Business as usual
Abuse of Iraqi prisoners was not isolated By Farhad Radmehrian
May 11, 2004
iranian.com
The latest batch of Iraqi prison abuse photos published in he
Washington Post, further established the fact
that the reported
prison abuse is not the isolated work of a "handful of bad
apples".
The US authorities wants the world to believe that the photos
show isolated incidents perpetrated by a small number
of disturbed lower ranking military men in moments of boredom
or juvenile playfulness.
But one photo in particular offers clues on what really is going
on in Iraq, Afghanistan and most undoubtedly in the U.S.
military detention
facilities in Guantanamo Bay. Unlike the other photos, this one
opens up the field of view:
(1) It shows prison guards standing around in a corridor,
chatting and not even looking at the pile
of naked prisoners a few feet away. Body language is the most telling
sign. As you look at this picture, do you get
the sense that the guards know they're doing something
wrong? Or do they look like they're going about their normal
daily activities?
(2) Donald Rumsfeld and the Pentagon brass claim that the pile
of naked soldiers in this picture is the work of a few twisted
misfits. Most of the photos released so far
show younger
soldiers sporting stupid childish smiles, holding
their thumbs up or making similar gestures that could be used to
support the
claim that they were being "playful".
But look at
the GI's huddling over this pile of naked prisoners. The two wearing
khaki T-shirts and protective gloves are not playing games. They
are WORKING. They are serious and business-like, carrying
out duties specified by their superiors, as every soldiers does.
(3) Finally, look at the officer in camouflage uniform, who is
clearly engaged in questioning or other tough probing with the
help of the other GI in khaki T-shirt. These men are not playing
on the sly. They are interrogating as planned and intended.
This photo tells us all we need to know. And if you honestly
listen to the story these pictures are telling -- and not the version
the Bush
administration is presenting -- then we're being lied to. We're
being lied to just like we were lied to about the reasons to invade
Iraq
in the first place which is why our young soldiers are put in these
situations to begin with.
The damage inflicted upon the America's image in the world,
whatever's left over from George W's adventures,
calls for serious and immediate action. We need to demand the resignation
of Donald Rumsfeld, at the very least. We must also compensate
all the abused prisoners. And finally, the action that
can go a long way in showing our disgust with these acts and serve
as
a strong symbol of our resolve, would be the immediate destruction
of the notorious Abu Ghoraib prison complex.
What amazes me the most is that the previous president
faced impeachment for lying about sexual encounters involving
two adults. Meanwhile the current administration's
naked lies to justify an unnecessary war are ignored, even though
these lies have resulted in the death and injury of thousands of
human beings.
The decision
to go to war was apparently made only to save a presidency without
a mandate, while giving into pressure by special interests
and religious zealots surrounding George W. Bush. Add to all that
the
mismanagement in invading Iraq. And yet it is shocking that
half of the American public still doesn't want to see the naked
truth
and refuses to exercise its democratic right in demanding accountability.
This could only lead many people in other parts of the world
to wonder if democracy is really wasted on the average American
voter!
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