Afghans protest civilian killings.
Usually when I suggest the United States should get out of Afghanistan, I focus the maiming and deaths of Afghans, various internationals and U.S. troops. But there's another reason to end this imperial adventure. The United States is still using its Afghan outpost as a torture site.
According to the BBC:
The BBC has provided a podcast of an interview with a man who claims to have been abused at the site.The US airbase at Bagram in Afghanistan contains a facility for detainees that is distinct from its main prison, the Red Cross has confirmed to the BBC.
Nine former prisoners have told the BBC that they were held in a separate building, and subjected to abuse. ...In recent weeks the BBC has logged the testimonies of nine prisoners who say they had been held in the so-called "Tor Jail".
They told consistent stories of being held in isolation in cold cells where a light is on all day and night. The men said they had been deprived of sleep by US military personnel there.
We don't get to hear accounts like that very often -- but of course, Afghans do. No wonder many of them want us simply out of their country, whatever future horrors that may lead to.
Adam Server has a great idea how the Military Commission could try to win some respect:
Personally, I've thought for a while now that the act that would most "legitimize" the commissions would be to broadcast them on television or over the Web. For some reason, the administration doesn't think that's a good idea.
2 comments:
There are two things that have really disappointed me in Obama. This is one of them and the lack of transparency that he promised is another.
I am deeply disappointed that Obama is continuing some of Bush's worst programs. It is counter productive.
Barack Bush strikes again!
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