Ex-State Dept. official: Hundreds of detainees died in U.S. custody, at least 25 murdered.
Ex-State Dept. official: Hundreds of detainees died in U.S. custody, at least 25 murdered.
At today’s House Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil Rights hearing on torture, Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to Colin Powell, told Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) that over 100 detainees have died in U.S. custody, with up to 27 of these declared homicides:
NADLER: Your testimony said 100 detainees have died in detention; do you believe the 25 of those were in effect murdered?
WILKERSON: Mr. Chairman, I think the number’s actually higher than that now. Last time I checked it was 108.
A February 2006 Human Rights First report found that although hundreds of people in U.S. custody had died and eight people were tortured to death, only 12 deaths had “resulted in punishment of any kind for any U.S. official.”
Transcript:
NADLER: Colonel Wilkerson, in your prepared testimony, you write that “as I compiled my dossier for Secretary Powell, and as I did further research, and as my views grew firmer and firmer I had to reread that memo (of February 7, 2002), “I needed to balance in my own mind the overwhelming evidence that my own government had sanctioned abuse and torture, which at its worse had led to the murder of 25 detainees and at least 100 detainee deaths. We have murder at least 25 people in detention. That was the clear low point [lower end of the range] of the evidence.” Your testimony said 100 detainees have died in detention; do you believe the 25 of those were in effect murdered?
WILKERSON: Mr. Chairman, I think the number’s actually higher than that now. Last time I checked it was 108, and the total number that were declared homicides by the military services, or by the CIA, or others doing investigations, CID, and so forth — was 25, 26, 27.
NADLER: Were declared homicides?
WILKERSON: Right, starting as early as December 2001 in Afghanistan.
NADLER: And these were homicides committed by people engaged in interrogations?
WILKERSON: Or in guarding prisoners, or something like that. People who were in detention.
NADLER: They were in detention, not trying to escape or anything, declared homicides by our own authorities.
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Holy shit…
I’ll bet the liberal media is all over this.
**crickets**
June 18th, 2008 at 8:49 pm25 detainees murdered, found to be homicides, not escaping, but just from being in US custody. I read an account in McClatchy that said one prisoner died from asphyxiation after being hung from a ceiling for hours. Autopsy showed he had crushed ribs from a beating.
Sometimes words fail.
June 18th, 2008 at 8:56 pm2009-10: the war crimes trials begin…
The US will need a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to get past the crimes of this administration of gangsters.
June 18th, 2008 at 8:57 pmWasn’t it Rummy who said you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs. I would like to be a fly on the wall when he explains to God how his precious life is like breaking an egg
June 18th, 2008 at 8:59 pmShame, shame, shame. The boy Bush and his Cartel will be forever known as the “Butchers”. These last 7 years have been the return of the Spanish Inquisition.
June 18th, 2008 at 9:04 pmWhoever did it: MURDERERS!
Evil really does exist in our country, too.
June 18th, 2008 at 9:11 pmThat’s right. These prisoners were murdered.
And, since for the first time in history, approval for torturing prisoners came from the higher echelons in the current administration, Rumsfeld et al are war criminals.
Not that I had any doubt about it.
June 18th, 2008 at 9:14 pmThe worthless lying torturing murdering Bush regime thugs should all be locked up for the rest of their pathetic lives.
June 18th, 2008 at 9:19 pmPresident Obama needs to give Wilkerson the Medal of Freedom–after these thugs are prosecuted and jailed.
June 18th, 2008 at 9:22 pmAccording to the “official” Bush Administration version of the events on 9/11, of the nineteen hijackers, their countries of origin and numbers were as follows: Saudi Arabia (15), United Arab Emirates (2), Egypt (1) and Lebanon (1). Well, the United States is certainly teaching those countries a lesson, huh?
June 18th, 2008 at 9:22 pmThe “liberal” media will remain mum on the subject. They had to make a very tough choice: Spare this (mis)administration embarrassment that these revelations could cause, or follow up on this story -you know, real journalism- and help save innocent people from further atrocities.
Embarrass the criminals vs help innocent people who had nothing to do with 9/11.
Yeah, tough choice indeed.
June 18th, 2008 at 9:24 pmApologies OT…
June 18th, 2008 at 9:25 pmDid anyone else hearing anything about Larry Sinclair being arrested?
Here’s the link.
June 18th, 2008 at 9:25 pmReprehensible. Unforgivable. Un-American.
June 18th, 2008 at 9:33 pmTwo days in a row now that I’m just feeling a little… horrified. First the keeping the detainees from the Red Cross. Now this…
June 18th, 2008 at 9:46 pmTo those who believe that The Book of Revelations provides the road map to their future, if you voted for Bush and/or any of his like-minded cronies, knowing that they supported such actions, how do you think Jesus would weigh your deeds? If he seems concerned, would you apologize, or would you try to convince him that your beliefs and actions were justified?
According to the Bible, these are the words of Jesus in addressing those who are saved on Judgement Day, as written in Matthew 25:40 — “40″The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
Are here are Jesus’ words directed toward those who did not fare as well, as written in Matthew 25:45 — ” 45″He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’”
To those of you who consider yourselves to be devout Christians — How do you plan to account for your actions?
June 18th, 2008 at 9:57 pmWhat more does that complicit loser Pelosi need to put impeachment back on the table? She sucks.
June 18th, 2008 at 10:08 pmWell, let’s see…
bush administration Torturing people.
bush administration murdering people, beating deaths.
bush administration experimenting on our troops without their knowledge.
bush administration invading a sovereign nation under false pretenses.
bush administration spying on US citizens without a court order.
bush administration enabled and held unaccountable by a toothless legislature.
This is America….forget the “No True Scotsman” fallacy to pretend this somehow “isn’t America”….this is America now. This is bush’s america because we allow it; One day at a time.
We are allowing Pelosi, Reid, and Coward Conyers to let republican-nazi war criminals bush and cheney, rice and powell, rumsfeld and wolfowitz, Ashcroft and Gonzales, to walk around scot-free.
Reverend Wright was correct: God damn bush’s America. Cuz we don’t.
June 18th, 2008 at 10:14 pmDumb Questions:
If we don’t know who is there (as well as all sorts of covert places for extraordinary rendition), how do we know how many died (either died or were murdered)? Could the 100 be a lowball estimate ? Even then, considering the age and number of detainees, isn’t 100 a rather high death rate ?
Were the deaths investigated by an unbiased, independent group or by a group within the group that killed them ? If so, how many were on the “borderline” and declared “natural causes” when an independent commission may have voiced concerns of murder ? In short, someone with a bullet to the head died of the natural causes of bleeding.
June 18th, 2008 at 10:29 pmTanqueray Says:
Well, it’s a good start. Better we rid the world of this vermin before they rid the world of us. (well not you guys, I mean the normal people)
June 18th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
_______
Which vermin do you mean? Afghans? Muslims? People who pissed off some Tajiks who wanted to make a quick $5,000?
June 18th, 2008 at 10:29 pmcurmudgeon Says:
Saudi Arabia (15), United Arab Emirates (2), Egypt (1) and Lebanon (1). Well, the United States is certainly teaching those countries a lesson, huh?
June 18th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
____
Nah, doubt it. I’m sure the torturers in Saudi, Egyptian, Emirati, and Lebanese prisons where we’re renditioning people already know full well how to abuse prisoners.
June 18th, 2008 at 10:31 pmWhat will be the price of our complicity?
How will the United States attone for what it has done?
Is the Bush regime truly any different than Saddam Hussein’s?
Should they be made to suffer the same fate?
Should we be made to suffer the same fate as the countries we have invaded?
June 18th, 2008 at 10:37 pmI just bow my head and ask for forgiveness. I was a young person in the 60’s and thought it could never get any worse than it was then ………. how wrong I was. Please get active, get involved support Barack Obama in whatever way you can …….. it is time to stop the madness.
June 18th, 2008 at 10:40 pmGin Blossom’s just been flagged by me.
June 18th, 2008 at 10:42 pmThe time has come for all media outlets to call for Bush to resignt and take Cheney with him.
Bush has squandered the health, wealth and security of our nation. We are basically going to hell in a hand basket because of Bush, Cheney, the neocons and the GOP.
All sorts of information is now coming to light that indicates Bush and his henchmen were corrupt with no limits.
Americans should demand a resignation or impeachment, now before it is too late.
June 18th, 2008 at 10:47 pmfrom mcclatchy:
WASHINGTON — The Army general who led the investigation into prisoner abuse at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison accused the Bush administration Wednesday of committing “war crimes” and called for those responsible to be held to account.
more…
June 18th, 2008 at 10:54 pmjoe cantwell Says:
from mcclatchy:
June 18th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
_______
From the McClatchy article –
This is right out of the KUBARK manual. If you haven’t read The Shock Doctrine yet, you need to.
June 18th, 2008 at 11:01 pmThis imoral administration has to be prossecuted for WAR CRIMES!!!!!! Where is Rice????? She is trying to be under the media radar, thinking this will go away! HAGUE 2009!!!!! Feith is a WAR CRIMINAL, but his is also a COWARD!!!!! Feith, you area a COWARD! Your day in court will come, unless, like many war criminals cowards, you shoot yourself first!
June 18th, 2008 at 11:52 pmThe ACLU in 10/05 just about defined what BushCo authorized. No matter how much the Fed Admin. buttboys & girls squirm in the hearings, this is what their documents authorized:
http://action.aclu.org/torturefoia/released/102405/
http://www.aclu.org/intlhumanrights/gen/21236prs20051024.html
An excerpt (sorry for its length; it’s actually brief compared to the whole report)-
The records reveal the following facts:
A 27-year-old Iraqi male died while being interrogated by Navy Seals on April 5, 2004, in Mosul, Iraq. During his confinement he was hooded, flex-cuffed, sleep deprived and subjected to hot and cold environmental conditions, including the use of cold water on his body and hood. The exact cause of death was “”undetermined”" although the autopsy stated that hypothermia may have contributed to his death. Notes say he “”struggled/ interrogated/ died sleeping.”" Some facts relating to this case have been previously reported. (In April 2003, Secretary Rumsfeld authorized the use of “”environmental manipulation”" as an interrogation technique in Guantánamo Bay. In September 2003, Lt. Gen. Sanchez also authorized this technique for use in Iraq. Although Lt. Gen. Sanchez later rescinded the September 2003 techniques, he authorized “”changes in environmental quality”" in October 2003.)
June 19th, 2008 at 1:16 amAn Iraqi detainee (also described as a white male) died on January 9, 2004, in Al Asad, Iraq, while being interrogated by “”OGA.”" He was standing, shackled to the top of a door frame with a gag in his mouth at the time he died. The cause of death was asphyxia and blunt force injuries. Notes summarizing the autopsies record the circumstances of death as “”Q by OGA, gagged in standing restraint.”" (Facts in the autopsy report appear to match the previously reported case of Abdul Jaleel.)
A detainee was smothered to death during an interrogation by Military Intelligence on November 26, 2003, in Al Qaim, Iraq. A previously released autopsy report, that appears to be of General Mowhoush, lists “”asphyxia due to smothering and chest compression”" as the cause of death and cites bruises from the impact with a blunt object. New documents specifically record the circumstances of death as “”Q by MI, died during interrogation.”"
A detainee at Abu Ghraib Prison, captured by Navy Seal Team number seven, died on November 4, 2003, during an interrogation by Navy Seals and “”OGA.”" A previously released autopsy report, that appears to be of Manadel Al Jamadi, shows that the cause of his death was “”blunt force injury complicated by compromised respiration.”" New documents specifically record the circumstances of death as “”Q by OGA and NSWT died during interrogation.”"
An Afghan civilian died from “”multiple blunt force injuries to head, torso and extremities”" on November 6, 2003, at a Forward Operating Base in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. (Facts in the autopsy report appear to match the previously reported case of Abdul Wahid.)
A 52-year-old male Iraqi was strangled to death at the Whitehorse detainment facility on June 6, 2003, in Nasiriyah, Iraq. His autopsy also revealed bone and rib fractures, and multiple bruises on his body. (Facts in the autopsy report appear to match the previously reported case of Nagm Sadoon Hatab.)
.
R E M E M B E R:
The mass cleansing picked up pace AFTER Hitler panicked.
