Abu Graib, a suggestion
May. 26th, 2004 10:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Bush said
In addition to that little slither (Saddam's government was responsible for death and torture, Bush's government was responsible for disgraceful conduct), there's plenty more to disagree with.
After Saddam, Iraq should have more than enough prison capacity for a civilized country. It won't need another prison, and I'm not sure that an American-style maximum security prison meets human rights standards anyway.
There's a lot to be said for monetary compensation for the
people who've been tortured and/or killed by Americans. This would recognize them as individuals and do a little to repair the damage. If we care about our honor and want to show some positive values, this would be start.
I also recommend the construction of a torture rehabilitation center with a sufficient fund to maintain it. There are a huge number of people who've been tortured who need to deal with the physical and psychological effects.
A new Iraq will also need a humane, well-supervised prison system. Under the dictator, prisons like Abu Ghraib were symbols of death and torture. That same prison became a symbol of disgraceful conduct by a few American troops who dishonored our country and disregarded our values. America will fund the construction of a modern, maximum security prison. When that prison is completed, detainees at Abu Ghraib will be relocated. Then, with the approval of the Iraqi government, we will demolish the Abu Ghraib prison, as a fitting symbol of Iraq's new beginning. (Applause.)
In addition to that little slither (Saddam's government was responsible for death and torture, Bush's government was responsible for disgraceful conduct), there's plenty more to disagree with.
After Saddam, Iraq should have more than enough prison capacity for a civilized country. It won't need another prison, and I'm not sure that an American-style maximum security prison meets human rights standards anyway.
There's a lot to be said for monetary compensation for the
people who've been tortured and/or killed by Americans. This would recognize them as individuals and do a little to repair the damage. If we care about our honor and want to show some positive values, this would be start.
I also recommend the construction of a torture rehabilitation center with a sufficient fund to maintain it. There are a huge number of people who've been tortured who need to deal with the physical and psychological effects.