These totures were specific to offend Islam

[doni_georgia]

Think about it - simulated homosexual acts, rape, and attacks by dogs - about as offensive in Islam as it comes. We as Americans are looking at them as simply torture, but it goes further than that. This was a slap in the face of these people's religious beliefs.

Islam on dogs:
"The saliva of a dog is Najis (impure). If it touches the clothes or body, that portion also becomes impure and must be washed. And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best."
http://www.albalagh.net/qa/dogs_islam_prayer.shtml

Islam and homosexuality
"Kill the one that is doing it and also kill the one that it is being done to." (in reference to the active and passive partners in gay sexual intercourse) - statement attributed to the Prophet Mohammed
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_isla.htm

[havocmom]

1. So, homophobic xtian fundies are following the teachings of

the Prophet Mohammed?

Anybody have phone numbers for Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell? I have a couple of questions for them...

[0rganism]

3. I think they'd claim to be following the teachings of Moses instead

Thus the frequent references to passages from Leviticus.

Never mind that Jesus was supposed to bring them a new covenant to replace the old laws, it's sufficient for fundies to find a condemnation anywhere in the book. Whenever a fundy goes off about homosexuality, be sure to ask him if he's eaten shellfish or worn mixed fabrics.

[DrWeird]

2. I doubt it.

They made them perform homosexual acts because they could.

They used a dog because they had one.

[Political_Junkie]

4. I have many friends at work

who are Muslims. I noticed the choice of tortures right off the bat. These people are worse than despicable!

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

5. I think this points to something more than out-of-control GIs.

I dont think youd except the average GI to know about that dog thing, which makes me wonder who was really behind all this...some CIA or contractor operative who would know what would be a serious mindfuck for the POWs?

[Political_Junkie]

6. You may be on to something.

n/t

[Career Prole]

8. Damn...I thought everyone knew! Check this out...

First this story here:
http://www.worldpress.org/link.cfm?http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=58904

Quoting...

Lawyers for the soldiers argue they are being made scapegoats for a rogue military prison system in which mercenaries give orders without legal accountability.
A military report into the Abu Ghraib case -- parts of which were made available to The Guardian -- makes it clear that private contractors were supervising interrogations in the prison…

<snip>

The military investigation names two US contractors, CACI International Inc and the Titan Corporation, for their involvement in Abu Ghraib.

<snip>

Neither responded to calls for comment on Thursday.
According to the military report on Abu Ghraib, both played an important role at the prison.
At one point, the investigators say: "A CACI instructor was terminated because he allowed and/or instructed MPs who were not trained in interrogation techniques to facilitate interrogations by setting conditions which were neither authorised in accordance with applicable regulations/policy."
Colonel Jill Morgenthaler, speaking for central command, told The Guardian: "One contractor was originally included with six soldiers, accused for his treatment of the prisoners, but we had no jurisdiction over him. It was left up to the contractor on how to deal with him."
She did not specify the accusation facing the contractor, but according to several sources with detailed knowledge of the case, he raped an Iraqi inmate in his mid-teens.

Not only that, but this had been going on for months and the Iraqis knew about it on the streets according to Riverbend's blog
http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/2004_04_01_riverbendblog_archive.html#108335179421604212

Quoting...

I felt a multitude of things as I saw them... the most prominent feeling was rage, of course. I had this incredible desire to break something- like that would make things somehow better or ease the anger and humiliation. We’ve been hearing terrible stories about Abu Ghraib Prison in Baghdad for a while now, but those pictures somehow spoke like no words could.

Seeing those naked, helpless, hooded men was like being slapped in the face with an ice cold hand. I felt ashamed looking at them- like I was seeing something I shouldn’t be seeing and all I could think was, “I might know one of those faceless men...” I might have passed him in the street or worked with him. I might have bought groceries from one of them or sat through a lecture they gave in college... any of them might be a teacher, gas station attendant or engineer... any one of them might be a father or grandfather... each and every one of them is a son and possibly a brother. And people wonder at what happened in Falloojeh a few weeks ago when those Americans were killed and dragged through the streets...

I don't wonder why those contractors were given such singular treatment anymore...and all this shit that's happened to Fallujah since was a reaction to that.
Think about it.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

10. This really sucks!

Man, we have a rogue state alright..the corporate contractors!

Man, no way should contractors be giving orders to guys in uniform in a situation like that....should be the other way around.

This really stinks to high heaven.

[buddy22600]

7. bush ordered it so we could have more

terrorist attacks in the USA

[w13rd0]

9. There's a reason "civilian intelligence officials" greenlighted the...

...treatment, and none have been named or brought up on charges...

psychological torture...they were "very successful in breaking them (the prisoners) in one or two days"...

