U.S. transfers prison, 2,900 ex-insurgents to Iraq

[sabra]

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, March 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. military handed over a $107 million prison and nearly 3,000 inmates to the Iraqi government on Monday as it prepares to leave Iraq seven years after ousting Saddam Hussein.

The formal transfer of the detention centre at Camp Taji, a sprawling U.S. base north of Baghdad, is part of a plan to unwind a U.S. detention programme in Iraq that cost $500 million a year at its peak.

U.S. forces had taken into custody about 90,000 people since the 2003 invasion. By August, there will only be about 100 in U.S. custody, said Major General David Quantock, head of detention operations.

"At one point our guard force was over 10,000 and now we're going to go to a guard force of around 100 by the first of September, all part of the responsible drawdown plan to get U.S. forces down to 50,000," he said.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE62E1I3.htm

[liberal N proud]

1. The term insurgents always bothered me

The US invaded their country and then called them insurgents.

[maxsolomon]

2. do you prefer partisans?

insurgent means a participant in a rebellion against authority - could be an occupier.

[yava]

3. 107 million dollar gift of a prison with 2900 inhabitants!

A huge prison with as many people in it as those who were killed 911 NYC.
Who are they?
Who is going to feed them?
Who will protect their rights (if they have any)?
What a gift!

[saigon68]

4. The US taxpayer will continue the LARGESSE