* Politics

I don't understand why more isn't being made of Bush's bungling of "Abu Ghraib" multiple times during last night's speech. I don't think it's relevant because it shows what a moron he is (although there is that too), but the important thing is that he obviously hasn't even been speaking about the prison at all. I know that I've said "Abu Ghraib" at least 10-20 times over the last couple of weeks, and I'm nobody.

I think the media ought to play it as often as they played the Dean scream. It's almost as funny, anyway.
- posted by David @ 9:31 AM

 
*** Iraq

The Washington Post has exclusive new info on more abuses at Abu Ghraib. Beware, it's truly sickening.

Previously secret sworn statements by detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq describe in raw detail abuse that goes well beyond what has been made public, adding allegations of prisoners being ridden like animals, sexually fondled by female soldiers and forced to retrieve their food from toilets.

Some of the detainees described being abused as punishment or discipline after they were caught fighting or with a prohibited item. Some said they were pressed to denounce Islam or were force-fed pork and liquor. Many provided graphic details of how they were sexually humiliated and assaulted, threatened with rape, and forced to masturbate in front of female soldiers.

"They forced us to walk like dogs on our hands and knees," said Hiadar Sabar Abed Miktub al-Aboodi, detainee No. 13077. "And we had to bark like a dog, and if we didn't do that they started hitting us hard on our face and chest with no mercy. After that, they took us to our cells, took the mattresses out and dropped water on the floor and they made us sleep on our stomachs on the floor with the bags on our head and they took pictures of everything.

It'll sure be fun when the photos come out ...


- posted by David @ 10:54 AM

 
* Entertainment

The trailer for The Incredibles (next Pixar movie) is available here. I haven't had a chance to watch it yet.
- posted by David @ 10:34 AM

 
** Iraq

This is a horrifying NYTimes article about the abuses at Abu Ghraib. The article does make it slightly more plausible, however, that at least some of the notorious incidents were due to deviant behavior by soldiers rather than policy.
- posted by David @ 10:14 AM

 
* Iraq

Juan Cole has got the scoop on what went down in Najaf in early April. Apparently the US ordered Spain to go and bring back Sadr "dead or alive". They said "No way, Jose" of course. So instead the US went after Sadr's aides, leading to the insurgency in the south, for which the US was tragically unprepared. Yet more incompetence from the Bushies.
- posted by David @ 9:46 AM

 
** Iraq

Billmon re the prisoner controversy.
- posted by David @ 12:30 PM

 
* Iraq

I've been super busy and problably won't be posting much this week, if at all. For good coverage of Torture-Gate, I'd recommend Kos.

Update: See also this Time article for an overview of just how serious this is.
- posted by David @ 9:53 AM