All they are missing is the pig blood. Just scroll some freep threads from Sept 12th. You'll find plenty of pointers on "how to torture muslims"...

[doni_georgia]

12. Yep, remember Neil Boortz after 9/11 calling for

He said we need to produce OBL or a "critical mass portion" of OBL and "feed him to the dogs on the White House lawn." There were weeks of people calling into his show with specific punishments that would be offensive to Islam. I couldn't believe the shit at the time, and now we find out we are doing this shit to POWs.

[Gothmog]

11. Winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqis

We were not going to be welcome by dances and flowers. However, most of the Iraqis did not hate us after the invasion. After this episode, we can count on a far larger opposition and the hatred of a majority of the population. This is not how one wins the hearts and minds of an occupied country.

[alcuno]

13. The one reminded me of a crucifixion and the others of Auschwitz.

The naked bodies piled on top of one another. Plus that, I have never heard such a lame ass apology as the one I did from * today. Instead of talking about how this does not represent the US military he should have been repeating over and over again how sorry the US is.

[drfemoe]

14. not to mention

women being involved in the humiliation / torture. That's probably *worse* than dog saliva in their religion?

[doni_georgia]

15. I haven't thought of that, but you are right. n/t

[fishnfla]

17. yes, there were 3 women there

good point

[mopaul]

16. hell it's offensive to ANY religion

imagine u.s. p.o.w.'s going through this, the same thing would be being said. but the point remains the same, these acts WERE designed to offend islam in general

[seabeyond]

18. i cant spell the prison on cuba, the most offensive

they had women strip naked and was reported one women smeared her menstraul blood on the men

[doni_georgia]

19. See what I mean

The instructions for this shit is coming from someone with knowledge of Islam - plain and simple. Although some of this stuff is well known. Like I said earlier, Neil Boortz after 9/11 had people calling in to his show talking about punishments for Al Qaeda. These were mostly your typical southern good ol' boys - they seemed to know a WHOLE lot about what was offensive to Islam. Some of the suggestions included many of the things we have actually seen.

[doni_georgia]

20. Thumbs up sign in Iraq equals flipping someone off

Thumbs-Up and OK
The thumbs-up gesture traditionally is an offensive Iraqi insult, equivalent to using the middle finger in the Western world. Some more media savvy Iraqis may understand the Western meaning of an upturned thumb as "all is OK", and intend the gesture to mean just that. Following the first Gulf War, many Middle Easterners adopted this hand movement as a symbol of cooperation toward freedom. Other Iraqis may use the gesture in its traditional sense.


http://128.196.21.241/cultural/iraq/culture_gestures.asp

[doni_georgia]

21. More insults:

Shame and Arab Culture
Bringing shame upon an Arab can have dangerous, and perhaps deadly, consequences. It is important to understand actions that can shame an Arab and to avoid those actions wherever possible. For example, correcting an Iraqi in public or using of the left-hand can shame an Iraqi.


Animals
Like other Muslims, most Iraqis consider dogs unclean and will be very reluctant to touch one. Those Iraqis who have anything to do with raising animals may have guard dogs for their flocks, but even so, are not accustomed to the notion of dogs in the house. An Iraqi who has touched a dog will want to wash his or her hands, either immediately afterwards or most certainly before eating. Muslims do, however, like cats. Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was once said to have cut off the hem of his robe rather than disturb the cat sleeping on it.

Touching people of opposite sex:
Male westerners should not show any interest or affection toward Arab women, or even to female members of his own family. Further, men should avoid dating Arab women, photographing them, or staring. Public affection toward someone of the opposite sex, even a simple touching of the hands, should be avoided. This behavior is considered unacceptable in Muslim/Arab society.

Pointing:

When possible, avoid pointing a finger at objects or at a person to whom one wishes to speak. A pointed finger sends the message that the person pointed to is no better that an animal.


Taboos concerning head and feet
Big blunders can arise if Westerners are unaware of the significance of the head
and the feet in Arabic culture. Be aware that forcing an Iraqi's head to touch the ground may make that Iraqi an enemy. Muslims only touch their heads to the ground when praying.

[doni_georgia]

22. Islam and nudity

On the matter of nudity the Holy Prophet of Islam, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has unequivocally forbidden the exposure of one's private parts. He forbade males to show and look upon one another's genitals and also forbade women to look upon one another's private parts. (Kitab-ul-Hamam)

http://www.alislam.org/library/links/nudity.html