The mistreatment of Iraqi detainees shed light on how the US treats detainees elsewhere

CAIRO, July 17 (IslamOnline.net) – The Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the United States should appoint an independent commission to probe the treatment of detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo and elsewhere, casting doubts on the scope and seriousness of the investigations ordered by the Pentagon.

"Only an independent 9/11-style commission will be able to shed full light on US treatment of detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay," the international watchdog said Friday, July 16, said on its website.

"There is growing evidence of a high-level policy of abuse. The world is still watching and waiting to see how the United States deals with these crimes," said HRW Executive Director Kenneth Roth.

The New York-based group said that two and a half months after the first pictures from Abu Ghraib shock the world, only a few low-ranking soldiers have been called to account.

The Iraqi abuse scandal exploded onto the world stage on April 29 after the CBS news network published several graphic photos  of Iraqi detainees tortured and sexually abused by American soldiers at the infamous Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad.

Since then the scandal has been deepening, exposing more elements and factors about interrogation techniques approved by US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who has been under domestic and international pressure to step down.

In June, the HRW issued a report entitled "The Road To Abu Ghraib" linking the abuse of detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo to the policies adopted by US President George W. Bush in his so-called war on terror.

Unanswered Questions

HRW Friday said important issues related to the treatment of detainees in the war on terror and in Iraq still remain unanswered.

"These include: why inquiries into deaths in custody in Afghanistan and Iraq were so lackluster and late; why detainees were 'rendered' to countries such as Syria, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia where torture is systematic; how the administration justifies holding detainees incommunicado in 'undisclosed locations' in light of the United States’ historical condemnation of forced 'disappearances' in other countries."

The International Committee of the Red Cross last week said hundreds of terror suspects captured by the US have never turned up in detention centers, fearing Washington is hiding them in secret locations worldwide.

This followed a report by the American Human Rights First that Washington has operating more than 24 world detention camps, at least half of them operate in total secrecy, where the abuse of detainees is "inevitable".

On Sunday, June 13, the Observer said Washington and its allies are running a wanton global network of detention camps allowing the US to fly terror suspects to other countries, such as Syria, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, where they are tortured for information.

Other questions included interrogation techniques approved for detainees held in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere "and how senior officials square the coercive interrogation they have acknowledged authorizing with treaties barring cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment," according to HRW.

The group further wondered "Who in the Pentagon ordered Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, the former commander at Guantanamo, to Abu Ghraib to overhaul interrogation practices, and with what instructions?

"What were Gen Miller’s recommendations? What practices were then approved for Abu Ghraib by Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, the senior U.S. military officer in Iraq? Which interrogation practices from Afghanistan were brought to Abu Ghraib? Who in the Pentagon knew of the interrogation practices put in place in Abu Ghraib?"

The Washington Post reported on Saturday, June 12, that Sanchez gave free reign to US officers in charge of Abu Ghraib prison to adopt various torture and abuse tactics used at the US detention center in Guantanamo.

Based on these unanswered questions, among other concerns, the HRW called on Congress to create a special commission, along the lines of the 9/11 commission, to investigate the issue of prisoner abuse.

"Such a commission would hold hearings, have full subpoena power, and be empowered to recommend the creation of a special prosecutor to investigate possible criminal offenses.

"The commission would examine, among other things, the link between the administration policy discussions and memos and actual practices in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo."

Insufficient Probes

The human rights watchdog further said current investigations, carried out by the Pentagon, will not be able to fully pursue the abuse charges, particularly in light of claims that top US officials may have ordered, condoned or willfully ignored the torture of detainees.

"None of the investigations now under way has the independence or the breadth to get to the bottom of this scandal," the HRW chief said.

"How is a panel appointed by Secretary (Donald) Rumsfeld going to determine if Rumsfeld is responsible for torture? How can an inquiry run by uniformed military personnel investigate decisions made by civilian policy makers?"

The American New Yorker magazine dropped a bombshell on Sunday, May 16, saying the torture was okayed by Rumsfeld.

The Washington Post said on May 23 that Sanchez was present during some of interrogations that saw the torture and abuse of prisoners.

In a damning report presented to the administration in February, U.S. Major General Antonio Taguba found numerous "sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuses"  at a U.S.-run prison complex near Baghdad.