General Discussion

Bonobo

(29,257 posts) Wed Aug 29, 2012, 02:54 AM Aug 2012

Some seem to need a reminder about how BAD the US want Assange and...

How BAD it treats whistleblowers.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/22/iraq-war-logs-military-leaks

Iraq war logs: secret files show how US ignored torture
• Massive leak reveals serial detainee abuse
• 15,000 unknown civilian deaths in war
• Full coverage of the Iraq war logs
• Datablog: every death mapped

A grim picture of the US and Britain's legacy in Iraq has been revealed in a massive leak of American military documents that detail torture, summary executions and war crimes.

Almost 400,000 secret US army field reports have been passed to the Guardian and a number of other international media organisations via the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks.

The electronic archive is believed to emanate from the same dissident US army intelligence analyst who earlier this year is alleged to have leaked a smaller tranche of 90,000 logs chronicling bloody encounters and civilian killings in the Afghan war.

The new logs detail how:

• US authorities failed to investigate hundreds of reports of abuse, torture, rape and even murder by Iraqi police and soldiers whose conduct appears to be systematic and normally unpunished.

• A US helicopter gunship involved in a notorious Baghdad incident had previously killed Iraqi insurgents after they tried to surrender.

• More than 15,000 civilians died in previously unknown incidents. US and UK officials have insisted that no official record of civilian casualties exists but the logs record 66,081 non-combatant deaths out of a total of 109,000 fatalities.

The numerous reports of detainee abuse, often supported by medical evidence, describe prisoners shackled, blindfolded and hung by wrists or ankles, and subjected to whipping, punching, kicking or electric shocks. Six reports end with a detainee's apparent death.

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10 replies

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Highlight:

Some seem to need a reminder about how BAD the US want Assange and... (Original Post) Bonobo Aug 2012 OP

Thank you, Bonobo. Raster Aug 2012 #1

Commit a war crime, get a medal. Expose a war crime, go directly to jail. leveymg Aug 2012 #2

And soon wanted for an interview and charges will be conflated fasttense Aug 2012 #3

With Barankov going free Hydra Aug 2012 #4

Did you see how fast that OP dropped?? riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #7

You'd think they'd be happy that a whistleblower got rescued Hydra Aug 2012 #8

Thank you for the reminder, Bonobo Hydra Aug 2012 #5

du rec. nt xchrom Aug 2012 #6

K&R woo me with science Aug 2012 #9

Evening kick. nt riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #10

Raster

(20,998 posts)

1. Thank you, Bonobo.

Reply to Bonobo (Original post)

Wed Aug 29, 2012, 03:03 AM

Aug 2012

You do realize the shitstorm featuring the usual suspects will be sniffing this thread out shortly and will begin their tirades.

But thanks for posting.

There is a very good reason that Assange does not want to put himself within renditioning grasp, and it isn't a rape in Sweden.

Have a good evening!

leveymg

(36,418 posts)

2. Commit a war crime, get a medal. Expose a war crime, go directly to jail.

Reply to Bonobo (Original post)

Wed Aug 29, 2012, 04:47 AM

Aug 2012

What could be more normal for the world's most aggressive warfaring nation?

fasttense

(17,301 posts)

3. And soon wanted for an interview and charges will be conflated

Reply to Bonobo (Original post)

Wed Aug 29, 2012, 05:49 AM

Aug 2012

as if they are the same thing. And Sweden's previous willingness to turn over people to the US will be ignored. And an apologist for the powers that be (who is likely being paid by the same) will come on and tell us all how evil Assange is. Despite there being NO trial, they will tell us how Assange is a rapist and should give himself up.

They will say how we should all ignore the facts. Ignore that the US is currently torturing Bradly Manning, Ignore the fact that Sweden has turned over asylum seekers to the US before, Ignore the fact that Assange has NOT been charged with a crime in Sweden, Ignore the fact that the US has a full blown war on against whistle blowers, Ignore the fact that the UK denies victims of rape asylum while pretending to care that this accusation in Sweden is one they suddenly have an interest in, Ignore the fact that the powers that be want to torture and silence Assange more than they want to pretend there is a rule of law.

Turn Assange over to us and trust us that he will be treated lawfully and fairly because we all know that the powers that be are just so trustworthy.

Get Assange and smear Manning are what the powers that be want and many a traitorous fool play into their hands for money. They aren't here at this post yet. But I suspect they will be coming around.

Hydra

(14,459 posts)

4. With Barankov going free

Reply to fasttense (Reply #3)

Wed Aug 29, 2012, 01:09 PM

Aug 2012

One of the pillars of Assange's dedicated opponents just disappeared.

I find it amusing that so many people who support "freedom" and "democracy" want Assange jailed, tortured and executed, since it's not Bush doing it.

Banality of Evil? Not only proven, it's proven every day.

riderinthestorm

(23,272 posts)

7. Did you see how fast that OP dropped??

Reply to Hydra (Reply #4)

Wed Aug 29, 2012, 01:48 PM

Aug 2012

The Third Way group didn't want to touch it since it doesn't fit into their meme anymore now that Barankov's asylum has been re-confirmed.

Hydra

(14,459 posts)

8. You'd think they'd be happy that a whistleblower got rescued

Reply to riderinthestorm (Reply #7)

Wed Aug 29, 2012, 03:38 PM

Aug 2012

The scariest thing about Assange's attackers, even here, is their utter willingness to USE people against him, and cheer people on who are doing the same.

WTF ever??

Hydra

(14,459 posts)

5. Thank you for the reminder, Bonobo

Reply to Bonobo (Original post)

Wed Aug 29, 2012, 01:37 PM

Aug 2012

It's easy to forget that our country has done all of these things, is doing these things, and will continue to do these things...and is trying to silence the truthtellers rather than fix the problem.

I guess that would mean they think all of this mayhem is ok, huh?