Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse

{{photo warning|torture, nudity, and a deceased person}}

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Beginning in 2003, there occurred numerous instances of abuse and torture of prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq (aka. Baghdad Correctional Facility), by personnel of the U.S. armed forces, CIA officers and contractors involved in the occupation of Iraq.

Related Topics:
2003 - Abuse - Torture - Prison - Abu Ghraib Prison - Iraq - Baghdad - U.S. armed forces - CIA - Occupation of Iraq

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An internal criminal investigation by the United States Army commenced in January, 2004, and subsequently reports of the abuse, as well as graphic pictures showing American military personnel in the act of abusing prisoners, came to public attention the following April, when a 60 Minutes news report (April 28) and an article by Seymour M. Hersh in The New Yorker magazine (posted online on April 30 and published days later in the May 10 issue) reported the story.http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?040510fa_fact

Related Topics:
United States Army - January - April - 60 Minutes - Seymour M. Hersh - The New Yorker - May 10

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The resulting political scandal was said to have damaged the credibility and public image of the United States and its allies in the prosecution of ongoing military operations in the Iraq War, and was seized upon by critics of U.S. foreign policy, who argued it was representative of a broader American attitude and policy of disrespect and violence toward Arabs. The U.S. Administration and its defenders argued that the abuses were the result of independent actions by low-ranking personnel, while critics claimed that authorities either ordered or implicitly condoned the abuses and demanded the resignation of senior Bush administration officals.

Related Topics:
Political scandal - Iraq War - Foreign policy - Bush administration

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The Department of Defense removed seventeen soldiers and officers from duty, and seven soldiers were charged with dereliction of duty, maltreatment, aggravated assault, and battery. Between May, 2004 and September 2005, seven soldiers were convicted in courts martial, sentenced to federal prison time, and dishonorably discharged from service. Two soldiers, Specialist Charles Graner, and his former fianceé, Pvt. Lynndie England, were sentenced to ten years and three years in prison, respectively, in trials ending on January 14, 2005 and September 26, 2005. The commanding officer at the prison, Brig. General Janis Karpinski, was demoted to the rank of colonel on May 5, 2005.

Related Topics:
Department of Defense - Courts martial - Charles Graner - Lynndie England - January 14 - September 26 - Janis Karpinski - May 5 - 2005

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