LAT: Iraq Police Force Rife With Abuse, Documents Say

[sabra]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-corrupt9jul09,0,4624759.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Iraq Police Force Rife With Abuse, Documents Say

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Brutality and corruption are rampant in Iraq's police force, with abuses ranging from the widespread rape of female prisoners and the release of terrorism suspects in exchange for bribes to assassinations of police officers and participation in insurgent bombings, according to confidential Iraqi government documents detailing more than 400 police corruption investigations.

A recent assessment by U.S. State Department police-training contractors underscores the investigative documents, concluding that strong paramilitary and insurgent influences within the force and endemic corruption have undermined public confidence in the government.

Officers also have beaten prisoners to death, been involved in kidnapping rings, sold thousands of stolen and forged Iraqi passports and passed along vital information to insurgents, the Iraqi documents allege.

The documents, which cover most of 2005 and part of 2006, were obtained by the Los Angeles Times and authenticated by current and former police officials. The alleged offenses span dozens of police units and hundreds of officers ranging from beat cops to generals and police chiefs. Officers were punished in some cases, but the vast majority of offenses are either still under investigation or were dropped due to lack of evidence or witness testimony.

[Redstone]

1. Well, isn't THAT a surprise.

Redstone

[leftchick]

2. what a shock!

not!

[sabra]

3. EXCLUSIVE-Corruption rampant in Iraqi govt, says US inspector

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL842445.htm

EXCLUSIVE-Corruption rampant in Iraqi govt, says US inspector

BAGHDAD, July 9 (Reuters) - Corruption is rampant at "every level" of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government, with Iraqi graft inspectors calculating that at least $4 billion has been pilfered from state coffers, a top U.S. official said.

The Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction will report to the U.S. Congress this month that corruption remains "a very huge challenge to the government of Iraq", Ginger Cruz, deputy inspector general at the oversight agency, told Reuters in an interview in Baghdad on Saturday.

"It is something that requires international cooperation. It is a very, very serious problem. Corruption is evident in every level of government ... in every one of the ministries.

"It is probably one of the biggest problems facing them," she said, singling out smuggling in the oil sector, the lifeblood of Iraq's shattered economy, as a particular problem.

[marmar]

4. Why should Iraq be any different than its occupier?

:shrug:

[librechik]

5. Yeah--we encourage it by handing out cash from pallets

and by being so obviously corrupt ourselves. When the candidate's brother gets him elected due to his special position in govt,(along with the long long list of this administration's calumny) what else are they supposed to do?

[leftchick]

6. That would be 4 Billion US dollars!

:grr:

[checkmate1947]

7. This is not news

They have been in a civil war in that country for 7000 yrs
(useing the Bible for a reference) we are just now getting in
the middle of it. we can't stop it, we can't control it, all
we can do is pay for it.

[RamboLiberal]

8. K&R - Not a shock to those of us at DU unfortunately

Why isn't the LA Times reporting the good news from Iraq - those traitors! :sarcasm:

Looks like all we did was replace one corrupt and evil government with a V2.0

[Cocoa]

9. Purple finger for freedom!

Lynne Cheney should add a unit to her Iraq "Lesson Plan" about the new goverment's raping of female prisoners...


http://www.purplefingerforfreedom.org/LessonPlan.html

Student Activity:

(K-5) Have students listen to the National Anthem; explain to them why it refers to bombs and rockets and the home of the brave.

(6-8) Have students read a brief history of the War of 1812 and the story of how Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner.

(9-12) Discuss with students the final words of the National Anthem, ”Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,” and the concept of just and unjust war.” Review the history of Saddam Hussein and the significance of the free election on December 15.

[lpbk2713]

10. And where did the Iraqi police get their training?

Link: http://www.defendamerica.mil/photoessays/sep2004/p092204b1.html


No need to even guess.

[Joanne98]

11. It's the American Way! "Beat, rape, torture and kill.........

[jwirr]

12. A young friend of mine was used to teach them about police

work. When he came home he was disgusted and told us that they have no concept of the term "justice".