Well researched piece. You're right with the last statement, it does need to stop. In a perfect world, this abuse would never have happened; unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world.

Excellently written as always. Sorry for the delay on reviewing! I love your controversial style of writing, it's amazing to read.
Whether people want to admit it or not, there are things happening in Irag that shouldn't be and it's the sickos who conduct these occurences that give the rest of the soldiers who are there for their belief in human rights a bad name.
Glad someone wrote about this...come to think of it...glad it was you. Well done.

The latest news on this issue is that the pictures of the British soldiers brutalising Iraqi prisoners appear to be fake.
Which is clearly good news.
Unfortunately, both the Red Cross and Amnesty International say that British troops really are behaving as badly as those pictures indicated.
Which is clearly bad news.
And what is even worse, is that the British Government are refusing to accept the reports by the aid organisations, and insist every single British soldier in Iraq is bahaving professionally at all times.
Which is bollocks.
Like Calvin Fitzgerald, I believe the vast majority of soldiers over there are doing the best they can in difficult circumstances.
The people that are letting them down though, are only making those circumstances more difficult all the time.
And Tony Blair needs to get off his arse and accept that there is a problem, no matter how small, and deal with it.
It's not often I'll say well done to George W Bush, but at least he has admitted that a minority of American troops have let his nation down, and is acting to try to ensure such a thing never happens again.
For once, and much as it goes against everything I've ever said about him, I really wish Tony Blair would follow the example set by Bush!
Spawny

I agree with the review below this, well said. But I'm not so sure that you can really put things in black and white and say 'we're the good guys, they're the bad guys. We're meant to set an example', because really, the Americans and Iraqis are both people.
You certainly have gotten your information well on this, and I want to know just as much as you, the reasons for these atrocious acts.
A friend put forward the view to me, that although these acts are unacceptable, they are explainable. I don't agree with this view, as I'm sure you don't. I think we'd all like some answers.

Well said indeed. If it was former Iraqi secret police interrogation specialists (ie the guys with bthe electrodes and stuff) then quite frankly I'd be all for it- death's too good for bastards like that. But we're supposed to be the good guys!

I do believe that the majority of American and British soldiers in Iraq have been doing the right thing: building schools, handing out food, protecting Iraqi civilian, all while be shot at and sabatoged. However these actions taken by US and British soldiers in the various prisons in Iraq is despicable and I think with all the media maelstrom there is no way that these poor excuses for human beings will ever get off for any of the crimes they committed against the Iraqis. If there is any justice they will first face charges in an American Court Martial and then face a second slew of charges in an Iraqi court. We have to prove that these were renegades and twisted perverst, not the standard bearer of the US Army.
Calvin Fitzgerald

You deffiantly went to great lengths to get information for this essay. I respect that. You know what your speaking of, and even have your source(s) mentioned at the end. However, the stress out in the middle east I'm sure is overwhelming. I dont think so much that the soliders abusing the POW are doing it for kicks, they may be, but thats probably not all of the issue. Understandably this is a very controversial issue and essay, and props to you for voicing your own opinion. However, we really did not have a place amoung Saddam Husien, our original battle was with Osama. But Bush is insane and insists on battle, to live up to his father. Anyway, we can only hope and pray that the remaining soliders return home safetly. Blessed Be