MidEast Report

ABU GHREIB
Just a thought on Abu Ghreib atrocities, of which, according to Donald Rumsfeld, we haven't yet seen the full extent. This may be obvious to most, but I think it's worth mentioning. The reservists in the photos seemed to know precisely how to humiliate those Iraqi men, feminizing them, placing them in homosexual positions, putting leashes around their neck like dogs. The fact that these methods were based in precise Arab cultural prejudices indicates that the reservists were specifically instructed by others who were both schooled in Arab history and culture and smart enough to avoid being photographed, most likely U.S. Military Intelligence, as the Taguba Report suggests. I doubt that some reservist from Bull Rectum, Arkansas, is going to have a very detailed knowledge of Arab cultural mores. Not to cast aspersions on anyone from Bull Rectum, mind you, it's a very nice little town full of nice people. But come on, this reservist (from Alexandria, VA, not Bull Rectum) couldn't even spell "rapist" correctly. I can't even begin to unpack the irony there.

Making matters (much, much) worse, many former Palestinian prisoners report that the methods seen in the Abu Ghreib photos are reminiscent of methods used in Israeli interrogations of Palestinians. Unsuprising, given that the U.S. has been training with the Israelis to learn how to run an occupation. Way to win those hearts and minds, guys.

posted by Matt Duss @ 9:20 AM