Iraqi Prisoner Abuse Scandal
"How tragically ironic that the American military, which was welcomed to Baghdad by the euphoric Iraqi people a year ago as a liberating force that ended 30 years of tyranny, would today stand guilty of dehumanizing torture in the same Abu Ghraib prison used by Saddam Hussein’s henchmen." - Army Times editorial, 5/10/04
Related pages:Iraq War
George W. Bush
Donald Rumsfeld
Commentary:
John McCain offers an eloquent defense of the Red Cross and the Geneva Conventions, arguing that we must hold ourselves to a higher standard.
Fred Kaplan explains in Slate how the prisoner abuse scandal is just getting started.
Joe Klein explains in Time how Bush's moral righteousness has led to the problems in Iraq. Great quote - "Faith without doubt leads to moral arrogance, the eternal pratfall of the religiously convinced."
Robert Kagan and William Kristol argue in The Weekly Standard that we need a dramatic change in policy in Iraq, including more troops and accelerated elections. They write: "The Bush administration seems not to recognize how widespread, and how bipartisan, is the view that Iraq is already lost or on the verge of being lost."
Should Rumsfeld resign? George Will suggests it would be the honorable thing to do. Robert Novak argues that Rumsfeld has very little support in the Pentagon.
Many politicians and pundits are calling for Rumsfeld to resign. Peter Beinart makes the best case that Rumsfeld's policies have led to many of the problems we are facing in Iraq.
Latest News:
Frederick gets 8 years in Iraq abuse case (AP)
Retired military officers call for independent probe of abuse scandal (CNN)
Generals may pay price for Iraq abuse (AP)
Three Britons allege Guantanamo abuses (AP)
Freed Swede says he was tortured at Guantanamo (AP)
Justice Dept. disavows memo on torture (MSNBC)
Rumsfeld admits secret detention of suspect in Iraq (MSNBC)
Report: Interrogation abuses were approved at the highest levels (Telegraph)
Bush says he never authorized illegal interrogations (CNN)
General in Iraq abuse probe seeks removal from oversight of investigation (USA Today)
Use of dogs to scare prisoners was approved by military intelligence (MSNBC)
2002 Justice Dept. memo offered justification for use of torture (Washington Post)
Warner bucks GOP right on probe of prison abuse (Washington Post)
Newsweek: Possible cover-up of abuse scandal within Defense Dept. (Newsweek)
New allegations: Reuters, NBC staff abuse by U.S. soldiers in Iraq (Reuters)
New Yorker: Rumsfeld approved secret, aggressive interrogation plan for Iraq that led to abuses (New Yorker)
U.S. soldier details abuse, to plead guilty (AP)
New photo may show intelligence officers in charge of abuse (MSNBC)
Taguba saw 'failure of leadership' at Iraq prison (MSNBC)
Former interrogator in Iraq prison alleges 'anything goes' atmosphere created by military commanders (MSNBC)
Bush: Rumsfeld doing 'superb job' (CNN)
Cheney defends Rumsfeld, says 'Get off his case' (AP)
Congressman: Pentagon rejected jail oversight plan (CNN)
Soldier: Role was to 'make it hell' for prisoners (MSNBC)
Rumsfeld apologizes to Iraqi abuse victims (CNN)
Red Cross warned of prisoner abuses as early as 2003 (AP)
Major U.S. papers call for Rumsfeld's resignation (Reuters)