Recently released photos of American soldiers abusing and torturing Iraqi prisoners have shocked the world, provoking a global backlash against our country. As the Washington Post reports, "U.S. diplomats around the world have sent troubling cables back to Washington... with warnings that the graphic photographs... could seriously affect U.S. standing and broader foreign policy."1 Now more reports are coming out, and Amnesty International and other groups report that torture and human rights abuses of Iraqi detainees may be occurring routinely.
We all hope that these reports are untrue -- that this was indeed the isolated work of a few depraved individuals. But in the face of an escalating scandal in which our image is being deeply damaged, President Bush and Tony Blair need to demonstrate that they're going to clean house. Narrow military investigations don't cut it -- to the rest of the world, the current response looks like damage control and little more.
If we hope to win the battle for the "hearts and minds" of the citizens of the Middle East, it’s imperative that we respond to these charges head on. Join the call from Amnesty International and other groups for an independent, impartial and public investigation into all allegations of torture, at:
http://www.moveon.org/torture/
According to Amnesty International's website:
"Amnesty International has received frequent reports of torture or other ill-treatment by Coalition Forces during the past year. Detainees have reported being routinely subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment during arrest and detention. Many have told Amnesty International that they were tortured and ill-treated by US and UK troops during interrogation. Methods often reported include prolonged sleep deprivation; beatings; prolonged restraint in painful positions, sometimes combined with... prolonged hooding... Virtually none of the allegations of torture or ill-treatment has been adequately investigated by the authorities."2
Although a few U.S. troops already face punishment for the widely reported abuses, "the theory that these horrific acts were committed by a few renegade soldiers has been undercut by charges that the men and women shown in the pictures were actually working at the direction of military intelligence officers," according to the New York Times.3
With anti-American violence exploding in Iraq, and a deadline for handing over Iraqi sovereignty less than 2 months away, we need the support of the world community now more than ever. We especially need to regain the trust of the Iraqi people and their Arab neighbors, as quickly as possible.
We've got to support an immediate, independent, impartial and public investigation into all allegations of torture. To be credible, the investigation should be done by an international body, including representatives of Arab nations.
We've got to get to the bottom of this, and we've got to do it now.
Join our call, at:
http://www.moveon.org/torture/
Thank you.
It's ludicrous, that we live in a country which claims to abide by the rules of war and human rights, and yet this happens. When our soldiers are overseas, the represent the USA ... any actions or behaviour that these people engage in, they engage in on our behalf. We cannot expect that our soldiers will be treated humanely when captured by the enemy, if we're unwilling to abide by these rules ourselves. If anyone feels about this like I do, then go to http://moveon.org/torture and sign the petition. This will get sent on to the President and the Congress.
