Iraqis stripped by US soldiers

[pritchke]

I would be embarrassed and a little ticked if that happened to me.
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US soldiers stripped four suspected Iraqi thieves naked and burned their clothes before pushing them into the street, journalists from a Norwegian newspaper who witnessed the incident told AFP.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...p_030425231757

[Timber Loftis]

More realistic approach than arresting them all and filling all the jails up real quick. Kudos to using creative approaches in lands where different rules apply. Oh, and if that guy ever does get a grenade to throw (q.v. linked article) I hope I get to see a picture of him with a bullet through his head.

[pritchke]

Not according to Amnesty International's report

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"If these pictures are accurate, this is an appalling way to treat prisoners. Such degrading treatment is a clear violation of the responsibilities of the occupying powers," Amnesty International said today.

"Whatever the reason for their detention, these men must at all times be treated humanely. The US authorities must investigate this incident and publicly release their findings."

Article 27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention clearly states that "Protected persons are entitled in all circumstances, to respect for their persons, their honour, their family rights, their religious convictions and practices, and their manner and customs. They shall at all times be humanely treated, and shall be protected especially against all acts of violence or threats thereof and against insults and public curiosity".
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Prisoners must be allowed to maintain their dignity. In a case like this, there was no trial, no conviction, just some soldiers overstepping their mandate in an attempt to publicly humiliate iraqi civilians.

This is exactly why we've seen calls for police forces to be sent to Iraq. The US soldiers are being faced with a task they're not equipped to deal with. As long as they're forced to deal with it anyway, we'll continue to see human rights abuses like this. To continue like this would be to surrender whatever moral highground the US has been able to claim thus far.

[ 04-29-2003, 04:27 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

[Timber Loftis]

Riiight. Well, maybe Amnesty can convince President Bush to apologize for keeping Iraqi wannabe delinquents from seizing a bunch of small arms Kaleshnikovs. Hell, you can't even own a handgun in Chicago. Until the police forces do get up to speed (and we should use the existing ones and let them hire more - Iraqi workers are MUCH cheaper than shipping ours over there) the soldiers are doing the best they can.

Oh, and I've about had my fill of the Geneva Convention. This was not treatment of a prisoner. It was punishment and release.

They are whining about being let go when they could be en route to Guantanmo right now. If I was busted stealing fully auto crap guns when I was 15-19 years old and all the cops did was strip me, I'd be running all the way home while thanking the God I don't believe exists. And, I'd have one heck of a story for the grandkids.

THEY GOT OFF EASY. THEY LOST THEIR CLOTHES BUT NOT THEIR FREEDOM.

[Ar-Cunin]

TL - as a lawyer I would have thought you would have more respect for the law - even if it is an international one.

[ 04-29-2003, 04:54 PM: Message edited by: Ar-Cunin ]

[Timber Loftis]

Look, if a cop catches you underage drinking, he can BE KIND and LET YOU OFF EASY by making you pour out the beer and get going on home. Or dump your dime bag in the dirt. It is a fair discretion the cop has.

What's so diffent here? It's not like these guys were railroaded into jail. They were embarrassed so they wouldn't do it again, and so others wouldn't. It's a fair tactic with young male delinquents. Again, THEY GOT OFF EASY. The fact that they were able to go bitch to reporters after they found their shorts should make them thank their lucky stars that they're free to speak and bitch and moan and groan.

When you are trying to set up a country where people are still pulling out guns and shooting at you, you can't have a magistrate judge sitting on every corner. Sheesh.

[Azred]

Maybe their memories are somewhat clouded. Had they tried something like this last year under Hussein, they most likely would have been thrown into a small cell and tortured for fun. Or disfigured for life and then released.

Given a choice, I'll take disrobing over death.

[Mordenheim]

How quick people cry about right's

I am with TL. If it was me I would be very happy that is all I got

[johnny]

The soldiers simply can't take any risks. If a pregnant woman is willing to blow herself up near a couple of GI's, anything can happen. Can't blame them one single bit.

Originally posted by pritchke: Not according to Amnesty International's report ---------------------------------------- "If these pictures are accurate, this is an appalling way to treat prisoners. Such degrading treatment is a clear violation of the responsibilities of the occupying powers," Amnesty International said today. "Whatever the reason for their detention, these men must at all times be treated humanely. The US authorities must investigate this incident and publicly release their findings." Article 27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention clearly states that "Protected persons are entitled in all circumstances, to respect for their persons, their honour, their family rights, their religious convictions and practices, and their manner and customs. They shall at all times be humanely treated, and shall be protected especially against all acts of violence or threats thereof and against insults and public curiosity". ----------------------------------------------- Prisoners must be allowed to maintain their dignity. In a case like this, there was no trial, no conviction, just some soldiers overstepping their mandate in an attempt to publicly humiliate iraqi civilians. This is exactly why we've seen calls for police forces to be sent to Iraq. The US soldiers are being faced with a task they're not equipped to deal with. As long as they're forced to deal with it anyway, we'll continue to see human rights abuses like this. To continue like this would be to surrender whatever moral highground the US has been able to claim thus far.

From what I have read about amnesty international, I would hesitate to believe anything they say about any government. They are backed by some of the most extreme groups out there. As for stripping thieves...thieves are not prisoners unless they are arrested and held in prison. There is also another good reason to strip arabic men who appear hostile.....its called "Suicide Bombers".