The Brutality of Empire

Information about U.S. military abuses in Iraq at the beginning of the war is slowly leaking out thanks to several Freedom of Information Act requests made by the ACLU. Detractors and haters of the ACLU claim that the organization is hurting the image of the United States by uncovering this information. I believe it is the right of every American citizen to have access to this information--to have access to the truth and know how our tax dollars are being spent in this illegal war based on "dead wrong" intelligence. We have now learned that our tax dollars have been used to enact policies of torture as our soldiers have been ordered to beat, maim and kill Iraqi citizens, detainees and prisoners.

The ACLU has learned that interrogation techniques approved by Lieutenant General Sanchez included intimidation by dogs, stress positions, and sensory deprivation. The Sanchez memo states that U.S. military officials wanted to exploit the Arab fear of dogs and use that to their advantage.

More documents released by the Department of Defense to the ACLU indicate in testimony that U.S. soldiers were ordered to "beat the fuck out of" detainees.  This trail of documents indicates a cohesive policy of torture and abuse that originated from high up in the chain of command. These aren't sporadic incidents committed by a few bad apples. General Ricardo Sanchez, Alberto "Torture Czar" Gonzales and Donald Rumsfeld are the culprits.

Statements refer to shocking of 16-18 year old prisoner on feet and neck while he was in zip cuffs (1489), hitting looter with pistol, knocking him unconscious and "left him there bleeding and in zip cuffs" (1491). Statement refers to orders by Bulldog 6 to "take them back and beat the fuck out of them", soldier states that although "we could shoot the looters" he didn't want to kill them so made them strip to embarrass them instead. (1448; 1477; 1835) Soldier noted that "Bulldog" element shot and killed a looter (1418). Another statement notes that when looters were brought to Bulldog, Bulldog said that it was too much paperwork to keep them, and instructed soldiers to "ruff them up, or whatever we wanted" and let them go (1511). Soldier admitted to "thump[ing] detainee on the head." (1466).

The ACLU has learned that interrogation techniques approved by Lieutenant General Sanchez included intimidation by dogs, stress positions, and sensory deprivation. The Sanchez memo states that U.S. military officials wanted to exploit the Arab fear of dogs and use that to their advantage.

More documents released by the Department of Defense to the ACLU indicate in testimony that U.S. soldiers were ordered to "beat the fuck out of" detainees. This trail of documents indicates a cohesive policy of torture and abuse that originated from high up in the chain of command. These aren't sporadic incidents committed by a few bad apples. General Ricardo Sanchez, Alberto "Torture Czar" Gonzales and Donald Rumsfeld are the culprits.

Statements refer to shocking of 16-18 year old prisoner on feet and neck while he was in zip cuffs (1489), hitting looter with pistol, knocking him unconscious and "left him there bleeding and in zip cuffs" (1491). Statement refers to orders by Bulldog 6 to "take them back and beat the fuck out of them", soldier states that although "we could shoot the looters" he didn't want to kill them so made them strip to embarrass them instead. (1448; 1477; 1835) Soldier noted that "Bulldog" element shot and killed a looter (1418). Another statement notes that when looters were brought to Bulldog, Bulldog said that it was too much paperwork to keep them, and instructed soldiers to "ruff them up, or whatever we wanted" and let them go (1511). Soldier admitted to "thump[ing] detainee on the head." (1466).(full source here)

Does anyone care how our tax dollars have been used to oppress and destroy an entire society? Our "liberal media" sure doesn't. They've been too busy covering a story about a braindead woman the past few weeks.

Unhinged, completely unhinged     Wolverine Politics