Remember, folks, when you see the new Abu Ghraib photos...

[KansDem]

...that 70 to 90% of the prisoners at Abu Ghraib were innocent civilians. This statistic was cited in Jimmy Carter's new book Our Endangered Values : America's Moral Crisis. If I recall correctly, he referenced either a DOD or army intelligence statistic.

Here is another source that also quotes the "70 to 90%" statistic and credits the Red Cross:

It's not that torture has any practical value. The experts know that torture rarely yields any useful information. The hard-case Al Qaeda operative, who is so committed to his Islamist cause that he's willing to commit suicide to strike American interests, will only have his preconceived notions of the United States as Great Satan confirmed and redouble his resistance. Conversely, the unfortunate innocent rounded-up in quota-filling sweeps will tell the torturer anything that will make the torture stop -- including implicating other innocents -- who will in turn implicate more innocents in a vicious cycle of mindless, useless cruelty. Can there be any doubt that for every innocent abused or tortured by Americans, we create a new America-hating sympathizer or recruit for Al Qaeda (the Red Cross estimates that 70-90% of those imprisoned at Abu Ghraib were innocent)?

http://www.evilgopbastards.com/january_2005.htm

And another source:

• According to U.S. intelligence officers at Abu Ghraib, “70 to 90 percent of the detainees at this prison were held by mistake.”

http://www.thewarwickbeacon.com/warwickonline/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15281&Itemid=165



Just something to keep in mind when we look at these photos...

[fooj]

1. You know what? I could only stomach looking at a few...

The entire situation makes me sick, disgusted and heartbroken over what this country has allowed itself to become.

Peace.

[BlueEyedSon]

2. Come on, we only tortured he BAD ones!!!

[emulatorloo]

6. and Lyndie was just "One Bad Apple," right????? n/t

[Arkansas Granny]

3. This is an important fact to remember. Most of these prisoners

are released with no charges being filed against them. If I recall correctly, hundreds, if not thousands, of them were released shortly after the first batch of Abu Ghraib pictures were published.

[wtmusic]

4. I thought they were all innocent nt

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. Also, these aren't "THE" not yet seen photos Hersh referred to, right?

[LynnTheDem]

7. These aren't the videos of little boys being raped, etc, no.

Those are still not released.

[Jacobin]

8. But the "insurgency was a big surprise"

Can you imagine what American insurgents would do if a foreign power invaded and occupied us and did this to our citizens?

I think the Iraqis are showing amazing restraint, all things considered.

[jwirr]

11. Especially since many of the acts of abuse are against

women and children. So when you are looking at them think about YOUR mother, wife, son or daughter in this position.

[iconoclastNYC]

9. Entire report here ---

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2462659&mesg_id=2462659

[The Stranger]

10. Can we talk about "WAR CRIMES"?

Or are we afraid we may offend some DUers who "support the troops"?

[tavalon]

12. Are these the ones the ACLU has been fighting to get out?

[glitch]

13. Another stat to remember: before the war started the average age of Iraqis

was 14. This was from Encyclopedia Britanica. I don't know what it is now.