Torture in Iraq: Human Rights Watch Accuses USA

On the very same day that President Bush had some Iraqis at the White House said to have been subjected to torture and imprisonment by Saddam Hussein - and piously proclaimed what an evil man Saddam had been and how things were now much improved with Saddam out of the way! - Human Rights Watch released its 532-page 2006 World Report. It does not make for happy reading, especially in relation to the actions of the Americans in Iraq. See a synopsis here.

"The evidence showed that abusive interrogation [in Iraq] cannot be reduced to the misdeeds of a few low-ranking soldiers, but was a conscious policy choice by senior U.S. government officials. The policy has hampered Washington’s ability to cajole or pressure other states into respecting international law".

So, how will Australia and the others countries who formed the Coalition of the Willing respond to the Report? Probably dismissively - unless the media steps up to the plate and starts asking critical questions.

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