U.S. closes big military prison in Iraq

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

Thousands of detainees to be released or transferred to Iraqi custody
The U.S. military on Wednesday closed Camp Bucca, an isolated desert prison that was once its largest lockup in Iraq, as it moves to release thousands of detainees or transfer them to Iraqi custody before the end of the year.

The sprawling facility just north of the Kuwaiti border has held thousands of men over the years, including the most dangerous in U.S. custody — Sunni insurgents, Shiite extremists and al-Qaida in Iraq suspects swept up from battlefields over six years of war.

Iraqi officials say some who have been freed have returned to violence.

(snip)
The closure of Bucca is the first major step in shutting down a detention system that was tainted by the Abu Ghraib scandal.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32884156/ns/world_news-conflict_in_iraq/

[Tempest]

1. Returned to violence?

I'm willing to bet there's a whole lot more who were innocent and became radicalized during their imprisonment.

[grahamhgreen]

2. Good

[Solly Mack]

3. The article says "tainted by Abu Ghraib" like Bucca wasn't also known for

detainee abuse.

2008

Camp Bucca detainee abuse hearing begins
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/11/navy_detainee_abuse_111108w/



6 sailors charged with detainee abuse in Iraq
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/08/navy_bucca_081408/


From 2003

http://www.historycommons.org/timeline.jsp?hr_us_bases_and_interrogation_centers=hr_campBucca&timeline=torture,_rendition,_and_other_abuses_against_captives_in_iraq,_afghanistan,_and_elsewhere