T H U R S D A Y , J U L Y 2 8 , 2 0 0 5Bush's Idea Of Good Iraqisby Michael in New York on 7/28/2005 08:45:00 PMA sad story in the LA Times links a National Guard companyfrom that state to some potentially criminal activity.Members of three of four active companies in the battalionare being investigated for their alleged role in mistreatingIraqi prisoners and engaging in inappropriate financialagreements with local shopkeepers, according to militaryofficials.The most egregious case of detainee abuse reported so faroccurred after a June insurgent attack, when soldiersallegedly tortured Iraqi detainees with an electric stun gun.At least one instance of abuse was recorded on video,military sources said.As many as 17 soldiers are under investigation formistreatment of Iraqi prisoners and at least six others havebeen charged with dereliction of duty.</p><p> Lt.</p><p> Col.</p><p> Patrick Frey,the battalion commander, has been suspended pending theinvestigation.Imagine that: suspending someone from duty while they're under thecloud of a serious investigation.Now, every soldier is responsible for their own actions and should beheld accountable.</p><p> But I also blame Bush for repeatedly making clearthat insurgents and terrorists don't deserve the same basic dignity as"real" people.</p><p> Bush is the one who has rewarded virtually every topofficial connected with the prisoner abuse scandals.</p><p> How can hepretend that he also disapproves of torture?But what really struck me about this story was the infamous WolfBrigade, an Iraqi unit that worked with that California Guard unit.The [Wolf] brigade is both loved and feared in Iraq for itsattacks on alleged insurgent hide-outs and the dramatictelevised confessions those offensives produced.But Sunni human rights advocates charged that the brigadeelicited the confessions by beating their captives.</p><p> A womaninterviewed by The Times this year said brigade officerswhipped her sister with telephone wires to force her toconfess to terrorist acts and to accuse her male associatesof raping her and of having homosexual relations.The detainee, Khalida Mashhandani, was later releasedafter it was determined that her confessions had beencoerced.Despite its controversial reputation, the Wolf Brigadeis regarded by U.S. military officials as the goldstandard for Iraqi security forces.</p><p> MORE POSTS ABOUT: TORTURE EschatonPretty Much - I think this encapsulates nicely ourmodern media environment.1 hour ago HuffPost PoliticsHuckabee's Huck Pac In Turmoil With StaffTurnover, Mounting Debts - Former Arkansas Gov.Mike Huckabee's political action committee, HuckPac, is undergoing a "restructuring," ExecutiveDirector Sarah Huckabee said Wednesday....2 hours ago Ben SmithGoing small - My story tonight: President BarackObama came alive about 50 minutes intoWednesday night’s news conference – whensomebo2 hours ago FiredoglakeLate Late Night FDL: What Eclipse? - A new videofrom Fatoumata Diawara, and and oldie from Bob.2 hours ago Daily KosOpen Thread and Diary Rescue - *Today, srkp23(pulling a double shift), ybruti, taylormattd,ItsJessMe and vcmvo2 combed through hundredsof diaries to find this powerful list.</p><p> Today's...3 hours agoJ O H N ' S P H OT O S Show AllA M E R I C A B L O G T V Next100.comFeedback - Ads by Google Next 6AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Bush's...http://www.americablog.com/2005/07/bushs-idea-of-good-iraqis... 1 of 57/23/09 3:56 AMVisit ourAMERICAblog TV site.see all 322 videos >I collect with vodpod In honor of SenatorDeMint For the GOPers, healthcare is politics.</p><p> They just Traditional media has todebunk the birthers One small step...</p><p> The right-wing media, thevoices of the GOP, inAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Bush's...http://www.americablog.com/2005/07/bushs-idea-of-good-iraqis... 2 of 57/23/09 3:56 AMThe TreatmentObama Has a Grown-UpTalk With America(Gulp)3 hours agoEzra KleinTab Dump8 hours agoWonk RoomSen.</p><p> Byron Dorgan:The ‘Trade’ InCap-And-Trade ‘MakesNo Sense To Me’9 hours agoHealth BeatTruth Squad: WallStreet Journal HealthCare Editorial Wrong onthe Facts . . .10 hours agoDaily DoseProviders Endorse 'Payfor Value' ProposalsG AY P O L I T I C S Visit our new gay politicssection, AMERICAblog Gay.F E E D S Blog RSS AMERICAblog TV RSS Twitter RSSTwitter Feed Get the blog by email: Subscribe me! 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