US Beefs up Prison Security in Iraq (moved from ATSNN)

The US has announced it will be sending 700 paratroops to Iraq. Around 10,800 people are currently being held as prisoners in Abu Ghraib, Camp Bucca and Camp Cropper says the report. No news yet whether these 700 paratroops will be taking over from guards already stationed there or if they will be counted as new additions.



Now that Gitmo is being sorted out one wonders if these new troops will be replacing the ones already stationed there. Might do the troops some good to get new reinforcements. However, if this is to add on to the troops already there I would be wondering why they need so many?

Yahoo has much better coverage on the story with more details that answer also all of your questions.

Late next month, the U.S. military is also expected to complete a new detention facility called Fort Suse to hold 2,000 detainees at a Russian-built former military barracks near Sulaimaniya in northern Iraq, officials said.

There now are about 12,000 prisoners jailed in U.S. military detention facilities in Iraq, officials said. About 10,800 are at Abu Ghraib, Camp Bucca and Camp Cropper, with the rest detained at smaller facilities operated by various U.S. military brigades and divisions, officials added.

The paratroopers might serve in a site-protection role at the main prisons, provide security in transporting prisoners from one place to another, Army officials said, while a small number could serve as prison guards.


Yahoo

[edit on 8/18/2005 by shots]