Leaked Report Reveals Extent of Abu Ghraib Abuse

The full extent of the abuse at Abu Ghraib prison was revealed yesterday with a leaked report from the US army's internal investigation into the scandal, which coincided with a UN report on abuse of detainees at Guantanamo, a video showing British troops beating up Iraqi youths, and lingering anger in the Muslim world over cartoons of the prophet Muhammad. The catalogue of abuse, which includes 1,325 photographs and 93 video clips of suspected abuse of detainees, 546 photographs of suspected dead Iraqi detainees, and 660 images of adult pornography, has put the Bush administration on the defensive. The report, obtained by the online American magazine Salon, has raised concerns that the release of additional images of abuse could further inflame and incite unnecessary violence in the world.

Key Takeaways:

• The leaked report reveals a catalogue of abuse at Abu Ghraib prison, including 1,325 photographs and 93 video clips of suspected abuse of detainees, 546 photographs of suspected dead Iraqi detainees, and 660 images of adult pornography.
• The report includes images of physical violence, such as a blood-streaked cell and a picture of the battered face of a corpse packed in ice.
• Human rights organisations had been fighting for months for the army to release a full record of the abuse at Abu Ghraib.
• The report was obtained by Salon from a member of the military who had spent time at the jail and was familiar with the investigation.
• The first official response from Washington as well as Baghdad was concerned with the impact these new pictures of abuse could have in the Middle East at a time when anger against the west is high.
• Iraq's prime minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, condemned the abuse at Abu Ghraib, but noted that US soldiers had already been punished for it.

Statistics:

• 1,325 photographs of suspected abuse of detainees
• 93 video clips of suspected abuse of detainees
• 546 photographs of suspected dead Iraqi detainees
• 660 images of adult pornography
• 29 pictures of US troops engaged in simulated sex acts
• 18 pictures published by Salon

Sources:

• Salon, "US Army: Abu Ghraib Abuse Photos"
• Washington, "Bush administration on defensive over leaked report on Abu Ghraib abuse"
• Chicago Tribune, "US General: Death squads operated in police force"
• ABC television, audio tapes of Saddam Hussein's cabinet meetings
• United Nations, report on abuse of detainees at Guantanamo