Guantanamo Prisoner Abuse: Worse Than Iraq? by sources

Friday May 7th, 2004 12:12 PM

"A former head of the U.S. Guantanamo Bay jail in Cuba has been sent to Iraq to ensure proper prison conditions, after photos apparently showed U.S. soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners, the military said on Friday." But Guantanamo is not being run more humanely than the prisons in Iraq; there is just less media access and better restrictions to prevent soldiers from taking pictures. The few pictures and reports that have gotten out suggest things could be far worse than in Iraq.





http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LOG056890.htm BAGHDAD, April 30 (Reuters) - A former head of the U.S. Guantanamo Bay jail in Cuba has been sent to Iraq to ensure proper prison conditions, after photos apparently showed U.S. soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners, the military said on Friday.





While all decent people are horrified by the prisoner abuse that has occurred in Iraq, it would seem that not too many people are equally horrified by the human- rights abuses that are occurring in Guantanamo.



This secretive detention camp is not open to the news media, or even to any human-rights organizations. At least in Iraq, some prisoners were released after three months when proof of their transgressions was found to be nonexistent.



In Cuba, our secretive government tells us that it has every right to detain people for an unlimited duration, because they may, or may not, be involved in terrorism. This so-called right includes denying any representation because they are being confined on non- American soil.



Now the Army in Iraq is seeking to shift the blame to the CIA or other intelligence units or civilians hired as interrogators. These intelligence units are no doubt the ones that are running everything in Guantanamo.



http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040506/OPINION/405060477/1029 No uproar over Guantanamo prisoners?While all decent people are horrified by the prisoner abuse that has occurred in Iraq, it would seem that not too many people are equally horrified by the human- rights abuses that are occurring in Guantanamo.This secretive detention camp is not open to the news media, or even to any human-rights organizations. At least in Iraq, some prisoners were released after three months when proof of their transgressions was found to be nonexistent.In Cuba, our secretive government tells us that it has every right to detain people for an unlimited duration, because they may, or may not, be involved in terrorism. This so-called right includes denying any representation because they are being confined on non- American soil.Now the Army in Iraq is seeking to shift the blame to the CIA or other intelligence units or civilians hired as interrogators. These intelligence units are no doubt the ones that are running everything in Guantanamo.



By SALWAN BINNI in Baghdad

06may04

THE US interrogator yanked the 24-year-old Iraqi's hair and peeled back his eyelids.

"`Do not ever imagine you will manage to get out of this . . . forget about your future. The only future you will enjoy is in Guantanamo,"' the American shouted, according to Al-Jazeera television cameraman Suhaib Badraddin Baz, who was twice detained by US forces in Iraq.

"Guards kept beating me and calling me names. It seemed to me that everyone . . . coming into the room wished me dead. I was kicked and spat on over and over," he said.

"Before the war . . . I thought (Americans) were people who believe deeply in democracy and respect freedom.

"Now I believe that the Americans are far removed from anything related to democracy and freedom."

Beaten TV man tells of mistreatmentBy SALWAN BINNI in Baghdad06may04THE US interrogator yanked the 24-year-old Iraqi's hair and peeled back his eyelids."`Do not ever imagine you will manage to get out of this . . . forget about your future. The only future you will enjoy is in Guantanamo,"' the American shouted, according to Al-Jazeera television cameraman Suhaib Badraddin Baz, who was twice detained by US forces in Iraq."Guards kept beating me and calling me names. It seemed to me that everyone . . . coming into the room wished me dead. I was kicked and spat on over and over," he said."Before the war . . . I thought (Americans) were people who believe deeply in democracy and respect freedom."Now I believe that the Americans are far removed from anything related to democracy and freedom." http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0 ,5936,9483591%255E912,00.html



United States authorities have ordered an investigation in the wake of revelations about prisoner abuse at US controlled jails in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Law Council's president, Bob Gotterson, says if allegations that prisoners at Guantanamo Bay have been beaten and interrogated at gunpoint prove to be true, those responsible must feel the full force of US law.

