U.S. Soldiers Rode the Old Woman Like a Donkey

[Spence]

LONDON - U.S. soldiers who detained an elderly Iraqi woman last year placed a harness on her, made her crawl on all fours and rode her like a donkey, Prime Minister Tony Blair's personal human rights envoy to Iraq, said Wednesday.

The envoy, legislator Ann Clwyd, said she had investigated the claims of the woman in her 70s and believed they were true.

During five visits to Iraq in the last 18 months, Clwyd said, she stopped at British and U.S. jails, including Abu Ghraib, and questioned everyone she could about the woman's claims. But she did not say whether the people questioned included U.S. forces or commanders.
...
Clwyd, 67, is a veteran politician of the governing Labour Party and a strong Blair supporter who regularly visits Iraq and reports back on issues such as human rights, the delivery of food and medical supplies to Iraqis, and Iraq's Kurdish minority. Her job as Blair's human rights envoy is unpaid and advisory.

Clwyd said the Iraqi woman was arrested in Iraq in July and accused of having links to a former member of Saddam Hussein's regime — a charge she denied.

The abuse occurred last year in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison and at another coalition detention center, Clwyd said.

"She was held for about six weeks without charge," the envoy told Wednesday's Evening Standard newspaper. "During that time she was insulted and told she was a donkey. A harness was put on her, and an American rode on her back."

Clwyd said the woman has recovered physically but remains traumatized.

Source

[flave1969]

A can of worms have most definately been opened here. Once this has all come to light I can see Rumsfeld gone. It is becoming clear he knew about the goings on in Abu Gharaib and other places as early as January. It does seem that Bush was kept in the dark, but even so you have to ask that a man who surrounds himself with people like Rumsfeld and Cheney has too be held to some sort of accountability.

You may not be aware but the Daily Mirror published pictures seemingly showing British troops abusing an Iraqi prisoner. Trouble is it looks like they were elaborate hoaxes. Rifles were wrong, there was a distinct lack of bruising and blood on the supposed Iraqi. The troops wore no watch, the boots were not tied correctly.

All the events both involving US and UK troops have caused much debate here in England. The capturing of hearts and minds will never be achieved the damage this whole sorry episode has done is incalculable.

[Spence]

There are some photos being distributed by some Arabic scandal sheet which purport to show U.S. soldiers raping Iraqi women. They're hoaxes. Very crude fakes. Unfortunately, in light of the real photos we've seen, some people in the Arab world will believe these phony images.

I think the jury is still out on the British photos, but according to Amnesty International, four Iraqi prisoners have died while in British custody. That's definitely something which bears further investigation. The hoaxes need to be distinguished from the genuine photos of abuse at Abu Ghraib, which were recovered by a U.S. army investigator from the cameras of American troops.

[RedskinsDave]

They apparently do not see the prisoners as human. That's a far deeper concern even than their actions.

[akhhorus]

Originally Posted by RedskinsDave

They apparently do not see the prisoners as human. That's a far deeper concern even than their actions.

thats part of this scandal: destroying our moral superiority

[Axegrinder]

Kerry's allegations in Vietnam might not be so far fetched,huh?

[akhhorus]

Originally Posted by Axegrinder

Kerry's allegations in Vietnam might not be so far fetched,huh?

nor was his assertion in 1971 that US troops need to regulated by UN oversight. And I dont want to hear one complaint about soverignty, US troops working for the UN has happened many times and hasnt destroyed this country.