Al-Jazeera Notes New Accusations Levelled at Pentagon Over Prisoner Abuse

During its 1600 gmt newscast, Doha Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel in Arabic was observed to report on new allegations of torture in US military prisons and accusations to the Pentagon of knowingly pursuing illegal interrogation tactics.

At 1640 gmt, the channel reports: “US Senator Carl Levin has said that senior Pentagon officials sought to obtain information from military trainers on torture techniques that could be used in interrogating prisoners captured in the war on so-called terror. In the meantime, the US-based Physicians for Human Rights organization reported obtaining evidence of war crimes and torture targeting detainees in Iraq and Guantanamo.”

A video report by Aziz al-Marmisi opens by saying: “Despite being around for years, scandals involving US military prisons continue to cast their heavy shadows on Washington’s political corridors. A new report reveals more details about the suffering of former detainees in Abu Ghurayb [prison] and Guantanamo. The report, issued by the Physicians for Human Rights organizations, states that former detainees in Iraq and Cuba currently suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders, permanent physical injuries, and scars dating back to their incarceration.”

Against images of alleged prisoner abuse in Iraq’s Abu Ghurayb prison, Al-Marmisi explains that physicians working with the organization examined former Abu Ghurayb and Guantanamo detainees “and found evidence of torture and war crimes.”

The report also notes documents released by the Senate Armed Services Committee “proving the military lawyers had warned the Pentagon that some of the interrogation and detention techniques applied to suspected terrorists violate US and international laws.”

Senator Carl Levin is shown saying: “Some might say that if our soldiers are trained to withstand harsh interrogation techniques in training centres, then why not apply these techniques to detainees? Well, these training centres employ torture techniques used by our enemies, and if we misuse them against detainees, then that would imply that America practices torture.”

In closing, Al-Marmisi notes that these developments “should invigorate the continuing debate on the US interrogation tactics used in military prisons, and which have triggered a wave of anger around the world and marred the reputation of the US Army.”

Originally published by Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, in Arabic 1640 18 Jun 08.

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