In one case, Mr Gotterson says representatives of the Australian detainee David Hicks claimed a fellow prisoner had been tied to a post and fired upon with rubber bullets.

"Now it was quite easy perhaps to dismiss that as imaginative, but when one hears of the horrendous treatment of prisoners in Iraq, the consciousness becomes pricked and one starts to think well yes, maybe there is some credit or truth in the allegations that were made about Guantanamo Bay last October."

The Law Council of Australia says an inquiry into claims of mistreatment of detainees in the American military base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba is long overdue.United States authorities have ordered an investigation in the wake of revelations about prisoner abuse at US controlled jails in Iraq and Afghanistan.The Law Council's president, Bob Gotterson, says if allegations that prisoners at Guantanamo Bay have been beaten and interrogated at gunpoint prove to be true, those responsible must feel the full force of US law.In one case, Mr Gotterson says representatives of the Australian detainee David Hicks claimed a fellow prisoner had been tied to a post and fired upon with rubber bullets."Now it was quite easy perhaps to dismiss that as imaginative, but when one hears of the horrendous treatment of prisoners in Iraq, the consciousness becomes pricked and one starts to think well yes, maybe there is some credit or truth in the allegations that were made about Guantanamo Bay last October." http://www9.sbs.com.au/theworldnews/region.php?id=84549 ®ion=7





By Lisa Davies

May 07, 2004

THE US mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners gave Australia even more reason to insist on the release of alleged terror suspect Mamdouh Habib, his lawyer said today.

Today marks two years since Habib, of Sydney, arrived at the US military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba after being arrested in Pakistan on suspicion of being involved with a terrorist organisation.

He has not been charged despite his lengthy imprisonment.

His lawyer, Stephen Hopper, who is not permitted to speak with his client, said shocking images of US troops abusing prisoners in Iraq cast doubts on how Habib was being treated at the US base.

Also this week, the US military acknowledged two guards at Guantanamo Bay had been disciplined over allegations of prisoner abuse.

Mr Hopper said he was extremely concerned about Habib's wellbeing, and called for an independent medical examination of his client.

"We are very concerned about his welfare, particularly since he has a pre-existing mental illness, being chronic depression," Mr Hopper said.

"Also, in light of the recent revelations about the treatment of prisoners in Iraq, Guantanamo Bay is a place that's not open to any scrutiny at all.

"There's no access to detainees by lawyers, their family or media.

"Because of that lack of scrutiny, anything could happen in there."

Mr Hopper said images had been released of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay being "chained to the floor in interrogations".

"What happens when people are detained without any accountability or scrutiny at all is (that) abuses can and do happen and that's been demonstrated in light of these prisoners in Iraq," he said.

Mr Hopper again called on the Federal Government to urgently make strong representations to the US Government for Habib's release.

"Enough is enough, Mr Habib should be returned to Australia and returned to his family," he said.

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday said the shocking images of mistreatment did not raise concern about the condition of Habib and fellow Australian David Hicks, who is also being held at Guantanamo Bay.

"Well the information we have is that those people (Hicks and Habib) are in good health. So the answer is no," Mr Howard said.

