Donald Payne, Former British Corporal: Every Member Of My Unit Abused Iraqis

Times Online:

A former soldier convicted in connection with the death of an Iraqi hotel worker has accused an officer of pretending to set a young detainee on fire and claimed that every member of his unit committed abuses against civilians during the war.

Read the whole story: Times Online

Comments

[uvymopka]

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blows themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

[TheUSofA]

I thought we were there to help the Iraqi people and let them see what freedom and democracy is all about?

[HumanityEqualsLaw]

Isn´t it well past time to start looking at western states and their actions through the same lens as we look the "other" nations. When British, American or Israeli troops commit war crimes, they get covered up and the western media avoids the subject. If it had been Russia or China engaging in such activities as the US lead war on terror- cavalry, I can only imagine the level of noise coming from Washington or London. The hypocrisy seems to be a "natural" part of the current world order, but that doesn´t make it any less sickening or in any way morally justifiable. Until western liberal democracies learn to live by their own outspoken ideals, we don´t get to lecture others about theirs.

[deluk]

Where is the cover up here?

[HumanityEqualsLaw]

They (government, military) try to limit the number of guilty parties to a "few bad apples", the pattern has been the same with every one of these cases since Abu Graib. Only when the Lyndie Englands who are fed to lions for following orders start talking to the media the wider picture emerges. What are they hiding? The scale of course(brutality was a standard policy) and that orders were given.

[baba2nde]

This paragraph stands out, quote:

"He claimed to have witnessed a former Lieutenant, Craig Rodgers, place a jerry can of petrol filled with water in front of an Iraqi boy and pour the liquid over him before lighting a match".

[BraveWarrior]

Your country should follow Israel's lead and declare yourselves the most 'moral' army in the world. Why bother investigating and prosecuting your troops Don' t worry about the UN. Think that they would ever investigate the illegal invasion of Iraq, or Afghanistan? Hell, no point investigating Israel's nuclear arsenal, since they are our allies and have a history (short) of restraint and peaceful relations with their neighbors. Better to go after Iran, who doesn't have any atom bombs but a history of belligerence and of invading other countries. Congratulations to the elected president of Afghanistan, but none to Iran. Don't forget our loyal ally Israel. You just know that when they thumb their nose at Barack and continue to build on occupied territory-that it is time to get tough with Iran. All those human rights abusers on our planet should come to the US where they are needed and would be appreciated. Our president never looks backward only ahead. Where do you think all those Chilean officers fled to after their dirty war. We in America don't share your problems. We might waterboard someone over 183 times in one month-but we treat our prisoners good. Just ask all those Native Americans we conquered. And of course we honored the hundreds of treaties we signed with them. Law and order rule, everyone except us, were too big to fail or follow any rules.

[pov]

A Canadian Sergeant in the Canadian Military in Afghanistan, told me that he was disgusted by American troops whom he said, "Will shoot at anything they see in their crosshairs."

[LeeCalif]

We are the te rro rists.

[GreatNews27]

So? Since we cannot look into the past for criminal action and have been instructed to only 'look forward', these actions have clearly been erased and no complaints will ever be filed. Bygones. Move on.

[gakabani]

Not at all, can you say that to the families in Fort Hood? Can you say that to the children of Palestine? They are all human. They all suffer pain at the hands of someone's inhumanity.

[DannyEV]

the stories need to be told--for all our sakes. these crimes pale in comparison to the crimes of those who sent the men and women of our armed forces on this fool's errand.

And I can tell you who the f00/ is: his initials are GWB.

[EmeraldWorld]

Not surprising. People turn into the most brutal animals during war. And when those soldiers return home, many of them are still mentally unstable from the experiences.

[Chipher]

...and not to stretch the point, but also many of them are permanently handicapped...

[phrancine]

You are so right!
It hurts my heart to see the sweet "country boys' where I live, go off to protect America from terrorists, with great patriotism and heroic valor and return broken men with severe injuries, unable to talk about their war experiences.
War is BAD! Why aren't the news networks streaming those horrific war scene nightly, like during the Viet Nam War? I think that opened John Q Public's eyes, to what war really costs in the toll of human life.The nightly "death tolls" and film coverage caused a major turnaround in the public view. This change helped to bring our troops home from Nam. It the beginning of THIS War, there were "embedded" journals everywhere and we had beautiful photos of statutes toppling. Where is the coverage now, when the American people need to know what is really happening?
Support our troops and bring them back from another unending war.

[Progressneeded]

And they all called reverend Wright a racist when he talked about the chickens coming home to roost. It is a law of physics: every action has a reaction equal in force opposite in direction. Teach them brutality and send them to kill people eventually they come home with the psychosis that war creates.