Q&A: US abuses in Afghan jails

[DoYouEverWonder]

22 May, 2005

The United States has come under intense pressure over new details of the alleged abuse of prisoners by its soldiers in US-run detention centres in Afghanistan.

BBC News examines the background to the allegations - and the US investigation into them.


Q: What abuses are US soldiers in Afghanistan accused of?

The main allegations centre on the deaths of two Afghan prisoners at the US-run detention centre at Bagram, near the capital Kabul. The men, a taxi driver called Dilawar and a man called Habibullah, died in December 2002.

There has been a long-standing and much-delayed US military investigation into the deaths and other abuses at Bagram and other detention centres. However, there is now increased anger within the Afghan government and the UN following graphic details carried in the New York Times, which obtained a 2,000-page report leaked by a source close to the US investigation.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4570941.stm

[matt819]

1. Here's a question

Condi today addressed the UN and said that those nations accused -- repeat accused -- of human rights violations should not be permitted to serve on commissions or other UN organizations dealing with these sorts of issues.

Accused -- The US stands accused of human rights abuses in Afghanistan and Iraq, and many would argue elsewhere as well (with the rendition program). So would this mean that the US would have to recuse itself from serving on such commissions?

A conunundrum.

[ShockediSay]

2. I thought we won the war in Afghanistan!

Or has BusCo snatched defeat from the jaws of victory?

Watch what happens during the election.