Abu Ghraib abuse photos 'show rape'

[SuspectCorner]

Abu Ghraib abuse photos 'show rape'

Photographs of alleged prisoner abuse which Barack Obama is attempting to censor include images of apparent rape and sexual abuse, it has emerged.

By Duncan Gardham, Security Correspondent and Paul Cruickshank / from The London Telegraph website /
Last Updated: 8:21AM BST 28 May 2009

At least one picture shows an American soldier apparently raping a female prisoner while another is said to show a male translator raping a male detainee.

Further photographs are said to depict sexual assaults on prisoners with objects including a truncheon, wire and a phosphorescent tube.

Another apparently shows a female prisoner having her clothing forcibly removed to expose her breasts.

Detail of the content emerged from Major General Antonio Taguba, the former army officer who conducted an inquiry into the Abu Ghraib jail in Iraq.

Allegations of rape and abuse were included in his 2004 report but the fact there were photographs was never revealed. He has now confirmed their existence in an interview with the Daily Telegraph.

The graphic nature of some of the images may explain the US President’s attempts to block the release of an estimated 2,000 photographs from prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan despite an earlier promise to allow them to be published.

Maj Gen Taguba, who retired in January 2007, said he supported the President’s decision, adding: “These pictures show torture, abuse, rape and every indecency.

“I am not sure what purpose their release would serve other than a legal one and the consequence would be to imperil our troops, the only protectors of our foreign policy, when we most need them, and British troops who are trying to build security in Afghanistan.

“The mere description of these pictures is horrendous enough, take my word for it.”

In April, Mr Obama’s administration said the photographs would be released and it would be “pointless to appeal” against a court judgment in favour of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

But after lobbying from senior military figures, Mr Obama changed his mind saying they could put the safety of troops at risk.

Earlier this month, he said: “The most direct consequence of releasing them, I believe, would be to inflame anti-American public opinion and to put our troops in greater danger.”

It was thought the images were similar to those leaked five years ago, which showed naked and bloody prisoners being intimidated by dogs, dragged around on a leash, piled into a human pyramid and hooded and attached to wires.

Mr Obama seemed to reinforce that view by adding: “I want to emphasise that these photos that were requested in this case are not particularly sensational, especially when compared to the painful images that we remember from Abu Ghraib.”

The latest photographs relate to 400 cases of alleged abuse between 2001 and 2005 in Abu Ghraib and six other prisons. Mr Obama said the individuals involved had been “identified, and appropriate actions” taken.

Maj Gen Taguba’s internal inquiry into the abuse at Abu Ghraib, included sworn statements by 13 detainees, which, he said in the report, he found “credible based on the clarity of their statements and supporting evidence provided by other witnesses.”

Among the graphic statements, which were later released under US freedom of information laws, is that of Kasim Mehaddi Hilas in which he says: “I saw [name of a translator] ******* a kid, his age would be about 15 to 18 years. The kid was hurting very bad and they covered all the doors with sheets. Then when I heard screaming I climbed the door because on top it wasn’t covered and I saw [name] who was wearing the military uniform, putting his **** in the little kid’s ***…. and the female soldier was taking pictures.”

The translator was an American Egyptian who is now the subject of a civil court case in the US.

Three detainees, including the alleged victim, refer to the use of a phosphorescent tube in the sexual abuse and another to the use of wire, while the victim also refers to part of a policeman’s “stick” all of which were apparently photographed.

[masomenos]

Terribly shameful, if true. Just a disgusting abuse of power, dignity and human rights.

I hope those photographs never get released.

[burmafrd]

ITs absolutely true that if the photos show this and are released, US troops will be killed because of it. So there is no justification for doing it. Its not like the US has not been grilled and put over the coals because of Abu Ghraib.

[SuspectCorner]

Originally Posted by masomenos85

Terribly shameful, if true. Just a disgusting abuse of power, dignity and human rights.

I hope those photographs never get released.

Oh please NO - the descriptions are bad enough that I, myself, wouldn't want to be exposed to the pictures.

Unfortunately, the harm done to our country's name and reputation during the Bush-Cheney administration simply cannot be overstated.

[burmafrd]

This would have probably happened no matter who was president. Sadly this is not the first nor the last time that military prisons have done this.