Release call over abuse scandalBy Lisa DaviesMay 07, 2004THE US mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners gave Australia even more reason to insist on the release of alleged terror suspect Mamdouh Habib, his lawyer said today.Today marks two years since Habib, of Sydney, arrived at the US military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba after being arrested in Pakistan on suspicion of being involved with a terrorist organisation.He has not been charged despite his lengthy imprisonment.His lawyer, Stephen Hopper, who is not permitted to speak with his client, said shocking images of US troops abusing prisoners in Iraq cast doubts on how Habib was being treated at the US base.Also this week, the US military acknowledged two guards at Guantanamo Bay had been disciplined over allegations of prisoner abuse.Mr Hopper said he was extremely concerned about Habib's wellbeing, and called for an independent medical examination of his client."We are very concerned about his welfare, particularly since he has a pre-existing mental illness, being chronic depression," Mr Hopper said."Also, in light of the recent revelations about the treatment of prisoners in Iraq, Guantanamo Bay is a place that's not open to any scrutiny at all."There's no access to detainees by lawyers, their family or media."Because of that lack of scrutiny, anything could happen in there."Mr Hopper said images had been released of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay being "chained to the floor in interrogations"."What happens when people are detained without any accountability or scrutiny at all is (that) abuses can and do happen and that's been demonstrated in light of these prisoners in Iraq," he said.Mr Hopper again called on the Federal Government to urgently make strong representations to the US Government for Habib's release."Enough is enough, Mr Habib should be returned to Australia and returned to his family," he said.Prime Minister John Howard yesterday said the shocking images of mistreatment did not raise concern about the condition of Habib and fellow Australian David Hicks, who is also being held at Guantanamo Bay."Well the information we have is that those people (Hicks and Habib) are in good health. So the answer is no," Mr Howard said. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0 ,5744,9495829%255E1702,00.html





A third guard was acquitted in a court-martial of criminal charges after using pepper spray on a prisoner and a fourth guard was given counseling after admitting to kicking the bed of a prisoner inside a hospital at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, said Air Force Maj. Michael Shavers, a Pentagon spokesman.



Allegations of misconduct by two other guards were not substantiated, Shavers said. The United States holds at Guantanamo about 600 non-U.S. citizens caught in what President Bush calls the global war on terrorism.



Human rights groups long have criticized the conditions under which prisoners are held at Guantanamo, and the announcement came as the United States faced withering criticism for the abuse and humiliation of prisoners at the hands of American forces in Iraq.



An Army Reserve specialist was charged with dereliction of duty and assault on a detainee following an incident in April 2003, Shavers said. The guard was accused of hitting a prisoner who already had been subdued.



In noncriminal punishment, the guard was reduced in rank to private, given 45 days of extra duty and reassigned to other duties, officials said.



ANOTHER GUARD PUNISHED



Another Army Reserve specialist was charged with assault in September 2002 in an incident in which the guard sought to spray a prisoner with a hose after the prisoner threw what was believed to be toilet water at the guard. The guard was reduced in rank to private -- although that rank reduction was later reversed -- and was given seven days of restricted movement and reassigned to other duties.



http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5076077 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military has punished two Army Reserve soldiers who assaulted prisoners while working as guards at the Guantanamo Bay prison for terrorism suspects, defense officials said on Friday.A third guard was acquitted in a court-martial of criminal charges after using pepper spray on a prisoner and a fourth guard was given counseling after admitting to kicking the bed of a prisoner inside a hospital at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, said Air Force Maj. Michael Shavers, a Pentagon spokesman.Allegations of misconduct by two other guards were not substantiated, Shavers said. The United States holds at Guantanamo about 600 non-U.S. citizens caught in what President Bush calls the global war on terrorism.Human rights groups long have criticized the conditions under which prisoners are held at Guantanamo, and the announcement came as the United States faced withering criticism for the abuse and humiliation of prisoners at the hands of American forces in Iraq.An Army Reserve specialist was charged with dereliction of duty and assault on a detainee following an incident in April 2003, Shavers said. The guard was accused of hitting a prisoner who already had been subdued.In noncriminal punishment, the guard was reduced in rank to private, given 45 days of extra duty and reassigned to other duties, officials said.ANOTHER GUARD PUNISHEDAnother Army Reserve specialist was charged with assault in September 2002 in an incident in which the guard sought to spray a prisoner with a hose after the prisoner threw what was believed to be toilet water at the guard. The guard was reduced in rank to private -- although that rank reduction was later reversed -- and was given seven days of restricted movement and reassigned to other duties.



http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/15022002/15022200204.htm Guantanamo: To assert control and speed up the process, U.S. soldiers are using gurneys to shuttle to interrogation able-bodied as well as wounded al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects, commanders confirmed 6 Feb., reported Miami Herald. Commanders made the admission as news photographers documented for a second time in less than a week a curious parade through high grass around Camp X-Ray: Military Police pushing huge-wheeled stretchers along a dirt path to deliver a manacled and shackled man in an orange jumpsuit to a windowless, wooden interrogation hut.



