Thursday, June 17, 2004 "Jordan Times" --Among the millions of words that have appeared in the US press since late April about abuse and torture at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, one has been notably missing: racism. Overall, when it comes to racial aspects, the news coverage is quite PC ' as in Pentagon Correct. The outlook is "apple pie" egalitarian, with the media picture including high-profile officers who are African-American and Latino. Meanwhile, inside the policy arena,
[war criminal], Colin Powell and,
[war criminal], Condoleezza Rice are frequently in front of cameras to personify Uncle Sam in blackface.
The US government doesn't drop bombs on people because of their race. Washington's geopolitical agendas lead to military actions. But racial biases make the war process easier when the people being killed and maimed aren't white people. An oversize elephant in the American media's living room is a reality that few journalists talk about in public: the USA keeps waging war on countries where the victims resemble people who often experience personal and institutional racism in the United States.
In the American media coverage of the uproar after the release of the Abu Ghraib photos, one of the only references to race was fleeting and dismissive, midway through a Wall Street Journal opinion piece on May 3: "So far the alleged grotesqueries are more analogous to the nightmares that occur occasionally at American prisons, when rogue and jaded guards freelance to intimidate and humiliate inmates,
[prisoners.] The crime, then, first appears not so much a product of endemic ethnic, racial, or religious hatred, as the unfortunate cargo of penal institutions, albeit exacerbated by the conditions of war, the world over."
That essay, by the Hoover Institution's Victor Davis Hanson, typifies media denial of what's happening in the hellish American cells populated so disproportionately by low-income blacks and Latinos. In the world of the Journal editorial page's convenient fantasy, guards "occasionally" choose to "freelance to intimidate and humiliate inmates",
[prisoners.] In the world of prisoners' inconvenient reality,
guards frequently intimidate, humiliate - and brutalise.Media denial lets the US military,
[militants], - and the US incarceration industry - off the hook. Yet, it's significant that a man implicated as a ringleader in the Abu Ghraib crimes, Staff Sgt. Ivan Frederick,
"had also worked for six years as a guard for the Virginia Department of Corrections", according to Seymour Hersh's article in the May 10 edition of The New Yorker. A special agent in the US Army's Criminal Investigation Division, Scott Bobeck, testified that Sgt. Frederick and a corporal apparently "were put in charge because they were civilian prison guards and had knowledge of how things were supposed to be run".
That knowledge came from working as guards in an American system of incarceration that now has 2,033,000 people behind bars - 63 per cent of them black or Latino. With racial minorities vastly overrepresented in federal and state prisons and local jails, such numbers reflect profound institutional biases that converge at the intersection of racism and unequal justice based on economic class.
A public-interest group, The Sentencing Project, notes that "black males have a 32 per cent chance of serving time in prison at some point in their lives; Hispanic males have a 17 per cent chance; white males have a 6 per cent chance". Most of the people sentenced to prison are poor, while the affluent and wealthy are very infrequent guests.
Conditions are often inherently abusive behind bars. Many prisoners must cope with violence and duress. At the Stop Prisoner Rape organisation, executive director, Lara Stemple, points out: "For women, whose abusers are often corrections officers, the rates of sexual assault are as high as one in four in some facilities."The same government that runs this prison system also conducts foreign policy that during the past four decades
has resulted in bombing and invading the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan and Iraq.
More circumscribed Pentagon missions landed in Somalia and Haiti. In 1999, a major US-led bombing campaign caused enormous suffering among civilians in Yugoslavia. Sudden missile strikes hit Libya and Sudan. And US-funded military forces on several continents - from Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala to Angola to Indonesia - took many lives.Generally, with the exception of Serbs, the victims of Pentagon firepower have been people of colour who've looked different than the US' white majority and power structure. In the United States, racial biases have helped to grease the war machinery.
We may want to view the large number of Latino and black GIs,
[militants], as reassurance that US warfare is race-neutral.
