The Worst is Yet to Come...and What it Means

MSNBC Reports that there are worse images to come out of the US prisons in Iraq. Beyond beatings and torture there seems to have been a variety of rapes, heterosexual and homosexual (sometimes involving children)--have all been documented by their perpetrators. For the most part, there have been two justifications for these crimes (and make no mistake, these are war crimes according to our own rules).

*They (U.S. Soldiers) weren't properly trained in how to deal with such prisoners.
*They (all together now...) "were only following orders".

The first reason is not worth a wasted breath. no one needs training to know there is something wrong with humiliation, torture, and rape. The second reason seems much more plausible.

It is known and accepted that prisoners with intelligence will often be tortured until they reveal that intelligence. It is something that most every country has done and will continue to do. i am not so naive as to believe there is no need for this sort of thing, but this does not make it any more pleasant or any more legal. We have agreed with all other nations to abide by certain rules of conduct and it seems that some were asked to break these rules.

I have grave reservations about the private companies that have been hired to work with the CIA and Military Intelligence to interrogate prisoners. Just WHO are these people? what sort of company is in the business of doing THIS? i am deeply concerned about the accountability of such people, and it seems these reservations are not unfounded.