It is two years since Habib, of Sydney, arrived at the US military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba after being arrested in Pakistan on suspicion of being involved with a terrorist organisation. He has not been charged despite his lengthy imprisonment.

His lawyer, Stephen Hopper, who is not permitted to speak with his client, said shocking images of US troops abusing prisoners in Iraq cast doubts on how Habib was being treated at the American base.

Also this week, the US military acknowledged two guards at Guantanamo Bay had been disciplined over allegations of prisoner abuse.

Mr Hopper said he was extremely concerned about Habib's wellbeing, and called for an independent medical examination of his client.

"We are very concerned about his welfare, particularly since he has a pre-existing mental illness, being chronic depression," Mr Hopper said.

"Also, in light of the recent revelations about the treatment of prisoners in Iraq, Guantanamo Bay is a place that's not open to any scrutiny at all.

"There's no access to detainees by lawyers, their family or media. Because of that lack of scrutiny, anything could happen in there."

Mr Hopper said images had been released of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay being "chained to the floor in interrogations".

"What happens when people are detained without any accountability or scrutiny at all is (that) abuses can and do happen and that's been demonstrated in light of these prisoners in Iraq," he said.

...

Prime Minister John Howard said the shocking images of mistreatment DID NOT raise concern

about the condition of Habib and fellow Australian David Hicks, who is also being held at Guantanamo Bay.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/07/1083911405667.html America's mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners gave Australia even more reason to insist on the release of alleged terror suspect Mamdouh Habib, his lawyer said.It is two years since Habib, of Sydney, arrived at the US military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba after being arrested in Pakistan on suspicion of being involved with a terrorist organisation. He has not been charged despite his lengthy imprisonment.His lawyer, Stephen Hopper, who is not permitted to speak with his client, said shocking images of US troops abusing prisoners in Iraq cast doubts on how Habib was being treated at the American base.Also this week, the US military acknowledged two guards at Guantanamo Bay had been disciplined over allegations of prisoner abuse.Mr Hopper said he was extremely concerned about Habib's wellbeing, and called for an independent medical examination of his client."We are very concerned about his welfare, particularly since he has a pre-existing mental illness, being chronic depression," Mr Hopper said."Also, in light of the recent revelations about the treatment of prisoners in Iraq, Guantanamo Bay is a place that's not open to any scrutiny at all."There's no access to detainees by lawyers, their family or media. Because of that lack of scrutiny, anything could happen in there."Mr Hopper said images had been released of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay being "chained to the floor in interrogations"."What happens when people are detained without any accountability or scrutiny at all is (that) abuses can and do happen and that's been demonstrated in light of these prisoners in Iraq," he said....Prime Minister John Howard said the shocking images of mistreatment DID NOT raise concernabout the condition of Habib and fellow Australian David Hicks, who is also being held at Guantanamo Bay.





Despite claims this week by Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to be "stunned" by abuses in Abu Ghraib, and that these were an "exception" and "not a pattern or practice", Amnesty International has presented consistent allegations of brutality and cruelty by US agents against detainees at the highest levels of the US Government, including the White House, the Department of Defense, and the State Department for the past two years.



Last July, the organization raised allegations of torture and ill-treatment of Iraqi detainees by US and Coalition forces in a memorandum to the US Government and Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Iraq. The allegations included beatings, electric shocks, sleep deprivation, hooding, and prolonged forced standing and kneeling. It received no response nor any indication from the administration or the CPA that an investigation took place.



