Bush 'sorry for humiliation' of Iraqi prisoners

CNN ^ | 05/06/2004 | Breaking

[Glenn]

President Bushj says he is sorry for the humiliation suffered by Iraqi prisoners at the hands of U.S. troops. Details soon.

[PhiKapMom]

Exactly! That is my point -- people are all up in arms over the photos. I have no doubt there was abuses committed from the reports but something doesn't smell right here with these pictures and because I question it, all of a sudden I condone what happened.

[Not A Snowbird]

I see we're all back on board and in fighting trim! What did I miss?

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks! My doctor is Iranian and he is definitely not white!

[Not A Snowbird]

You're attempt to spin this is speeding up the rotation of the earth.

Hey, you already used that line on me. Find a new cliche!

[Howlin]

You didn't know what I was referring to because it was an honest mistake

That he didn't bother to inform ME of.......despite being asked repeatedly to produce the link to what I had said to him.

[Imal]

Theories abound, but in war, the first casualty is the truth.

I think you are wise to question this manufactured scandal.

Its source is what may end up surprising us all.

[Howlin]

Those pictues were NOT in the DOD report.

[CobaltBlue]

I doubt very much that you've seen your doctor in his bathing suit, much less in the altogether.

[JoeSchem]

Are they going to apologize for hanging dead American body parts from wires and bridges?

It's quite possible that the 'private contractors' who died in that incident were very much involved in the abuse of prisoners.

Regardless of what happened or why, our hopes of building an Iraqi democracy are now dead. Let's pull out and call it a victory.

[PhiKapMom]

Look what I found -- people are speculating about a report that General Myers is still waiting for! Imal -- read what General Myers has to say about the Intel guys encouraging the guard to do this in this article. You may be right!

Report Awaited on Alleged Prisoner Abuse in Iraq
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2004 – The U.S. military's top officer today said he'd soon review results of an investigative report conducted on detainee operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Appearing on today's CBS "Face the Nation," Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers said he was "appalled" by reports of alleged prisoner abuse, and was personally following the investigation.

Conducted from December through February, the theaterwide investigation was prompted by reports of alleged abuse of Iraqi detainees by U.S. troops working in Abu Gharib prison in Baghdad. Some photographs allegedly depicting U.S. soldiers humiliating naked Iraqi detainees were aired April 28 on CBS' "60 Minutes II" and in other media outlets since then.

Myers noted that any troops found to have abused prisoners would be brought to justice. Such aberrant behavior, if proven true, he emphasized, doesn't reflect the ethics of the U.S. military.

"This is not acceptable behavior," Myers declared. "All you have to do is look at the photographs and know that's not how we do business. We don't torture people."

Coalition Provisional Authority chief spokesman Dan Senor, appearing on CNN's "Late Edition" today, also agreed. He noted that those found guilty will be punished. The possibility that U.S. soldiers abused Iraqi prisoners, he said, "offends the sensibilities" of all Americans, including "the overwhelming majority of men and women in uniform over in Iraq," as well as Iraqis.

Senor asserted the vast majority of U.S. service members in Iraq perform their duties "with the highest degree of ethics and morality."

Myers said the investigation was also examining reports that some U.S. military guards working in the prison claim military intelligence authorities coerced them to humiliate detainees.

He also discussed if having an Iraqi force go into Fallujuh to restore order was a change of U.S.-coalition strategy. U.S. Marines were not leaving Fallujah, he pointed out, noting that insurgents operating in and around the city still "will have to be dealt with."

Senor reacted to news that Iraqi Maj. Gen. Jassim Mohammed Saleh, reportedly a former member of Saddam Hussein's Republican Guard, is the chief of the Iraqi- manned Fallujah Brigade tasked to bring peace to the city. Senor pointed out that Saleh –- as well as other former Saddam regime members -- would undergo an intensive vetting process by U.S. and Iraqi officials. If "blood" were to be found on any Iraqi's hands after being hired, Senor emphasized, then they'd be removed.

The four-star-general confirmed earlier reports that Thomas Hamill, the Kellogg, Brown and Root contractor who had escaped his captors today, was in good shape. "The hunt continues for those who are still held hostage" in Iraq, Myers pointed out, adding, "We've got forces focused just on that."

A Combined Joint Task Force 7 news release reported a wounded man claiming to be an American today approached a New York Army National Guard unit assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team operating in Balad. Hamill identified himself and took the patrol to the house where he had been held captive. The unit conducted a hasty cordon and search of the area and detained two Iraqi citizens with one AK-47 rifle. A medevac helicopter transported Hamill to a nearby military base and subsequently to Baghdad.

[Howlin]

Nobody that wasn't mad at him before is mad at him now.

Night!

[Howlin]

You got back in time to see Joe admit he mistook me for somebody else, 875 posts later..........LOL.

[PhiKapMom]

That's a defeatist attitude. Cannot believe you brought up Halliburton employees being involved. Obviously you are not a fan of this Administration -- that was right out of the RAT Talking Point Papers! Amazing!

Seven guards are going to wreck a chance at democracy and you want us to turn tail and run so the terrorist can know they won!

You need a dose of reality!

[Imal]

Let's pull out and call it a victory.

Better yet, let's claim our victory, then pull out. Instead of being "beaten back by Iraqi insurgents", our troops are now "abusive occupiers". Quite a promotion in rank for a single scandal.

Don't be fooled. We're winning.

[PhiKapMom]

You are right about that!

[Howlin]

I think you are wise to question this manufactured scandal.

I think we can all agree that the pictures are horrid and inexcusable.

That being said, the timing and coordination and hystria is suspect.

[Not A Snowbird]

Took long enough. I wasted half an hour trying to research yesterday's thread to find out what the heck went on. And it's a mistake?!

[takenoprisoner]

The fact we took these terrorists prisoner is discouraging to me. But since we did...

Perhaps you should ask some former POWs of prior wars how they were treated?

[Joe Hadenuf]

Wuss

[PhiKapMom]

Just posted a DoD news release that talks about Gen Myers investigating the possibility that the Intel people put the guards up to this. Two and two just do not add up here and your explanation makes perfect sense to me.

I guess maybe we should be holding the prisoners hands and play tag or something. That should please the naysayers! Do people not realize the prisoners would kill a guard in a split second if they had the opportunity? These not are not your next door neighbor types and are not POW's but terrorists. How quickly some people forget the people that flew those planes into buildings!

Want to see the full signed report and until that time I will reserve judgement on what exactly happened.