbags killing each other might sell to the public, but overall it sells out the real justiication and rationale behind the campaign.
I'd like to see more focus on the positives on the ground in iraq. They keep telling us that we're only getting the bad news, so where is Fox with the good news?

[clamboat]

I'm sorry, but a few torture videos, horrifying as they may be, do not make a case for war.

True, true. If torture were a justification, we should have invaded China years ago.

[antiRepublicrat]

The article I read talked about other information being compartmentalized in various agencies, and because of that and the classification the spooks aren't getting the information they need to do their job well.

[the_greatest_country_ever]

So what's Fox gonna do with it?
Break it up into three minute segments and run it as the latest version of its highly-rated "Reality TV" shows?

[the_greatest_country_ever]

So what's Fox gonna do with it?
Break it up into three minute segments and run it as the latest version of its highly-rated "Reality TV" shows?

[Political Junkie Too]

When Despots Attack?

-PJ

[hardknocks]

I agree JPL, and this is just what the CNN and MSNBC execs are betting on. They want the US citizens to forget 9/11, forget the evils of saddam, and forget the horrible things these regimes do everyday. They want to keep tapes like these off of the air b/c they re-ignite the feelings we all had on 9/11. Thank you Fox for being honest. I know I appreciate it.

[Terridan]

Thanks for the compliment! But after seeing a few "good" criminals guilty of the sodomization of children, killing of animals, including torture, I rather relish the idea for them. Best wishes....