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Pictures showed male and female detainees nude. Male prisoners were forced to masturbate while being photographed. Interrogators used psychological and physical torture to soften prisoners for interrogation. The report speaks of "numerous incidents of sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuses."
All this took place in Abu Ghraib prison, the same prison where Saddam previously performed his brand of torture. Only this time the torture was performed by Americans: soldiers, commanders and contractors.
Here is what Taguba says about Brig. General Janis Karpinski, the commander in charge:
"What I found particularly disturbing... was her complete unwillingness to either understand or accept that many of the problems... were caused or exacerbated by poor leadership and the refusal of her command to both establish and enforce basic standards and principles."
What I found disturbing is that Bush keeps talking about the Greater Middle East Initiative to promote freedom and democracy in the Middle East. After the way he disdained and disregarded our European allies and the UN before the Iraq war; after the way he got both Shi'ites and Sunnis in Iraq up in arms against us in Iraq; and after the way he destroyed the prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, he is eager to impose freedom and democracy in the region.
As I have said many times before, bullying does not increase influence, war does not reduce terror, and democracy can not be imposed. If Bush wants greater democracy in the world, he must change his tactics radically. Here is a partial list of what he should do:
- Show the Islamic world you are truly disgusted with military abuse by making heads roll - including top brass and contractors
- Provide a trial to each detainee in Guantanomo Bay
- Start treating our old allies with respect and friendship
- Lead in enhancing the UN as the primary peacemaker in the world
- Increase our foreign aid by 7 times so it reaches .7 of GDP
- As soon as possible, transfer our troops from Iraq to the border between Israel and Palestine to act as peacekeepers
- Offer the Palestinians billions of dollars and business savvy with which to build a business infrastructure
- Send peacekeepers and business promoters to flash points in Africa
- Remove or at least reduce the agricultural subsidies to American farmers that ruin the economies of poor nations
War is bound to produce "systemic and illegal abuse." It produces a lot worse. War is not the way to make decent change. To change the world you have to show it your cooperative side and work with everyone as equals in the common transformation.
