NEWS: Breakthrough Made in Identifying Prisoners Who Died in U.S. Custody

The AP, using documents provided by the U.S. military and the ACLU, have compiled a much more complete list of prisoners who have died in U.S. custody in Afghanistan and Iraq. The new toll stands at 108. The list includes captives killed while trying to escape, and captives killed during prison riots.



This story may be old news to some, but the list compiled is by far the most complete yet. It shows that while there were a number of deaths under mysterious circumstances, the majority are, at least officialy, justified. Most of the dead were killed on the battlefield and during supposed escape attempts. Of course the truth surrounding these events will probably never be known.

The most disturbing deaths are those that involved the torture and abuse of various prisoners. One died while gagged and shackled, another died while being hung from a post in the wall of his prison. Many others died during interogation. It really makes one wonder, is the cure deadlier than the disease? What sort of damage does this story do to the credibility of the American Armed Forces?

I think we all understand how difficult their job is, but stories like this undermine public trust, and inspire resentment in the people we're supposedly trying to help. It's very similar to stories of police abuse in the States, all it takes is one bad apple to ruin the reputation of the whole bunch.

Related News Links:
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US credibility is damaged by this - and the only way to fix it is with a full investigation. ...People in other countries and the USA are calling for top officials to be put on line and I agree - scapegoating won't work any more. This is not a "PR problem," and shouldn't be handled like one.

_Unidentified male, Kabul, 2002. Justice Department, CIA investigated, but no prosecution.
_Mohammed Hussain Basim, July 12, 2003. Iraq.
_Mohamed Najem Abed, Aug. 6, 2003, Abu Ghraib prison.
_Twfeek Najm Byatay Al-Zubydy Hamza Hassad, Aug. 7, 2003, Diwania.
_Wathik Mihdy, Aug. 11, 2003, Abu Ghraib.
_Dham Spah, Aug. 13, 2003, Abu Ghraib.
_Ehad Kazam Taled, Aug. 20, 2003, Abu Ghraib.
_Tariq Zaid Mohamed, Aug. 22, 2003. Iraq.
_Abureda Lafta Abdul Kareem, 44, Dec. 9, 2003, Mosul, Iraq. Died while bound and blindfolded.
_Nasef J. Ibrahim, 63, Jan. 8, 2004, Abu Ghraib.
_Bakir Yassen Rashed Al Hussen, Jan. 16, 2004. Iraq.
_Hassan Ekab Ahmed, Feb. 8, 2004, Tikrit.
_Saad Mohammed Abdullah, 54, Feb. 19, 2004, Abu Ghraib.
_Mohamed Abul Abbas, 55, March 8, 2004, Camp Cropper.
_Fathel Ibrahim Mahmood, April 19, 2004, Abu Ghraib.
_Abbas Alwad Fadil, April 19, 2004, Abu Ghraib.
_Hussein Abdullah Awad al-Juwadi, 75, May 11, 2004, Abu Ghraib.
_Abduhl Kaddim Altia, May 22, 2004, Abu Ghraib.
_Riadh Mohammed Abd al Razak, June 10, 2004, Abu Ghraib.
_Sher Mohammed Khan, Sept. 25, 2004, Salerno Firebase, Afghanistan.
_Mohammed Nahar, 71, October 2004, Qaim. Investigated by Navy.
_At least 8 more investigated by U.S. Army.
Unknown or still under investigation:
_Hadi Abdul Hussain Hasson al-Zubaidy, about 32, Unknown date in 2003. Camp Bucca.
_Nagem Sadoon Hatab, 52, June 6, 2003, Nasiriyah, Iraq. Marine said to accidentally break his neck. His boss, Marine Maj. Clarke Paulus, convicted of maltreatment and dereliction and dismissed from military. A sergeant received 60 days hard labor in a case related to Hatab investigation. Navy says investigation still open.
_Jassim Mohammed Saleh Hussein al-Obodi, Aug. 3, 2003, Camp Cropper.
_Mohammed Munim al-Izmerly, 65, Jan. 31, 2004, Camp Cropper. Investigation reopened.
_Fashad Mohamed, April 5, 2004, Iraq.
_Fawaz Badaa Najem, June 14, 2004, Abu Ghraib. Died in cell, cause undetermined after autopsy.
_Unidentified person, Fallujah, Nov. 13, 2004. Navy investigating shooting of wounded insurgent in mosque by a Marine.
_At least 3 more investigated by U.S. Navy.

Sorry for the long quote, but this is important. The above cases are just those which have been covered up, remain open, and cases where no charges have been filed.

In the few cases where charges have been filed, they are improper. For example, in several cases where CIA contractors killed prisoners under their care, they were charged with assault instead of murder. That makes no sense to me. If they killed men, they should be charged with murder..simple.

The fact that our troops and contractors are torturing people is beyond pale...

That's supposed to be the kind of thing we're fighting against! Remember the justifications for the war people? We went in to stop torture! This boggles my mind...

This is horrible, and then people wonder why the middle east hate Americans so much, Iraq was a "war of liberation" from the torture of a despicable tyrant.

It looks like we became the tyrant also.

marg
We have replaced one tyrant with another, and the people we proclaim to be helping perceive this accutely. They understand our hypocrisy better than the American people, and that is a ridiculous situation.

The governments of the world know our politicians better than we do! They understand our government's motivations better than we do!

It's insane, and I believe the double standard will be the root cause for the dissolution of the United States. We are divided, and divided we fall.