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News :: Civil & Human Rights : Government Secrecy : International Relations : Iraq : Regime |
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Making Torture Disappear |
Current rating: 0 |
by ML
(No verified email address) |
24 May 2004
Modified: 08:14:24 PM |
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How seriously Bush and the miliary take the torture of Iraqis at the hands of US troops can be seen by the measures they have taken to prevent --- a future reappearance of any incriminating photos, videos, or emails. |
How seriously Bush and the miliary take the torture of Iraqis at the hands of US troops can be seen by the measures they have taken to prevent --- a future reappearance of any incriminating photos, videos, or emails.
AFP reports (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/23/1085250873479.html) that camera phones have been banned at all US military installations in Iraq. According to a Pentagon source:
"Digital cameras, camcorders and cellphones with cameras have been prohibited in military compounds in Iraq."
Furthermore, a "total ban throughout the US military" is in the works for such common, but potentially embarrassing, technology. So much for the freedom to use such typically American gear being used to document unwholesome military adventures, along with that camel ride you promised the kids you'd get pictures of.
In addition, the restrictions on technology go even further, including for troops still on US soil. The Soldiers For The Truth website (http://www.sftt.org) reports that free email services such as Hotmail have been blocked, beginning on May 20, from all computer systems available to military personnel.
A "senior USAF NCO" writes:
"I spoke to several NJ Army Guard transportation NCOs just back from Iraq and they told me that availability of free email services like YAHOO and HOTMAIL had been shut down on military provided internet computers in theater.
"In the ANG here in CONUS, wing level communications flights and squadrons are DENYING or removing access to free email services for members of each ANG unit. I LOST my access to both YAHOO mail and HOTMAIL on 5/20/04. Prior to that, I used to make contact using these sites even while at my unit. Now, I can no longer do so.
"I also spoke to a number of ANG members from NJ just back from Balad AB and Baghdad IAP and they confirmed what the ARNG NCOs said, i.e. access to civilian email accounts have been denied.
"Without having been there myself, I can only surmise that the military is AFRAID of what might go back and forth, especially from reservists and guardsmen who don't have careers to worry about like the regulars do.
"Many of the folks I spoke to used words like "censorship" and "big brother" because they know that their mil domain email accounts are subject to monitoring. These same folks said they feared saying anything critical on a mil domain computer for fear of prosecution under the UCMJ."
Even if some servicemember happened to have a film camera or offered personal testimony to the torture inflicted in Iraqis, it would do little to help the prosecution of war criminals. Under provisions of the proposed new United Nations resolution on Iraq (http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1222817,00.html, British and US forces will continue to be immune from any suits brought in Iraq over such crimes. This further undermines any illusion that sovereignty will be transferred to the interim Iraqi government after June 30.
Finally, if troops who refuse duty because they refuse to participate in war crimes are sentenced to the same length of prison terms as those found guilty of such abuses (http://www.ucimc.org/newswire/display/18005/index.php) there is precious little incentive for any honest, ethical whistleblowers to step forward with the truth.
It's obvious that the Pentagon, Rumsfeld, and Bush are far more active in working to avoid any future disclosures than they are in getting to the bottom of such crimes -- or going to the top, if need be -- to be certain that such abuses never occur again. |
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