Prisoner Abuse

3-13-2006 

On Sunday, March 5, on Cleveland’s TV Channel 19’s 60 Minutes program, a U.S. Army soldier was interviewed; whom after a thorough investigation had been convicted of prisoner abuse and sentenced to 16 years in prison.  Shortly after, the sentence was reduced to simply a reduction in rank and other minor punishments. 

He very resolutely admitted to the 60 Minutes interviewer that it was common practice to chain prisoners to the ceiling by their wrists for up to 3 days; meanwhile delivering hard blows to their legs until they collapsed and were painfully hanging there.  Two had been beaten to a bloody pulp and had died.  The soldier also insisted it was common knowledge this systematic abuse was tacitly, if not overtly, approved all the way up to Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. 

Many months ago I recall Mr. Rumsfeld asking the question as to what all the fuss was about in regard to prisoners having to stand for long periods of time.  He felt the need to point out that he himself had to stand 8 to 10 hours each day.  I wonder how often he had to stand with his wrists chained to the ceiling? 

The knowledge of prisoner abuse committed by the U.S. is not going to fade away.  The world is well aware, and Americans regretfully believe it more and more.  As you may know, Clarence Wilkerson, past assistant to Colin Powell, has given testimony to General Powell’s adamant objections of Mr. Rumsfeld’s knowledge and approval of prisoner abuse.  It’s tragic General Powell didn’t also question the false information he was given to deliver in his impassioned speech that we must invade Iraq. 

In my opinion Attorney General Gonzalez’s trashing of the Geneva Convention and Mr. Rumsfeld’s behavior are on the same level as the Nazi’s war criminals of World War II. 

Buz Cormany
Medina, OH