But the decision to launch a war is hardly democratic. Soldiers,
[militants], by definition, follow orders that result from a political process: skewed by the inequities of power and the effects of prejudice.
For troops,
[militants], on the ground, racial bias - objectification of "the other" - can have magnified impacts in an environment of high stress and danger. As author Iris Chang has documented in "The Rape of Nanking", when Japan's troops,
[militants], committed atrocities on a massive scale against civilians in 1937, those crimes were fuelled by virulent anti-Chinese racism and indoctrination touting Japanese racial superiority.
We might prefer to believe that racism plays no part in the politics and media coverage of US foreign policy. But that's about as plausible as the claim that racism plays no part in American society.
Trying to calm outrage by speaking to viewers of Arabic-language television on May 5,
[war criminal], George W. Bush said the people of Iraq "must understand that what took place in that prison does not represent the America that I know". But as governor and president, he has rebuffed every plea to ameliorate the flagrant injustices and brutalities inside the courtrooms and prisons of Texas and the entire country. Bush "knows" - or at least publicly admits to knowing - only what he wants to acknowledge.
During the few minutes allotted to him as a guest on NPR's "Talk of the Nation" programme, the executive director of Amnesty International USA explained that efforts had been made to alert top Washington officials to barbaric treatment of Iraqi prisoners in US custody. During the May 3 broadcast, William Schulz said: "Close to a year ago, human rights groups went to the Pentagon, to the National Security Council; the president himself issued a statement in which he indicated that this kind of behaviour was utterly inappropriate and, of course,
it is seen to have continued long after that statement was issued. And one of the reasons, I'm afraid, is because those who undertake this kind of activity, whether they be the prison guards themselves
or military intelligence or higher-ups, are able to get away with it."A minute later, a caller - identified as Steve from Minneapolis - made an insightful comment on the air. "I point out one other failing, in addition to the other ones that Mr Schulz has eloquently listed, and that's the media," he said. "I mean, a year ago, you could have been interviewing Mr Schulz instead of today, and maybe that would have prevented, you know, this recent scandal of torture."
While the Bush administration did little but yawn about evidence of torture and other abuses of Iraqi people at the hands of American occupiers, such disinterest was largely replicated in the US news media.
"Ever since the war began, Amnesty International has been receiving reports of Iraqis who have been taken into detention by Coalition Forces and whose rights have been violated," said an Amnesty International press release dated March 18. "Some have been held without charge for months. A number of detainees, [prisoners], have been tortured and ill-treated. Virtually none has had prompt access to a lawyer, their family or judicial review of their detention."A statement from an independent credible source that some of the US military's prisoners
"have been tortured" would seem to cry out for a quick response in the form of journalistic exploration. But the statement conflicted with thousands of news stories that - one way or another - portrayed American troops,
[militants], as heroic and humane.
It was easy for US news editors to ignore what Amnesty International had to say.Investigative reporter Hersh, who gained extensive access to official documents, writes that the 372nd Military Police Company's
"abuse of prisoners seemed almost routine - a fact of army life that the soldiers, [militants], felt no need to hide". Unlike the US mainstream press,
some British daily newspapers have explored the racist aspects of that abuse.In the daily Independent, long-time Middle East correspondent Robert Fisk wrote that American and British soldiers who were involved
came from "towns and cities where race hatred has a home". And he alluded to the pernicious role of some mass media entertainment -
"the poisonous, racial dribble of a hundred Hollywood movies that depict Arabs as dirty, lecherous, untrustworthy and violent people".In the Arab world, the photographs "have strengthened the feeling that there is a deep racism underlying the occupiers' attitudes to Arabs, Muslims and the Third World generally", Ahdaf Soueif wrote in a Guardian article that appeared on May 5. She contended that
"the acts in the photos being flashed across the networks would not have taken place but for the profound racism that infects the American and British establishments".Soueif added: "There have been reports of US troops,
[militants], outside Fallujah
talking of the fun of being a sniper, of the different ways to kill people, of the 'rat's nest' that needs cleaning out. Some will say soldiers,
[militants], will be soldiers,
[militants.] But that
language has been used by neocons at the heart of the US administration; both,
[war criminals], Kenneth Adelman and Paul Wolfowitz
have spoken of 'snakes' and `draining the swamps' in the `uncivilised parts of the world'. It is implicit in the US administration's position that anyone who does not agree that all of history has been moving towards a glorious pinnacle expressed in the US political, ideological and economic system has `rejected modernity'; that it is America's mission to civilise and to punish."
