NYT: Transforming a Prison (Abu Ghraib), With U.S. Image in Mind

[DeepModem Mom]

ABU GHRAIB
Transforming a Prison, With U.S. Image in Mind
By NORIMITSU ONISHI

Published: September 16, 2004


....In response to the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, the military has carried out dozens of changes, including streamlining the processing of prisoners to ease overcrowding and formalizing the interrogation of prisoners. The buildings containing the cell blocks where the abuses were committed have been turned over to Iraqi prison authorities; the Americans are keeping prisoners in two new camps with tents: Camp Liberty and Camp Redemption.

Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, the American commander in charge of detentions and interrogations, led an overnight tour for journalists to showcase the changes, saying that the transformation was tantamount to "restoring the honor of America." He said the changes, including better overall training, would prevent the abuses that took place here....

***

Under (a new interrogation) system, before the interrogation takes place, the interrogator and analyst decide on techniques and focus, and the plan is submitted for approval to a lawyer. Lawyers will sometimes overrule a plan if a certain technique - for instance, the length of interrogation - is considered inappropriate, General Miller said. After the interrogation, a report is written and made immediately available to a national intelligence data network, he said....

***

According to a new system set up in July, six Iraqi officials from the Ministries of Interior, Human Rights and Justice, and three American military officials review each prisoner's case. About 60 percent of the reviews lead to releases, said Col. David Quantock....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/16/international/middleeast/16prison.html

[JSJ]

1. new coat of paint- same contractor nt

[leftchick]

2. gee, I feel so much better Gen. Miller, the director of torture

is in charge. HE should he locked up!... :eyes:

[thebigidea]

3. uh huh. sure. Like these "lawyers" will ever do anything but rubberstamp.

[struggle4progress]

4. US frees 275 from Abu Ghraib (15 September)

Baghdad - The United States military released 275 prisoners on Wednesday from Abu Ghraib Prison, the facility near Baghdad where US soldiers allegedly abused Iraqi detainees, authorities said. <snip>

As a result of the review process, as many as 500 additional prisoners will be released by the end of the month, said Johnson.

"Many more have been selected for release, but are awaiting the guarantors from their local community," he said. <snip>

More than 5 000 prisoners have been released from Abu Ghraib since the scandal involving mistreatment of prisoners at the hands of US soldiers broke earlier this year.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,,2-10-1460_1589949,00.html