Despite repeated requests, Amnesty International has been denied access to all US detention facilities.



"If the administration has nothing to hide, it should immediately end incommunicado detention and grant access to independent human rights monitors, including Amnesty International and the United Nations, to all detention facilities," said Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International.



"The US administration has shown a consistent disregard for the Geneva Conventions and basic principles of law, human rights and decency. This has created a climate in which US soldiers feel they can dehumanize and degrade prisoners with impunity.



"What we now see in Iraq is the logical consequence of the relentless pursuit of the 'war on terror' regardless of the costs to human rights and the rules of war."



Amnesty International has expressed concern about the mixed messages which the US government has sent regarding its commitment to international human rights standards.



Abuses have not been restricted to Abu Ghraib. Numerous people held in the US Air Bases in Bagram and Kandahar in Afghanistan say they were subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in US custody, and the administration has failed to comply with the Geneva Conventions with regard to the Guantánamo detainees.



Former Guantánamo detainee Wazir Mohammad told Amnesty International of excessive and cruel use of shackles and handcuffs, sleep deprivation, and of being forced to crawl on his knees from his cell to the interrogation room during his detention in Afghanistan.



At Bagram and Kandahar, he was held incommunicado, with no opportunity to challenge the lawfulness of his detention, no lawyer, and no access to his family. He never met a delegate from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In over a year in Guantánamo he says he met an ICRC delegate once, on the first day.



Former Guantánamo prisoner, Walid al-Qadasi, was held in a secret detention facility in Kabul. He said prisoners termed the first night of interrogation by US agents "the black night". He said that: "They cut our clothes with scissors, left us naked and took photos of us ... handcuffed our hands behind our backs, blindfolded us and started interrogating us ... threatened me with death, accusing me of belonging to al-Qa'ida." He alleged that detainees were subjected to sleep deprivation, including through use of loud music.



An individual who worked in Guantánamo told Amnesty International that most if not all detainees he had contact with there claimed to have been physically abused in Kandahar or Bagram. This person expressed no surprise at the evidence from Iraq, and stated that abuse in Afghanistan appeared to be part of softening up detainees for interrogation and detention.



Amnesty International is concerned that the investigation headed by Major General Antonio Taguba, which found "systematic and illegal abuse of detainees" in Abu Ghraib, was not intended for public release, and that the administration's current response only came once the report and photographic evidence became public.