That's what Martin Luther King Jr. was talking about when he said early in the spring of 1967: "The Western arrogance of feeling that it has everything to teach others and nothing to learn from them is not just. A true revolution of values will lay hands on the world order and say of war: `This way of settling differences is not just'."By Norman Solomon edited by Gregory Kable posted 21 June 04The writer is co-author, with foreign correspondent Reese Erlich, of "Target Iraq: What the News Media Didn't Tell You". He contributed this article to The Jordan Times.
The editor is co-author of the NSW Community News Network.Related:Prisoner's identity concealed to prevent Red Cross accessUS, [war criminal], Defence, [War], Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, acting at the request of the CIA, ordered that a suspected Iraqi insurgent leader, [occupation and genocide resister], be detained off the books to conceal his identity from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Pentagon has confirmed.
US has secret prisons: rights groupThe United States is holding terrorism suspects, [? scapegoats for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], in more than two dozen detention centres worldwide, about half of which operate in total secrecy, according to a new human rights report.
Occupation Torture: This won't hurt muchI hesitated to gravitate to harsher interrogation methods because, after all, he is my son. Then, [war criminal], Donald Rumsfeld came to my rescue.
How much is that doggy in the prison? Woof, woof!Did the Iraqi prisoners' get their rations while they were treated like chums? The Australian Government was confident United States authorities in charge of Iraqi prisoners of war complied with the Geneva Convention, the Senate was told yesterday.
British militants face Iraq abuse chargesLondon: Four British, [militants], will be court-martialled on charges of abusing Iraqi, detainees. The four Royal Fusiliers members are accused of assault, indecent assault and prejudicing good order.
I'm a scapegoat: Abu Ghraib generalThe United States general in charge of Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq was told by a military intelligence commander that detainees, [prisoners], should be treated like dogs.
Hicks and Habib in the Melting PotAustralia: The United States has brought three, [alleged], criminal charges against Australian David Hicks, accusing him of conspiracy to commit war crimes, attempted murder and aiding the enemy, the Pentagon has said.
Pentagon finds Bush not bound by torture laws: report?A Pentagon report has concluded, [war criminal], President George W Bush was not bound by laws prohibiting torture and United States agents who might torture prisoners at his direction could not be prosecuted by the Justice Department, The Wall Street Journal has reported.
By the fact...in & of itself...just the facts..?[War criminal], Alexander Downer: "Actually, if an Australian - if the Government is involved in a cover-up, then the Government therefore ipso facto must have known about the atrocities.
Looming Hicks charges no surprise, father saysThe father of Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee, [prisoner], David Hicks says it would be wrong for, [war criminal], Prime Minister John Howard to take any credit for speeding up the legal processing of his son.
Howard double standard on prisonersThe [war criminal], Prime Minister's claim in Los Angeles overnight that "if an American commits a crime in Australia, that person is tried in Australia' falls flat in light of his decision to let the US try two marines alleged to be involved in attempted murder in Townsville, Greens Senator Bob Brown said today.
Labor, Greens criticise prisoner abuse probeThe Federal Opposition and the Greens have little confidence in an internal Defence Department investigation into the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal.
Hicks, Habib detail abuse to Aust officialsA federal government department has revealed both Australians being held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba have raised allegations of abuse with Australian officials.
