Soldier says Abu Ghraib interrogators told him to stage mock electrocution

[saigon68]

Soldier says Abu Ghraib interrogators told him to stage mock electrocution

Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
Thursday October 21, 2004
The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1332160,00.html

A US soldier on trial for abusing Iraqi prisoners told a Baghdad court martial yesterday that he hooked up wires around a hooded detainee in a mock electrocution at the behest of military and civilian intelligence officials. In his testimony yesterday, he described a prison regime where policy was set by military and civilian officials involved in the interrogation of prisoners. However, Sgt Frederick played a pivotal role in the events at Abu Ghraib.


Yesterday, he told the presiding military judge, Colonel James Pohl, that he had played a role in constructing one of the most harrowing images of the abuse that surfaced last April: the photo of a hooded detainee, standing on a box, with wires emerging from his hands. "I took one and wrapped it around his finger. Sgt Davis put one on his hand, Spc Harman one on his toe," Sgt Frederick said.

He said military and civilian interrogators regularly asked prison guards to set conditions for detainees, and he believed that officials wanted him to scare the prisoner to help with interrogation. However, he had misgivings: "I knew it was wrong at the time because I knew it was a form of abuse

He went on to describe his role in other episodes, including the occasion when he hit a detainee in the chest with such force that the prisoner needed medical attention, and forcing Iraqi prisoners to masturbate in front of US soldiers.

On Edit: This is not a dupe--- it is the first that actually tells through testimony what happened at Abu Ghraib


SUPPORT THE TROOPS </SARCASM>

[Judi Lynn]

1. Thanks for posting this info. on Chip Frederick's trial.

Probably many DU'ers have seen his very decent wife, and his uncle on cable news shows, trying to plead his case months ago. They seemed like truly sensible, good-hearted people. What a shame their loved one was involved in this mess.

I'm almost positive I have heard this man say that when he went to trial, he would name others who had been involved, and that a lot more would be revealed at that time. I really hope he gets to go through with it.

Although what he has done is vicious, he seems to be the only one of them who will even express regret about it, either real or contrived.

Photos of him and his wife I just found in google. He really didn't look vicious before going to Iraq.
http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/05/1679977.php

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saigon68, here's your link to the Guardian article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1332160,00.html

[saigon68]

2. Thanks JudiLyn

I was so upset I forgot to post the link---

A lot of new stuff will come out

The military is playing this sham to a T

None of the real meat will come out until after the election.

This whole episode is a very blackmark on the military that will last for a very long tome.

[leftchick]

3. a blackmark on the USA as well.....

Sy Hersh has said this scandal has ruined America's reputation in the eyes of most Arab countries for decades to come.

I don't believe any of the merc contractors are being held responsible are they?

[VolcanoJen]

4. After the election, if Kerry wins and we take or split Congress...

... the "Red Meat" will be served. Indeed. Long time coming.

[TacticalPeek]

5. As I understand it,

Frederick, through his family, and perhaps COL Hackworth, was largely responsible for some of the first pictures of the abuse becoming public. Without that, all we would have is the usual non-denial denials from the brass and buried reports that few reporters would find of interest, compared to say, Laura's resume and how well Teresa remembered it.

The Truth is what this sorry gang of thieves cannot stand.

[TacticalPeek]

6. Just heard on MSNBC:

SGT Frederick sentenced to eight years.

But how many for Rummy? For Asscroft? For Miller? Where is the outrage?

[saigon68]

9. The light of truth sometimes makes the criminal scuttle

into his dark hole.

[nodehopper]

7. Wow, this is like the Milgram shock experiments

Ironic that fake experiments like that are no longer permitted, yet the real thing goes on.

[WhiteTara]

8. the only good thing about this not coming out before

the elections is that chimpy won't be able to pardon them and
we can send all to jail...maybe even try them for treason.