“One year later, despite many challenges, life for the Iraqi people is a world away from the cruelty and corruption of Saddam’s regime. At the most basic level of justice, people are no longer disappearing into political prisons, torture chambers, and mass graves — because the former dictator is in prison, himself. And their daily life is improving.” – George W. Bush, May 1, 2004
“Thanks to our military, the torture chambers are closed, and the prison cells for children are empty.” – George W. Bush, November 24, 2003
Over three years have passed since President Bush made these statements, and year after year, it has become more clear that these statements were completely off the mark.
Just today, the Independent reports that as many as 60 prisoners at the American gulags built at Guantanamo Bay were sent there by the USA as children, as young as 14 years old. Also today, CNN reports that yet another torture chamber has been discovered in Iraq, run by Shiites. The Shiites are aligned with the American-installed Iraqi government.
When President Bush told us that torture chambers and prisons for children were being closed, he wasn’t being straight with us. While some torture chambers and prisons for children were closed, new ones were opened up.
Osama Bin Laden can’t be blamed for these new torture chambers and children prisoners. Neither can Saddam Hussein, who was hung by a noose so hard that his head was nearly ripped off.
from Reuters:
Look everyone, iroq the ignorant dyke is praising the military!!! Wooohoooo, even though everything I said about her was true, this is still a milestone in her young teenage life!!
I am neither attacking nor defending. I am merely posting an item from a wire service without comment.
While I am not arguing a cause and effect relationship in this case, I would encourage JClifford and others to continue to write about torture chambers.
Interesting comment, Phil. You seem to advocate “praising the military” without any regard to the specifics of what, exactly, the military does.
Textbook knee-jerk ideological response. I’m sure you’d be quick to spot the stupidity of it on the part of people waving a Little Red Book, but–think hard now–does it matter what symbol a mindless knee-jerk ideologue is waving? What’s the difference between mindless support of the American military and mindless support of anything else?
Well, Phil, your usual stupid and childish comments noted, the military isn’t the problem. It’s the leadership of the military down the dead-end street of Iraq by your fascist-in-chief, in effect devastating our military, that’s the problem. Grow a brain you ignorant jerk.
Ralphie trying to put words in my posts again??? Don’t bother junior, you are not smart enough. Even though you keep posting that you are some kind intellectual giant!!
Please tell me assclown, where I was advocating “praising the military?”
Can’t huh? Didn’t think so you simple fuck.
Tommy shaddap before I take your lunch money from you. Again!
“devestating our military”?? Childish comments? Knee jerk reactions? What a fucking twat you clowns are!
Ralphie, keep telling yourself how smart you are okay. The more you do, the more of an ass you look like.
Oh, I’m not “some kind intellectual giant,” just Gulliver in Lilliput when I stand next to you.
You use the words “praising the military” in post 2. You seem to be advocating it because you call it a milestone in IH’s life.
By the way, what exactly is an “assclown?” Is it anything like a rodeo clown?
I think we should return to ignoring Phil. Although it’d be nice to have some with a different viewpoint questioning our conclusions, he is not to be that person.
He doesn’t care what answers we have, he just wants responses.
Oh I don’t know, HT–Ralph always has such an interesting way of looking at things. Very perceptive of him to pick up on Phil’s remark about “praising the military”. Ralph seems to find pearls of political thought in Phil’s utterances that I somehow overlook.
I’m afraid Phil has a bit of a crush on me. He’s always referring to me as “ignorant” and we know what deep admiration he has for ignorance. Then he keeps calling me a “dyke”–seems like he’s obsessed with what goes on in my bedroom–he should be so lucky! And now he’s trying to find out whether I’m an under-aged teenager–and we all know what that jailbait trip is about.
Oh, he’s flirting with me all right, bigtime, but Phil’s hormones are in such disarray he can hardly put two thoughts together long enough to type something as intellectually challenging as a smilie. Maybe Ralph can provide the steadying hand he needs to develop some mental focus.
Returning to the original post by IH: it’s an unpleasant irony, the American military destroying torture chambers of one faction while turning a blind eye to those of another faction. I first heard about children incarcerated by the coalition in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo at a lecture given by former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg. While I am very tempted to say something foolish about the coalition keeping a stock of torture camps running to throw to the media now and then, I think this is just an illustration of how dark the entire situation in the middle east has become. All parties involved seem to have some torturing and abusing anyone they view as their enemies, regardless of age, gender, race, creed or rationale, in order to vent their personal fears and insecurities. Meanwhile there are many civil and reasonable people involved, within all factions, who do all they can resolve the situation (if not always strictly peacefully) with the solution that harms the fewest people (Or helps the most, however you prefer it.) Meanwhile the upper echelons of all factions twist events to suit their version of reality, as they all have personal power that is dependent on their factions power. Hopefully more illustrations of the personal responsibility the upper echelons have for the inhuman elements under their command will result in the fall of both. ‘Twould be nice.
Chldren imprisoned in Guantanamo? Where is the proof? Follow those links and you’ll find the assertions are made by al-Qaeda loyalists and their lapdogs. Over and over I have seen this type of yellow journalism in the Middle East by Muslim Brotherhood type Islamists like al-Jazira. Their assertions take some time to proove or disproove, and then are shown to be lies. By the time the lie catches up to them, the public has forgotten about the first lie and they are already working on their fifth or sixth lie.
Look at the articles more carefully, Mike. Torturing is not being done “by all parties.” It is being done by Shiites, particularly followers of Moktadr al-Sadr. Tortured bodies are found on Baghdad’s streets every morning. The Sunnis run more towards car bombs.
I suspect this is a sort of “ethnic cleansing” move to force certain groups out of certain areas ahead of a possible breakup of Iraq into several smaller countries. At this point, the boundaries of such ethnic areas are far from clear.
Ralphie you are a pompous ass nothing more. Haven’t you ever heard that is you have to tell someone how good you are, it usually means you aren’t that good??? You are an assclown junior. But please continue, I do find you amusing.
hairy what answers? You have idiotic opinions nothing more.
iroq, you’ll always be my sweet widdle ignorant dyke. *smooch*
I, too, would like to know what is “assclown.”
Maybe it’s like “insane clown posse”.
Here’s a link to Kirk/Spock erotic art group website:
http://www.thyla.com/
I bet Phil clicks on it.