Entered into the database on Monday, July 04th, 2005 @ 21:36:04 MST
I urge my fellow health professionals to join me and many others in reaffirming
our ethical commitment to prevent torture; to clearly state that systematic
torture, sanctioned by the government and aided and abetted by our own profession,
is not acceptable. As health professionals, we should support the growing calls
for an independent, bipartisan commission to investigate torture in Iraq, Afghanistan,
Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere, and demand restoration of ethical standards that
protect physicians, nurses, medics and psychologists from becoming facilitators
of abuse. America cannot continue down this road. Torture demonstrates weakness, not
strength. It does not show understanding, power or magnanimity. It is not leadership.
It is a reaction of government officials overwhelmed by fear who succumb to
conduct unworthy of them and of the citizens of the United States. The Stain of Torture Even Iraqi police are still using the same methods of Saddam, it it’s
confirmed by the US military. Major General David Rodriguez, the commander of U.S. and coalition forces in
the area around Mosul, says that in the “last six to eight weeks”
there have been approximately “40 or so” cases of abuse. Senior U.S. Military official confirms detainee abuse by Iraqi security forces And the British are “concerned” about it A British Foreign Office spokesman said the reports were serious. “We are aware and deeply concerned by reports of detainee abuse by Iraqi
police officers and of men in police uniforms committing serious crimes, whether
these men are genuine policemen or not,” After they read this report A ‘ghost’ network of secret detention centres across the country,
inaccessible to human rights organisations, where torture is taking place. UK aid funds Iraqi torture unitshttp://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,15 But no need for more reports because the Iraq government running out of ideas
to deny it “These things happen. We know that,” Laith Kubba told a news briefing Iraqi government admits abuses by security forces
( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06
/30/AR2005063001680.html )
( http://www.wtnh.com/global/story.asp?s=3546236&ClientType=Pr
intable )
Britain ‘concerned’ at Iraqi police abuse reports
( http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1405820.htm
)
20186,00.html )
(
( http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=topNew
s&storyid=2005-07-03T172132Z_01_MOL359899_RTRUKOC_0_IRAQ-ABU ... )
All images below are Iraqi citizens tortured and died by Iraq police and military