http://news.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR510772004 Amnesty International said that it has documented a pattern of abuse by US agents against detainees, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, stretching back over the past two years.Despite claims this week by Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to be "stunned" by abuses in Abu Ghraib, and that these were an "exception" and "not a pattern or practice", Amnesty International has presented consistent allegations of brutality and cruelty by US agents against detainees at the highest levels of the US Government, including the White House, the Department of Defense, and the State Department for the past two years.Last July, the organization raised allegations of torture and ill-treatment of Iraqi detainees by US and Coalition forces in a memorandum to the US Government and Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Iraq. The allegations included beatings, electric shocks, sleep deprivation, hooding, and prolonged forced standing and kneeling. It received no response nor any indication from the administration or the CPA that an investigation took place.Despite repeated requests, Amnesty International has been denied access to all US detention facilities."If the administration has nothing to hide, it should immediately end incommunicado detention and grant access to independent human rights monitors, including Amnesty International and the United Nations, to all detention facilities," said Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International."The US administration has shown a consistent disregard for the Geneva Conventions and basic principles of law, human rights and decency. This has created a climate in which US soldiers feel they can dehumanize and degrade prisoners with impunity."What we now see in Iraq is the logical consequence of the relentless pursuit of the 'war on terror' regardless of the costs to human rights and the rules of war."Amnesty International has expressed concern about the mixed messages which the US government has sent regarding its commitment to international human rights standards.Abuses have not been restricted to Abu Ghraib. Numerous people held in the US Air Bases in Bagram and Kandahar in Afghanistan say they were subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in US custody, and the administration has failed to comply with the Geneva Conventions with regard to the Guantánamo detainees.Former Guantánamo detainee Wazir Mohammad told Amnesty International of excessive and cruel use of shackles and handcuffs, sleep deprivation, and of being forced to crawl on his knees from his cell to the interrogation room during his detention in Afghanistan.At Bagram and Kandahar, he was held incommunicado, with no opportunity to challenge the lawfulness of his detention, no lawyer, and no access to his family. He never met a delegate from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In over a year in Guantánamo he says he met an ICRC delegate once, on the first day.Former Guantánamo prisoner, Walid al-Qadasi, was held in a secret detention facility in Kabul. He said prisoners termed the first night of interrogation by US agents "the black night". He said that: "They cut our clothes with scissors, left us naked and took photos of us ... handcuffed our hands behind our backs, blindfolded us and started interrogating us ... threatened me with death, accusing me of belonging to al-Qa'ida." He alleged that detainees were subjected to sleep deprivation, including through use of loud music.An individual who worked in Guantánamo told Amnesty International that most if not all detainees he had contact with there claimed to have been physically abused in Kandahar or Bagram. This person expressed no surprise at the evidence from Iraq, and stated that abuse in Afghanistan appeared to be part of softening up detainees for interrogation and detention.Amnesty International is concerned that the investigation headed by Major General Antonio Taguba, which found "systematic and illegal abuse of detainees" in Abu Ghraib, was not intended for public release, and that the administration's current response only came once the report and photographic evidence became public.





As investigators probe the abuse of Iraqi prisoners in U.S. custody, many observers say Sept. 11 changed how the United States thinks about the use of torture during coercive interrogations of suspects. Experts say U.S. officials have allowed suspect tactics to creep into interrogations, although the rules officially governing them stayed the same. Hear NPR's Mary Louise Kelly.



http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1876011 May 7, 2004As investigators probe the abuse of Iraqi prisoners in U.S. custody, many observers say Sept. 11 changed how the United States thinks about the use of torture during coercive interrogations of suspects. Experts say U.S. officials have allowed suspect tactics to creep into interrogations, although the rules officially governing them stayed the same. Hear NPR's Mary Louise Kelly.





While aimed at breaking the prisoners, the techniques developed by the psychologists are designed to skirt the Geneva Conventions and U.N. prohibitions of torture, they said.









Typical examples are sleep deprivation, allegedly used at the U.S. detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and forcing captives to stand still for extended periods, said Gerald Gray, founder of the Center for Survivors of Torture in San Jose.



http://www.sacbee.com/24hour/special_reports/iraq/bee/story/9207743p-10133045c.html Graphic images depicting abuse and humiliation of Iraqi captives at the hands of American forces will likely focus attention on the role of psychologists advising the military on interrogation techniques, experts following the controversy said.While aimed at breaking the prisoners, the techniques developed by the psychologists are designed to skirt the Geneva Conventions and U.N. prohibitions of torture, they said.Typical examples are sleep deprivation, allegedly used at the U.S. detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and forcing captives to stand still for extended periods, said Gerald Gray, founder of the Center for Survivors of Torture in San Jose.





http://electroniciraq.net/news/1484.shtml Viewing recent events and deciphering the conceptual underpinnings of Israeli and US military actions in the West Bank, Gaza, Falluja, and Abu Ghraib prison, as well as Guantanamo, it is hard not to conclude that US and Israeli decision makers view themselves as "ubermenschen," ultra-humans, while casting Arabs and Muslims in the complementary, contrasting role of semi- or quasi-human creatures whose rights, dignity, lives, health, future, wealth, security we can steal, break or violate at will without any compunctions. We can even have a good laugh while violating others -- and the laws meant to protect us all.