Brutal acts of occupying troops

May 1st, 2004 | by aobaoill |

I had planned to post an item about U.S. soldiers’ treatment of Iraqi prisoners, but events overtake me, and now there is also a report of ill-treatment of prisoners by British soldiers. Latest reports are casting doubt on the veracity of some of the photographs of British soldiers, but it seems, nonetheless, that some ill-treatment is occuring.
What had originally inspired me to post on the topic was a statement from Michael D. Higgins, about the US actions, which provides a piercing critique:

The treatment of these prisoners represents a breach of virtually every principle of the Geneva Convention. When we see photographs like these, it becomes very obvious why the United States has refused to recognise the authority of the International Criminal Court.
Does anyone in the United States administration have any idea of the impact on conservative Islamic opinion of graphic photographs of the humiliation and sexual degradation of Iraqi prisoners? Can anyone be in any doubt that these photographs will be used to recruit yet more young Muslims to extremist groups?
What is almost as objectionable as the ill-treatment itself is the manner in which some commentators have focused on the impact on American opinion and on the occupying forces themselves, rather than the suffering and brutality to which the prisoners were subjected.
All of this and the continuing violence that has led to the deaths of hundreds of Iraqi civilians over recent weeks, show that the time has come for a new political initiative to establish order and rule of law. It is clear that the United States and its allies cannot deliver peace and stability.
The United Nations must be placed in direct charge of efforts to restore peace and ensure the reconstruction of Iraq. This requires a new mandate from the Security Council. The Taoiseach should use the opportunity presented by the presence in Ireland this weekend of all EU leaders so seek support for such an initiative before the Irish Presidency ends.

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