[zrinkill]

The last time this "story" came out was in 2004.

It was proven to be fake propaganda using "reality" porn site pictures back then.

Forgive me if I do not believe this until actual evidence other than hearsay has been given that was originally posted by the Huffington Post.

I understand that a few people want this to be true.

[MetalHead]

Did the alleged rape occurred before of after the beheadings...oh wait,they still have their heads attached to their bodies?

It is breathtakingly naive how the left sees war.
An utopian vision,where everybody follows the "rules of war"....It war people!
atrocities happen during it.Always!
You want to really show me something atrocious???
Show me pictures of aborted fetuses...at least those Iraqi scumbags had a chance to make a choice.

[SuspectCorner]

Originally Posted by burmafrd

This would have probably happened no matter who was president. Sadly this is not the first nor the last time that military prisons have done this.

While your rationalizations for the complete lack of Bush-Cheney oversight (at the very least) may satisfy you - they don't quite cut it for me. Not even close.

[Viper]

My first question would be, is this the norm? If this came from the top, I would have a problem with it. As great as the American soldier is, it is unfortunate that the military does have it's own group of criminals. The military has always been very good at handling these types of incidents. So my next question would be, have any of these offenders been brought to justice?

[burmafrd]

Well suspect do you think I care what you think? You hate our country as your post history has proven. So why don't you do some research and see some of the problems our military prisons had in the 90's when your Slick Willy was president. You won't of course.

[SuspectCorner]

Originally Posted by Artie Lange

Did the alleged rape occurred before of after the beheadings...oh wait,they still have their heads attached to their bodies?

It is breathtakingly naive how the left sees war.
An utopian vision,where everybody follows the "rules of war"....It war people!
atrocities happen during it.Always!
You want to really show me something atrocious???
Show me pictures of aborted fetuses...at least those Iraqi scumbags had a chance to make a choice.

What's REALLY breathtaking is your feeble defense of the Bush-Cheney sloughing off of long-held and sacred American principles - all the while insisting that no matter how low we go we're NOT YET at a moral and ethical point equivalent to that of the MURDERERS, RELIGIOUS LUNATICS, and ASSASSINS we do battle with. More evidence of where the bar is set for you. It's on the ground right next to the nest of snakes we can STILL claim moral superiority over - as long as we make a concerted effort to SHUN miopic shortcut thinking like yours. And the corresponding actions subsequent to such short-sightedness.

[burmafrd]

Or as long as we ignore the haters of the US like you.....

[TheCount]

Originally Posted by burmafrd

ITs absolutely true that if the photos show this and are released, US troops will be killed because of it. So there is no justification for doing it. Its not like the US has not been grilled and put over the coals because of Abu Ghraib.

I love that your main concern here is the photos getting released, not the disgusting act themselves.

I personally hope the reports are wrong because, if true, this is absolutely sickening.

[zrinkill]

Originally Posted by burmafrd

Or as long as we ignore the haters of the US like you.....

Like I said earlier this week ..... at least they waited till the day after Memorial Day to start slandering the Military with articles originally from the Huffington Post.

[iceberg]

Originally Posted by SuspectCorner

Oh please NO - the descriptions are bad enough that I, myself, wouldn't want to be exposed to the pictures.

Unfortunately, the harm done to our country's name and reputation during the Bush-Cheney administration simply cannot be overstated.

GET OVER IT! i'm sorry we had 8 years of someone you didn't like in office but now all you look for are reasons to hold onto that hate. clinton getting hummers in the oval office and lying about it - hurt.

carter - hurt.

we can all pick the "OH NOS!!!!" of who we don't like and focus ONLY on that. but i hate to tell you this but our military has things like this in likely every war. not because we want it to happen but because it does. to focus on one admin or person is sheer choice - NOTHING MORE.

the harm done to our country by fanatical libs running around apologizing all the time and trying to help those who want us dead is far more damaging to me - it says we can't come together despite our differences but we'll let our differences forever keep us apart.

that just makes us an easy target.

i'm not singling you out - many conservatives have turned tail and do nothing but look for obama bullets at every opportunity also - it SUCKS.

so please, keep the drama in the movies and stop pretending someone who does something you personally will be the downfall of our great country.