Many Iraqis held by US to go free

[kpete]

Source: Associated Press

AP IMPACT: Many Iraqis held by US to go free

By LARA JAKES – 3 hours ago

CAMP BUCCA, Iraq (AP) — Thousands of Iraqis held without charge by the United States on suspicion of links to insurgents or militants are being freed by this summer because there is little or no evidence against them.

Their release comes as the U.S. prepares to turn over its detention system to the fledgling Iraqi government by early 2010. In the six years since the war began, the military ultimately detained some 100,000 suspects, many of whom were picked up in U.S.-led raids during a raging, bloody insurgency that has since died down.

The effort to do justice for those wrongly held to begin with, some for years, also runs the risk of releasing extremists who could be a threat to fragile Iraqi security.

As part of an agreement between the two countries that took effect Jan. 1, Iraqi authorities have begun reviewing the cases of the detainees to decide whether to free them or press charges. About 13,300 remain behind barbed wire in U.S. custody in Iraq.

But Iraqi judges have issued detention orders to prosecute only 129 of the 2,120 cases they have finished reviewing so far this year — or about 6 percent, according to U.S. military data. As of Thursday, 1,991 detainees had been freed since Jan. 1.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gWM_aGEM9XIaUSQz8_swIUFgx_LQD971BC5O0

[Robbien]

1. "judges issued detention orders to prosecute only 129 of the 2,120 cases they have reviewed so far"

only six percent

How embarrassing.

Almost everyone we captured, imprisoned and tortured turns out to be duds. Just everyday citizens.

Since it is so embarrassing for the U.S., it still may be quite a while before the Iraqi politicians actually release them.

[LynnTheDem]

2. "Iraqis held without charge" . . .

Hmmm...that's what the George W. bUsh regime accused Saddam of...

70% to 90% of Iraq Prisoners 'Arrested by Mistake'
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0511-04.htm

Detainees Suffer Terror at US Hands; Red Cross Says Torture Part of Deliberate Tactic
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0512-10.htm

Iraqi Security Tactics Evoke the Hussein Era
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/jun/19/world/fg-detainees19

Military Analyst Describes Abuse of 16-Year-Old in Iraq Prison
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0520-07.htm

Iraq's child prisoners
http://www.sundayherald.com/43796

Mass graves to reveal Iraq war toll
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/aug/19/iraq.jamiewilson

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A53654-2003Apr18?language=printer


Only Saddam Hussein didn't do the above...America did.


Weren't we supposed to be "better"?

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. Is there hope yet these criminals will be held accountable?

I have to say it.

Oh the humanity! :cry:

This kind of pain, suffering and death, and the destabilization effect globally, makes this the worst humanitarian crime in history.
Everyone is effected.

all of us. everyone.

[No Elephants]

4. K & R (Amazing which threads get all but ignored.)

[ohio2007]

5. maybe a "spike in violence" thread is better at drawing comments

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3794329

nope, doesn't hold true

here;
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3794167&mesg_id=3794167
ooops,
wrong country but, maybe Obama should consider pulling troops out of the badlands of that area just the same ;)




http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3794204&mesg_id=3794204

sorry,
my bad. That was a pro military thread

[peace_to_world]

6. US war crimes are endless

[Alamuti Lotus]

7. thus quietly admitting that the whole thing was bullshit

Know, however, that he rampant kidnapping campaign carried out by the occupation forces will not be without consequence for the aggressor.

[EFerrari]

8. Gates need to get way out ahead of this. Put in a program

to process these folks out and not just dump them out like trash. I don't trust him to do that. :(