Exclusive: Red Cross Report

"Report of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on the Treatment by the Coalition Forces of Prisoners of War" The 24 page report can be read in it's entirety at http://www.Information clearing house.com

www.informationclearinghouse.com

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Geneva (ICRC) – The Wall Street Journal of 7 May has published extensive excerpts from a confidential document entitled "Report of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on the Treatment by the Coalition Forces of Prisoners of War and Other Protected Persons by the Geneva Conventions in Iraq During Arrest, Internment and Interrogation" of January 2004.

"I am profoundly disturbed that the report was made available for publication without the consent of the ICRC." declared ICRC president Jakob Kellenberger. "The ICRC fulfils its mandate to protect persons detained in armed conflict by addressing problems and violations through private approaches to the detaining authorities and their superiors. This long-standing practice allows us to act in a decisive manner, while ensuring that our delegates have continued access to detainees around the world."

The ICRC has visited persons held by the coalition forces and submitted its confidential reports to the authorities responsible on the basis of its mandate under the Geneva Conventions.

<snip>

The ICRC’s findings prompted it to make repeated requests to the coalition authorities that they take corrective action.

"These findings clearly underline the necessity for the authorities concerned to strike a balance between the legitimate security concerns of States and the protection of human dignity. This lies at the heart of international humanitarian law, which must be preserved, upheld and promoted at all times." said Jakob Kellenberger. "The ICRC reiterates its firm intention of continuing to help all persons protected by international humanitarian law in all areas of armed conflict, remaining true to its established principles and practice."


http://www.icrc.org/Web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/iwpList4/7B39222647D50758C1256E8D0054B21D

www.hhredcross.org that is my Hoosier Hills Chapter site, then look for crossnet link.

"In May 2003, the ICRC sent to the CF a memorandum based on over 200 allegations of ill-treatment of prisoners of war during capture and interrogation at collection points, battle group stations and temporary holding areas. The allegations were consistent with marks on bodies observed by the medical delegate."

"In early July <2003> the ICRC sent the CF a working paper detailing approximately 50 allegations of ill treatment in the military intelligence section of Camp Cropper, at Baghdad International Airport..... He alleged that he had been hooded and cuffed with flexi-cuffs, threatened to be tortured and killed, urinated on, kicked in the head, lower back and groin, force-fed a baseball which was tied into the mouth using a scarf and deprived of sleep for four consecutive days... An ICRC medical examination revealed haematoma in the lower back, blood in the urine, sensory loss in the right hand due to tight handcuffing with flexi-cuffs, and a broken rib."

Rummy doesn't want to call this torture?? They knew this stuff was going on a year ago, and sure wasn't the work of a few. Damning report.

One can only hope that the publication of the brutalities described will result in the fall of the bush* administration. Otherwise, it well may be only a faint forecast of things to come.

just how long has this crap been going on? The trouble is that any good that we may be doing on the ground has been washed away by the mistreatment of prisoners. We made a big fuss over Saddam and his "rape rooms" and other forms of torture and then some poorly trained morons turn around and do this. A dozen or so idiots crap in the pool and mess it up for everyone else. The Main Idiot at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is putting the blame on the guards themselves but the real blame belongs to him and his cronies Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld.

Welcome to DU!! :toast: