Think Progress

U.S. military puts Iraqi prisoners in wooden boxes.

The U.S. military in Iraq “is segregating violent Iraqi prisoners in wooden crates that in some cases are not much bigger than the prisoners.” CNN reports:

The military released three grainy black-and-white photos of what it calls the “segregation boxes” used in Iraq. They show the rudimentary structures of wood and mesh. Some of the boxes are as small as 3 feet by 3 feet by 6 feet tall, according to military officials. They did not release a picture of a box that size.

The military said the boxes are humane and are checked every 15 minutes. It said detainees, who stand in the boxes, are isolated for no more than 12 hours at a time.

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67 Responses to “U.S. military puts Iraqi prisoners in wooden boxes.”

  1. Zivnuska Says:

    Let the war crimes trials begin. Now.


  2. Uncle Ho Says:

    If memory serves, similar devices in Vietnam were called 'tiger cages'


  3. RUCerious Says:

    McIIIrd surely must endorse the use of 'tiger cages'...


  4. McWars Says:

    Bush and Cheney must be fed to the lions when they croak.


  5. radiodujour Says:

    The boxes are "humane" - true, we're the only species of animals that do this to each other.

    We need to release the imprisoned goat herders and imprison the sociopaths with the flag pins on their lapels.

    That would require that we come together and retrieve our republic that was stolen from us in Dallas, November 22, 1963.


  6. stateofthedivision Says:

    And what will McCain's "Spread the Word" points be on this issue?


  7. RUCerious Says:

    Uncle Ho ! Snap!



  8. Uncle Ho Says:

    McWars; why wait til they croak?
    Lions like live prey. Remember the Roman use of lions & Christians?


  9. Uncle Ho Says:

    RU; snap?


  10. stateofthedivision Says:

    Welcome to the punishment side of extrinsic motivation. Funny, how the captors spin it into a reward.

    "Prisoners have greater supervision in the box." Is that because sadists enjoy watching the pain they inflict on others?

    Bush & Cheney are sociopaths, supported by blindly loyal followers.


  11. Zooey Says:

    Apparently forcing a prisoner to stand confined in a space that small is not torture because their keepers really don't mean to cause them harm.

    ...which is complete bullshit, of course.


  12. stateofthedivision Says:

    Snap, the crack of a tiger whip at the circus, or the sound of a lenthy McCain pregnant pause in the midst of a Viagra/birth control question?


  13. old_hack Says:

    Sami Al-Arian has been held hostage for 5 years now for him supporting an organization in palestine. Mike joined a protest to free him and now he's been listed by a terrorist watch group


  14. raynman Says:

    "and the best thing about the box is that when they accidentally die, we can just bury them in the same box so we save the taxpayers money."

    What a sick sick country we've allowed them to make us....


  15. JBaddo Says:

    put each member of congress and each member of bush's cabinet in a box like this. Put bush in one, dig a 10ft deep hole, cover it in dirt and spit on it.


  16. robbez_92107 Says:

    Who would Jeebus put into a tiger cage?


  17. Art Says:

    Can you imagine how they got permission to do this?

    I suppose you can, but NO LONGER than 12 hours at a time...


  18. TripleKick 9 Says:

    Attention TP haters, what part of "segregating violent Iraqi prisoners" is lost on you? I'm sure some of you misguided fools would give these violent prisoners the royal VIP treatment given that you're both invested in US defeat.


  19. Uncle Ho Says:

    I just wasn't clear on the context of snap by RU.


  20. MapleStreet Says:

    You know, the humane society has standards for the size of cages for animals. don't the Iraqis count at least this much ?

    Forced to stand in a 3 ft sq box for 12 hours. But we don't torture. Right !


  21. Hug The Moon Says:

    This is what the North Koreans do. Undersized cages. Like I said earlier. The sickest. Where is the karma?

    "Where is everybody?" - Helen Thomas


  22. Badmoodman Says:

    Carl, the floorwalker explains it all:

    Any man forgets his number spends a night in the box. These here spoons you keep with you. Any man loses his spoon spends a night in the box. There's no playing grab-ass or fighting in the building. You got a grudge against another man, you fight him Saturday afternoon. Any man playing grab-ass or fighting in the building spends a night in the box. First bell's at five minutes of eight when you will get in your bunk. Last bell is at eight. Any man not in his bunk at eight spends the night in the box. There is no smoking in the prone position in bed. To smoke you must have both legs over the side of your bunk. Any man caught smoking in the prone position in bed... spends a night in the box. You get two sheets. Every Saturday, you put the clean sheet on the top... the top sheet on the bottom... and the bottom sheet you turn in to the laundry boy. Any man turns in the wrong sheet spends a night in the box. No one'll sit in the bunks with dirty pants on. Any man with dirty pants on sitting on the bunks spends a night in the box. Any man don't bring back his empty pop bottle spends a night in the box. Any man loud talking spends a night in the box.


  23. Dr. Hussein Matt Says:

    TripleKick 9 will TripleKick 10 by the end of the day


  24. rastaman Says:

    GOOD! we know exactly what to do to the GOP in 2009.


  25. Dr. Hussein Matt Says:

    No wonder the world and the majority of this country hates herr dubyah and the GOPigs.


  26. Uncle Ho Says:

    As for the tiger cages, I remember seeing them, but did not have the pleasure of being in one.

    Perhaps McPutz could demonstrate for us-just for old times sake.


  27. Max-1 Says:

    .

    Trippy_N I N E,

    People deserve to be treated humanly... even if they are violent. However, how is a man who's shackled and caged... violent? Do you keep your child in a box because you fear they may act out? That's called a crime.

    Now please, do not think I support terrorists or violent criminals. However, PROVE THEY ARE CRIMINALS... where's the trial?

    And please, STOP DEFENDING WAR CRIMINALS... it makes you a Good German!

    If your GOPER "wrinkly old white hair man" was mistreated in a tiger cage, how is doing the same any better? Then what does that make those who engage in the same policy?

    First a 1957 COMMUNIST TORTURE manifesto is used as the basis for TORTURE.
    Then a 1960's COMMUNISTIC Viet Cong technique is being employed and defended as necessary...

    ... I'm beginning to think your a COMMUNIST sympathiser!

    GOT EXEMPTIONALISM?

    .


  28. upside99 Says:

    Triple,

    You are a hoot today. Is that how we handle 'violent prisoners' in this country? I am sure you would find nothing wrong with that, would you?


  29. Max-1 Says:

    .

    Hey everyone,

    TRIPPY DEFENDS THE USE OF COMMUNISTIC TECHNIQUES OF TORTURE!

    .


  30. DieNowForPeace Says:

    TripleKick 9 Says:

    A whole lotta nuthin'.

    What a Bush-nut-hugger... must like the feel of pubic hairs on your cheek.


  31. Briseadh na Faire Says:


    The military said the boxes are humane

    We treat our prisoners humanely. We have always treated our prisoners humanely.


  32. linda Says:

    how odd; i actually came across this recently; although i have no idea if they're the same:

    http://www.thememoryhole.org/2008/07/prisoner-boxes-in-iraq/


  33. 5th Estate Says:

    Triplekick: “I’m sure some of you misguided fools would give these violent prisoners the royal VIP treatment given that you’re both [sic] invested in US defeat.”

    It was Senator Frist (R-Tenn) who claimed that Gitmo ‘detainees’ received "24/7 medical care - better than many Americans" in countering complaints that the prisoners were being treated harshly.

    Who would have thought that the former Republican Senate Majority Leader approved of such "royal VIP treatment" of “the worst of the worst” in the GWOT and thus obviously was so invested in US defeat?


  34. sacopenapa Says:

    HAGUE 2009!


  35. Kay Says:

    Can we put all current and present members of this admin in them, too?


  36. Kay Says:

    oops! I meant current and past members...
    (little tired)


  37. Abu Ben Hussein Leporello Says:

    What happened to my country? How did we become what, for so many years, we decried and abhorred? This brings to mind Thomas Jefferson's words, Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is Just.
    Impeach Pelosi, Cheney and Bush, Save the Constituion and Get This Country Back On Track!


  38. 5th Estate Says:

    Triplekick: “I’m sure some of you misguided fools would give these violent prisoners the royal VIP treatment given that you’re both [sic] invested in US defeat.”

    I look forward to Republican former Senator Frist joining the both of us here at TP, we two ( perhaps three?) who are "so invested in US defeat! "

    I have no doubt that two (three if Senator Frist joins us) will see a massive return on our investment in US defeat iff we just stay the course, believe in ourselves and whatnot and together with a bunch of caged Iraqis we can establish an Islamo-Communist State in the lower-48 by next Tuesday!


  39. hussein toasterhead Says:

    TripleKick 9 Says:

    Attention TP haters, what part of “segregating violent Iraqi prisoners” is lost on you?

    August 7th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
    _____

    Attention humanity hater - what part of "The Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War" is lost on you?


  40. Cal Malenky Says:

    That's what they get for not greeting us with sweets and flowers.
    /snark off


  41. Kay Says:

    Thank God we're all in the last throes of Bush/Cheney!


  42. po Says:

    Only used on violent prisoners - i.e. many innocent Iraqis caught by mistake who are only just now being released by the thousands (sort of like emptying the camps before the liberation). what a joke. do unto others you compassionate conservative christians - just not to muslims, huh? Right, they want to kill us for our freedom (freedom to imprison indefinitely anyone we see fit).

    So when is the head of the Unitary Executive held accountable?


  43. 5th Estate Says:

    Abu Ben Hussein Leporello Says: What happened to my country?

    Sadly it started in a long time ago, and it's not exclusive to the US.
    This is the personal hell of paying attention and becoming informed--I for one still catch myself in my ingrained assumptions on political issues and the "official record" of history as it has been taught and the present as it is so often glibly presented.

