Abu Ghraib is heading for closure

[struggle4progress]

By Albert Eisele

American military forces are constructing more than $50 million worth of new prison facilities that they hope will allow them to close the notorious Abu Ghraib prison next year, according to the U.S. general in charge of detention centers in Iraq.

The construction includes a $30 million expansion of Camp Cropper near Baghdad International Airport, where former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is being held; a $13.5 million expansion of Camp Bucca in southern Iraq; and an $8 million renovation of a Russian-built training facility in northeastern Iraq.

The opening of that last facility later this month, along with the expansion of Camp Cropper, scheduled for completion in February, “may allow coalition forces to close Abu Ghraib in 2006,” even as two new compounds holding 800 more detainees were opened there this summer, Maj. Gen. William Brandenburg told The Hill in an e-mail.

Brandenburg’s comments came as Hussein and seven other former top aides stand trial before a special Iraqi tribunal for alleged war crimes during nearly three decades in power before a U.S.-led invasion ousted him two and a half years ago. <snip>

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/102605/news4.html


Now if we can only get W & Co to stop believing in torture ...

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Great, now we have a whole brand new gulag!

This is so typical. The problem is the building, not the torture that is going on inside this building and inside every concentration camp we have set up around the planet. The solution is newer bigger shinier concentration camps to hold our victims.

Are they charged with anything? Are they prisoners of war? Are they subject to the rule of law recognized by civilized nations?

Oh and where do the millions spent on our new torture centers go? Who are the contractors?

[pushycat]

2. Wonder who is doing the construction work? Lots of prisons

to build, so many tax dollars available for them. Yes, maybe new buildings won't be so distasteful to us when we learn that torture is still the path taken to valuable intel.... (sarcasm)