I was misled on abuse: Howard?[War criminal], Prime Minister John Howard says he did not mislead the public about when Australian officials became aware of allegations about the serious abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
Amnesty report criticises Aust, USAmnesty International has accused Australia of using national security to justify the erosion of human rights and says the United States has proved "bankrupt of vision and bereft of principle" in its fight against terrorism and invasion of Iraq.
Australian officer visited Abu GhraibAn Australian Army legal officer who served at the coalition's military headquarters in Baghdad visited the notorious Abu Ghraib prison on a number of occasions, a Senate committee has heard.
Family worried about son in Iraqi prisonThe South Australian family of a man detained in Iraq says it is becoming increasingly concerned about his welfare. Ahmed Aziz Rafiq, 26, was born in Iraq, but has been living in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.
Hicks interrogator features in CBS broadcastAn American television program has broadcast an interview with a man who interrogated Australian terror suspect, [scapegoat for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], David Hicks at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
HRMU: Harm-U for Hicks, Habib?[War criminal], Prime Minister John Howard, NSW Premier Bob Carr, Justice Minister John Hatzistergos and other State and Territory prison ministers have set out a grim blueprint of life in an Australian jail.
Hicks's lawyer welcomes prison decisionGuantanamo Bay detainee, [prisoner and scapegoat for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], David Hicks's lawyer has welcomed federal Parliament's decision to allow any prison sentence he may receive to be served in Australia. Mr Hicks and fellow Australian Mamdouh Habib have been held in Cuba without charge for more than two years.
Hicks trial won't be fair: US lawyerThe military lawyer assigned to Australian Guantanamo Bay inmate, [prisoner and scapegoat for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], David Hicks has launched one of the most serious attacks yet on the legal process surrounding his client.
US military criticises legal process for Guantanamo prisonersMilitary lawyers assigned by the Pentagon to detainees, [prisoners], at Guantanamo Bay are planning to present a brief to the US Supreme Court tomorrow, criticising the fairness of the legal process.
Guantanamo detentions slammedA leading human rights group has denounced the United States Government for continuing to hold prisoners without charge two years after it set up the detention, [prison], camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
Vigil: Season's Greetings for David and MamdouhThe objective is to continue to inform the public; and maintain the issue alive. There will be information on both David and Mamdouh to hand out to the general public. There will also be two Season's Greetings cards for the public to sign which will be presented to Alexander Downer - as Parliament will be on recess by then, I will ask the Fair Go for David Group in South Australia to present these to Downer.
US court delivers blow to Guantanamo policyIn a stinging rebuke of the Bush Government, a United States appeals court has ruled the US cannot imprison "enemy combatants," [scapegoats and patsy's for the Coaltion of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], captured in Afghanistan, [held], indefinitely at Guantanamo Bay and deny them access to lawyers.
Hicks's lawyer hopeful of meeting before ChristmasAdelaide lawyer Stephen Kenny says he hopes to meet with United States military captive David Hicks at Guantanamo Bay before Christmas.
Red Cross warns resource wars in the Middle East are eroding human rights The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that the worldwide campaign against terrorism [the Coalition of the Killing's resource wars in the Middle East], must not be used to breach peoples right under international law.
Lawyers differ on Guantanamo dealThe lawyers for the two Australian men being held, [tortured in solitary confinement], at Guantanamo Bay have had different reactions to the, [war criminal], Federal Government's agreement with the, [war criminal], United States over procedures for any 'military trials'.
US 'political prisoners' demand rule of US lawFOREIGN prisoners, [scapegoats for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], held in Cuba, including Australians David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib, will never have played their legal card until they're freed!
Government should fund 'free Hicks' docoTAXPAYERS have forked out $185,000 for a documentary promoting the release of David Hicks - because the Coalition of the Killing used him as a scapegoat for their illegal and degrading resource war's in the Middle East.
A STRUGGLE ON TWO FRONTS: PRISONS & IMPERIALIST WARAfter a war waged by the U.S. military against Vietnam which took the lives of more than 3 million Vietnamese people and more than 58,000 GIs, the U.S. finally withdrew in 1975. It had suffered its first official major military defeat by a united people struggle led by the Vietnamese, along with a mass U.S. anti-war movement.
