Abu Ghraib Intelligence Soldier Describes Iraq Abuse in Detail

[papau]

In a telephone interview with The Times,military intelligence soldierRivera described his involvement in the case for the first time - denies superiors in MI ordered "softening up" prisoners in this manner.

http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/ehIV0H5DEY0G2B0F1iq0AP

Abu Ghraib Intelligence Soldier Describes Iraq Abuse in Detail

By Greg Miller, Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — <snip>Rivera, 20, is the first military intelligence soldier to come forward publicly and say that he witnessed a fellow intelligence soldier, Cruz, taking part in the abuse of prisoners in the isolation cellblock at Abu Ghraib. Cruz has also been cited in testimony by Sgt. Samuel J. Provance III, another intelligence officer, who said Cruz "was known to bang on the table, yell, scream, and maybe assaulted detainees during interrogations in the booth."

Cruz could not be reached for comment this week.

Because they are among only a handful of intelligence soldiers directly tied to the abuse in photographs, Rivera and Cruz are potentially important witnesses for military investigators seeking to determine the scope of the scandal — specifically whether the torture of detainees had any connection to the interrogation operation at Abu Ghraib.

Rivera disputed such claims, saying the abuse he witnessed had nothing to do with "softening up" prisoners to get information from them. <snip>

[saigon68]

1. THE "SOFTENING UP" WAS WORSE AND DONE IN A DARK ROOM.

Only the Tip of the iceberg

[seemslikeadream]

5. Focus on the weak points

[readmylips]

2. Funny that those soldiers are still in active duty.....

I thought they were in jail waiting for trial...How ignorant I am.

Soldiers with hispanic last names; Cruz, Rivera, Sanchez. Ignorant racist people will interepret this as 'criminal hispanic gang bangers.' What they do in their home neighborhood, they do in the military. I feel bad for these hispanic soldiers. They probably went in the military bated by promises of a college education, a better life. Now they'll be in jail.

[boobooday]

3. Their attitudes are very disturbing

One said he "didn't care" about the abuse, and only one soldier felt bad and reported it. The soldiers who come back alive from this thing will be emotional basket cases, and you can bet there won't be any help for them. How many future Timothy McVeighs and John Malvos are being created right now?

Bush cannot get off the hook for this one -- like Al said the other day, this is a direct result of his policies.



http://www.wgoeshome.com

[Barrett808]

4. kick

[struggle4progress]

6. kick

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