Americans torment and denigrate Iraqi prisoners

CBS TV says it has "dozens" of pictures showing a wide range of maltreatment. Taken by US troops, many of the pictures show American troops watching in apparent approval. CBS says the pictures it obtained show a wide range of abuses, including:

- Prisoners with wires attached to their genitals
- A dog attacking a prisoner
- Prisoners being forced to simulate having sex with each other
- A detainee with an abusive word written on his body.
- An Iraqi standing on a box with wires attached to his hands and told he would be electrocuted if he stepped down.

The Sgt Frederick said he and his fellow reservists had never been told how to deal with prisoners, or what lines should not be crossed. He said he never saw a copy of the Geneva Conventions.

So he thought as a "civilized" US soldier that they could use cruelty, maltreatment, assault and indecent acts against prisoners.

[Via CNN, The Age, Je Blog]