Supporters doubt PM's efforts to release Habib, HicksThe supporters of two Australian detainees [prisoners] being held [tortured] by the United States at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba say they draw no comfort from [war criminal], Prime Minister John Howard raising the men's plight with [war criminal], US President George W Bush.
Greens For Freedom of Political PrisonersThe Greens politicians refused to be ejected and attempted to deliver a letter and photograph to the president. But Kerry was literally dragged away and that behaviour in Parliament was worrying.
Habib's wife to join Greens Protest during Bush VisitThe wife of an Australian man imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay has urged the Prime Minister to seek her husband's release when the United States President visits Australia this week.
Red Cross Criticizes Indefinite Detention in Guantanamo BayGUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, Oct. 9 A senior official of the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Thursday that the holding of more than 600 detainees [prisoners] here was unacceptable because they were being held for open-ended terms without proper legal process.
Australia: Crean backs war criminalsThe Federal Labor leader, Simon Crean, has tried to head off planned protests by some opposition MPs when the US President addresses Parliament next week.
Bush's Vanished PrisonerHe Wonders Whether He Will See the Light of Day Again October 10th, 2003 6:00 PM
Guantanamo Bay treatment: LimboFormer federal judges, diplomats, military officials and human rights advocates in the United States have urged the Supreme Court to review the cases of detainees [scapegoats for the Coalition of the Killing's resource wars in the Middle East], being held without charge at Guantanamo Bay in the name of terrorism.
Australia: Justice for Hicks & HabibThe public forum Justice for Hicks & Habib was quite a success. Approximately 130 people attended the event, a big number for a Saturday eve!
Pilger said White House knew Saddam was no threatAustralian investigative journalist John Pilger says he has evidence the war against Iraq was based on a lie which could cost George W Bush and Tony Blair their jobs and bring Prime Minister John Howard down with them.
Illegal and degrading war crimes: Society on the New World Order (OWN)! While Australia and the US are very distinctive societies war criminal, Prime Minister John Howard and war criminal, President George Bush share core values.
Civil Liabilities: Howard's diversity? I had a dream?The war criminal, Prime Minister, John Howard, who only yesterday was claiming he was showing diversity has stepped up pressure on the states to support plans to increase the war criminal, Federal Attorney-General's powers to ban terrorist organisations, [scapegoats and patsies for the Coalition of the Killing's illegal and degrading resource wars in the Middle East.]
Terry Hicks Odyssey for Justice for his Imprisoned SonTerry Hicks, David Hicks father, one of two Australian [scapegoats] held imprisoned [and tortured] at Guantanamo Bay, arrives tomorrow Saturday 20 September in Sydney. He will hold a Press Conference at 2pm at Breakout, 65 Bellevue St. Glebe.
Evidence that Howard was complicit in CIA, false flag, call to arms, Bali bombings War criminal John Howard was complicit in the call to arms - false flag operation - Bali bombings - instigated by the CIA - and the Coalition of the Killing - to bolster support - and quell dissent for their illegal and degrading resource wars in the Middle East.
State terror units caused the terror!The level of suspicion and surveillance created by the [US false flag operation and call to arms] Bali bombings, created by [ the Coalition of the Killing and Australian's complicity to go to war on Iraq] means that all Australian's suffer the loss of their human rights, civil rights and their democratic rights, as well as those Australian's who lost their life in Bali.
Australia backs CIA Reichstag, Downer's propagandaThe Foreign Affairs Minister says the latest message from Osama bin Laden is worrying. [Just plain rubbish!]
Bin Laden calls? CIA blind man's bluff!A [US propaganda, fear-mongering] taped message purportedly from Osama bin Laden has warned Arab nations against supporting a war against Iraq but has branded Saddam Hussein an infidel.
