And just to re-balance the discussion....<g>

Just to balance the discussion, I though I might share a bit on this topic.

I served as a health care provider in both Abu G and another facility during 2006. This was after the scandal at Abu, with all the tacky pictures. Poor leadership, immature actions and poor training IMO.

So we were told. However, if you look at the facts a completely different picture emerges. Every indecency perpetrated on those inmates was specifically designed to degrade and humiliate them in ways targeted at the Arab psyche. Treated like dogs. Forced to disrobe in front of women. Forced to wear women's clothes. Force to perform homosexual acts. All of it photographed so there could be no denial. Make no mistake, this wasn't random abuse, it was intentionally crafted to achieve a specific effect: debasement of self-worth and humiliation in the eyes of ones' peers. A form of brainwashing and extortion (photos) designed to turn them into operatives or informers, most likely. This sort of program could only have come from the highest level, unless you imagine Lindy English was some kind of expert on Arab psychology. Personally, I think she was part of the experiment.

I was directly involved in health care for level I-V detainees. We were trained beyond our core competencies for two months to ensure our treatment of the detainees was with dignity and respect. We as a unit succeeded in that mission, and I am proud of the unit I served with to the person. It was a growth process to be sure. Treating detainees that wanted to see you dead and mutilated took a great deal of integrity. It took self restraint and consistent leadership to ensure that all the individuals of our unit held to higher ideals.

I have to say having treated hundred of prisoners, that I never witnessed, nor heard spoken of what your article speaks to. The only evidence of brutal treatment I witness was between detainees. They could be VERY harsh to each other. I will not go into details, but it was as in any prison. Rough on the weak. Politically charged, deep hatred. Shocking.

It's not surprising that you didn't witness anything personally, having arrived after the fact. You were part of the clean-up. Damage control, I think they call it. Still, there's those pesky photos that just won't go away. As for how inmates treated each other, maybe more care should have been taken as to who was cast in with who? Or perhaps that was intentional as well?

I was not part of interrogation teams, only a provider. It's possible, but very unlikely these techniques were happening at the facilities that I served in. I'm not defending the techniques mentioned, nor the conflict on the whole. Nor can I speak to other facilities. I do know that serving there took its toll on me. I also know in was much harder on the MPs, primarily because they had to keep prisoners from harming each other, and witnessed the darkest of human behavior.

In all the time you were there, did you ever stop to ask yourself "why am I here?" You know, like they did in Vietnam? After all, Iraq was an ally before the invasion of Kuwait - a bulwark against Islamic extremism I think was the phrase. So, how did Saddam suddenly become best pals with Bin Laden? Last I heard it was Saudis, not Iraquis who hijacked those planes. Weapons of mass destruction? Well, yeah... those were there in abundance - at least the ones the US provided during the Iran/Iraq war. Chemicals mostly. Like the ones used on the Kurds. No yellow cake though. You'd have had to go through the French to get that stuff out of Niger. But don't ask me. Ask Valerie Plame. You know, the patriotic CIA op whose entire network was exposed just to get back at her husband who wouldn't go along with the Big Lie? This is all well documented, as I'm sure you know.

I suggest that these techniques were not as widespread as the article indicates. It is easy to pile on hatred when 'the bad guys' are in the presses cross-hairs. Head hunting and the blame game will not advance the core issues involved. Greed, power, fear, negative ego et al. We have to mature both individually and as a group to accomplish this IMHO. Small moves. Our behaviour will unlikely change overnight.

Behaviour such as this will only change when those responsible (and I don't mean little Lindy) are brought to justice. For that we need more Craig Murrays. A lot more.

I take nothing away from the honesty and integrity of Craig Murray, a seemingly lone voice in sea of group-think. Indeed it is difficult not to demonize either side in any conflict, and yet our growth may lie on that very path. Good evening to you all. Boot (US Army Ret)

Craig Murray has a serious set IMO. I wish more people could find theirs.

And by way of disclosure, I worked with political refugees in the 70's from places like Chile, El Salvador, Nicaragua, etc. All victims of security forces who were trained in anti-terrorist and counter-insurgency techniques at Fort Benning Georgia, otherwise known as School of The Americas. Check it out: http://www.soaw.org

ebear