.
June 19th, 2008 at 2:09 am#23 MapleStreet,
June 19th, 2008 at 2:29 amI always say the dumb question is the one that goes unasked.
I was thinking that very same question…
#29 nofltwlt,
The BushCo, NeoCONS and the GOP couldn’t have done it without the blessings from members of the DNC…
… Got IMPEACHMENT?
Because I don’t remember a Republican taking the heavy hand of IMPEACHMENT “OFF the TABLE.” Do you?
Accountability is like cow pies…
June 19th, 2008 at 2:37 amOnce it hits the fan, it spares no one.
#30 joe cantwell,
June 19th, 2008 at 2:39 amGreat link!
Thanks :)
I posted eight days ago that the AP said this in March 2005.
Keith Says:
According to the Associated Press, at least 108 detainees have died in Iraq and Afghanistan in U.S. custody. [NYT, 3/16/05; BBC News, 3/16/05]
General Janet Karpinski said 90% were innocent. CIA has said 70-90% were innocent.
June 10th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
June 19th, 2008 at 2:58 amThis is the last you will hear of this…move along. There’s no time for impeachment, don’t be so silly! Sit back and watch the rich get richer and…you know the rest….get rid of Pelosi – this BS is inexcusable! Disgusting.
June 19th, 2008 at 4:40 amDEFINITE WAR CRIMES. Will the Dem contolled Congress realize that this is way above politics and about humanity and act responsibly? The old games over Dems. Time to wake up and act accordingly. Or is this just election year posturing? Pretty disgusting to use this as a politcal ploy rather than hold those criminals accountable.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:48 amWell, it aint 6 million but its a start and it was done in our name and if you don’t agree with it you are not a patriotic American…..time for the violent children to be put in time out.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:46 amThese are war crimes. What does this country stand for if we don’t hold all accountable to the laws we have. For the Bush administration to hide behind the term “Enemy Combatant” to conduct torture and condone murder is the most despicable act I have ever seen come out of the White House.
No blowjob is bigger than the one we’ve been getting from these bags of wind for the last 7 years.
It’s time to impeach.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:03 am“Impeach. Prosecute. Save America.” – Naomi Wolf
Concur. Krashkopf
June 19th, 2008 at 10:30 amPelosi and the dems, won’t do anything, because this war and the war crimes that go with it, are being done for the Ashke-Nazi Fatherland in the Middle East. They are the Masters of both parties. Sad but true! Research the U.S.S. Liberty attack. And that attack was 40 years ago. Their control over this country, has grown since 1967.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:16 pmIf this country is going to survive, we must break free of the death grip, these Inhuman Monsters have over the U.S.A! They will surely destroy it, if we don’t. And it must be soon.
I have never been more ashamed of my country than I am right now. And the shame keeps increasing day by day. When will this nightmare be over?
June 19th, 2008 at 1:49 pmI have to wonder whether or not this is anything new…granted this administration is being boiled alive in their own spa filled with blood, but I am very curious as to whether or not we are all hearing about this because the internet is finally becoming a day to day routine for people.
How long have atrocities like this been committed? A decade ago, the internet wasn’t what it is and I never would have heard about it…
June 19th, 2008 at 2:25 pmTanqueray Says:
June 21st, 2008 at 11:13 pmWell, it’s a good start. Better we rid the world of this vermin before they rid the world of us.(well not you guys, I mean the normal people)
I know what you mean. The Fascist Brown Shirts that still support this administration and call for the death of anyone that dares to speak out. Make sure you keep those SS Arm Bands, spic and span clean! You might also want to brush up on your Mein Kampf. The proper extermination procedures must be maintained! How is your Goose Step? Have you grown a funny little Mustache yet? Have you written any compositions about the inferiority of the darker skinned people yet?
Answer Me This, Have You Ever Heard Of The Concept Of Getting A Fair Trial? Due Process? Access To A Lawyer? Habeas Corpus?
The Constitution? Bill Of Rights? Declaration Of Independence?