    Even so it is breathtaking how far the US appears to have fallen, and how fast.

    However, as long as there are some who aren't fooled all of the tim there's always hope for a better day. ( cue soaring music ).


  44. Zimzone Says:

    Ummm, yeah, I'll have 2 cheeseburgers and an Iraqi in a box, please...


  45. RWeSafer Says:

    All Americans share the blame for crap like this.

    We are all guilty...

    I am shamed by these (daily) occurrences.


  46. Keith Says:

    I don't believe anyone has mentioned the 130 degree temperature.


  47. pete Says:

    Things like this are why most countries are wise enough to separate the military from the police.

    Soldiers just aren't trained the same as cops.


  48. RUCerious Says:

    Welcome to Gulagistan, this is just the warmup for the South Central LA surge.


  49. 666lattes Says:

    "These “box guys” should have spent the day fishing or bowling maybe a family outing or something."

    ...except their family was murdered and the local bowling alley was bombed by an occupying force.


  50. DieNowForPeace Says:

    Zed Lefflin Says:

    It's hot enough today without this bliovating turd.


  51. JBaddo Says:

    its just a matter of time before one of these mal-treated Iraqis or maybe a relative of a mal-treated Iraqi finds his/her into the U.S. and then the sh*t really happens. Revenge is a aweet thing. All the TSA and border control BS is not going to stop it.oh baby


  52. Marie Says:

    I think the Chinese have been accused of this type of confinement also - and has been condemned for it.


  53. pete Says:

    Will they rise to the occasion? I doubt it, their history does not suggest this be the case!
    August 7th, 2008 at 4:41 pm

    Um. Do you realize that you are talking about a society that can trace itself back to before writing was invented? Do you realize that they were living in cities and engaging in international commerce while our European ancestors were living in caves and wearing animal skins?

    If you want to try being witty, you should educate yourself enough that you don't sound like a bad Pauli Shore impression.


  54. 666lattes Says:

    Zed Lefflin Says:

    "Will they rise to the occasion?"

    Why don't we leave so that they can? Why should/ how could they while there's an overwhelming force of overpaid foreign contractors competing for those jobs?

    You don't seem to be very sensitive to the real situation over there.


  55. Marie Says:

    I just read through the comments - and I do indeed recall the "tiger cages" used in VN, and how outraged we were as a nation.
    MCCain, having been a POW in VN, and now not speaking out against this sort of treatment is beyond comprehension to me.


  56. DieNowForPeace Says:

    You don’t seem to be very sensitive to the real situation over there.

    Too busy doing bong hits and listening to Kajagoogoo.


  57. DieNowForPeace Says:

    MCCain, having been a POW in VN, and now not speaking out against this sort of treatment is beyond comprehension to me.

    Why would he care? His captors, knowing who his father was, treated him like a VIP. The idiot even went on VC radio which makes him a war criminal.


  58. leekinny Says:

    Torture is EVIL everywhere it's practiced. It has always been a war crime. Prosecuting those responsible from Bush on down carries no statute of limitations. This must be a constant issue and an election issue, ALWAYS, from now until they meet their just punishment.


  59. Luis M Says:

    Ahh, but were they violent before, or after, being put in the man cages?


  60. leekinny Says:

    Violent means not getting with the program and either showing signs of resistance or actually doing some resistance. fascist


  61. shawnfassett Says:

    This is simulated death. A big no-no in the Geneva Conventions.


  62. dumbstruck Says:

    Sooner or later we'll be in a conflict where our military people will be taken more frequently as prisoners.

    It hurts me to think that what our military has been ordered to do in the name of "bringing democracy to the Middle East, deposing dictators and destroying terrorists" will then be practiced on our soldiers.

    We have set a standard of war that will haunt us for ages.


  63. EugeneDebs Says:

    TripleKick 9 Says:

    Attention TP haters, what part of “segregating violent Iraqi prisoners” is lost on you? I’m sure some of you misguided fools would give these violent prisoners the royal VIP treatment given that you’re both invested in US defeat.

    Attention MORON, what part of the fact they are in custody and can be put in solitary confinement in a cell that WOULDNT be cruel and unusual punishment is too confusing for your pea sized brain? I get that you are a souless idiot but is there ANY sort of mistreatment and torture that you wouldnt appologize for? If this were done to YOUR SON would you be making appologies for it? You are both ignorant and soulsick. Seek the help of a mental health professional immediatly. You MAY regain your humanity


  64. Max-1 Says:

    .

    Trippy calls us "T.P. Haters"...
    ... That's the biggest load of projection I've ever smelt.

    .


  65. saywhatyouwill Says:

    While some former small time potentates of the now defunct(thanks to American meddling) Yugoslavia are being kangaroo-courted in the Hague, the REAL criminals are strutting the world stage, mouthing empty platitudes about freedom and democracy.
    I personally hold the people who elected these abominations to office, twice, responsible for what we're witnessing now..


  66. dasm Says:

    Humane? Again the White House makes up its own definitions.



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