I think you should sign up for military service on the Golan Heights or Gaza Strip. You could get practice blowing holes through Palestinian children’s heads. Why don’t you and all of the rest of the “Normal People” move to another country. I don’t care if there is a hundred million of you, America would be better off without you. Then we can start rebuilding this countries character and reputation. So that once again we are the country the rest of the world looks to for Human Rights and Common Decency.
Certainly you have heard of the supposed theory of why all this is occurring now.
1. McCain will resign from the presidential campaign within two months of the election, and a new candidate will step in.
2. Bush/Cheney will resigned or get impeached before years end, and likely before the election.
3. Once this all occurs, Americans will trust their government again, and the final fleecing will occur, which will be rather painful for millions. In other words, its a big setup for many still sleepy Americans.
The American people are quite stupid, so stupid that they have yet to voice demands about the wrongdoings by this administration as well as the complicity of democrats (since they have known all the while about torture and other illegal deeds). Americans are still worried about their SUVs and big screen TVs, and planning vacations and other bullcrap while ignoring the outright and blatant misdeeds by our politicos.
It is the government now screaming at us with all this evidence. They are asking for us to force them to correct the situation, but we sit idly by with our thumbs in our mouths.
I am an American by birth and not by choice. Yes I have enjoyed luxury here in the U.S., but I have also had the truth about nearly everything hidden from me since the first years of school. This is a disgusting country and never did stand for any of the omnipotent objectives we herald. We are weak, fat and complacent and abhor critical thinking. Even our Canadian friends see us as fools.
I am sick of seeing people who wave their flag, wear the flag, hang the flag in their trucks. They are full of the poison and are hopeless since drinking the koolaid from birth. They offer their patriotism as a solution which is nothing more than a proud and egotistical person with a closed mind. They are as useless as the people leading us down this horrible path of destruction.
When I see Koreans marching in the street by the tens of thousands about an issue related to food consumption, I admire those people for their integrity, willpower and fortitude. Americans would never have the nerve, compassion or time to protest an issue of comparable meaning, let alone demonstrating for the impeaching of one, two or all 535 officers of our government. Most people I talk with do not have a clue what is occurring, what has happened, and what is to occur…even my family!
We ourselves are the insidious parasite that has destroyed our personal life, and others in our midst. It is not the government, because WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT. So shove that excuse where the sun doesn’t shine.
I have to ask myself where are the MoveOn.org organizations that are suppose to be consolidating our demands and exposing the corruptness. Unfortunately, they are the same poison and are now drinking from the same well as those that lead us astray. They are all corrupt (my opinion) and have yet to rally Americans behind a single cause. There cause is simple and that is to provide comfortable and highly compensated positions within a tax-free, or tax exempt, organization. Its pretty easy to make it look like you give a damn, but actually getting something done, or action, is not what we are seeing. I gave up on MoveOn after they decided to take on the worthy cause of Al Gore, and global warming. They sought millions of signatures to be placed on a petition that was sent to the government to deal with this issue. BUT it is a non-issue and if you had done your homework you would know that global warming is a hoax perpetuated by the same folks that have caused the banking crisis, the food crisis, the oil crisis (yada,yada,yada). When you begin paying for a carbon tax on nearly any purchase you make, you will understand. I even wrote MoveOn and sent the appropriate articles, references and documentation regarding the hoax of global warming, yet they spent valuable time and money move the public in the wrong direction. Whose pocket are they in????
Where are the Americans?!! What the hell is wrong with them!?! What are they waiting for???
Required video watching for all Americans is the Ring of Power (parts I and II). I would recommend reading something but I doubt most Americans could grasp such a task. In any case, the RIng of Power sums up the lies and lying liars since the time of the pharoahs. In essence, most everything you have learned in school was a lie. Your life has been a lie if you have relied upon the lies and disingenious principles taught to you in school, heralded from political platforms and broadcasted across all media sources.
Wake up Amerika…or its going to get a lot worse. Really…
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:33 pm“But cruel are the times, when we are traitors
And do not know ourselves, when we hold rumour
From what we fear, yet know not what we fear,
But float upon a wild and violent sea
Each way and move.”
–William Shakespeare, Macbeth IV.ii
June 29th, 2008 at 4:45 pmAnd we wonder why other countries hate us and want to to attack us?
More war crimes, war crimes, war crimes.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:35 pm