Terror And Torture
US forces in Iraq have uncovered a suspected al Qaeda torture center. Oh, there is no doubt that it is a torture center. It just isn't completely clear who ran it. But the bodies in a mass grave, the chains on the walls, the blood sprayed room and the iron bed frame rigged up to a battery make it pretty clear what they found.
The discoveries of the mass graves and torture center near Muqdadiyah, about 60 miles north of Baghdad, came during a Dec. 8-11 operation.
The torture center, which the U.S. military said it suspected was run by al-Qaida in Iraq, was found based on tips from Iraqis in the area, where the al-Qaida insurgents are very active. Graves containing 26 bodies were found nearby.
"We discovered several (weapons) caches, a torture facility that had chains, a bed _ an iron bed that was still connected to a battery _ knives and swords that were still covered in blood as we went in to go after the terrorists in that area," said Army Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, the top U.S. commander in northern Iraq.
Soldiers found a total of nine caches containing a surface-to-air missile launcher, sniper rifles, 130 pounds of homemade explosives and numerous mortar tubes and rounds, among other weapons.
The operation also saw multiple battles between U.S. troops and militants, and the military said it killed 24 insurgents and detained 37 others.
Elsewhere, police in France have rounded up eight men suspected of supporting al Qaeda in Algeria in raids in and around Paris:
The suspects, seven Algerians and one Frenchman aged between 30 and 35, were arrested on Tuesday morning in and around Paris, as well as in the region of the northern city of Rouen, the newspaper said, citing an unnamed source.
It said the men were part of "an important support network linked to Algerian terrorism" and were suspected of having links with the al Qaeda branch which claimed responsibility for twin car bombs in Algiers last week that killed more than 30 people.
A police official contacted by Reuters confirmed the report but added that three of the suspects had since been released.
British authorities welcomed three men released from the US facility at Guantanamo Bay by promptly arresting all of them. One has since been bailed out after a judge ruled in his favor.
A former Guantanamo Bay detainee wanted for extradition by Spain on terrorism charges is to be released after being granted bail by a London magistrates' court.
Jamil el-Banna, 45, was one of three British residents arrested after landing back in the country last night following their release from the controversial US military prison on Cuba.
Spain wants to extradite two of the men because of suspected terrorist activities. Funny thing about the report: nobody seems to know where the bail money is coming from.
This global conspiracy is what we are fighting, folks.
War, World news | Gaius Thursday, 20 December , 2007
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Blue Crab Boulevard » Well, Now We Know Part Of The Story — Friday, 21 December , 2007 @ 8:59 am
By NortonPete, Thursday, 20 December , 2007 @ 6:43 pm
I don’t doubt it was a torture center. What taxes my brain is who they tortured and why? People torture people to obtain information or perhaps to confirm some belief in some radical ideology. Like witch trials or the Inquisition.
There was no information to be obtained from Iraqis and no conversion to be accomplished.
Al Qaeda appears to be just a bunch of thugs trying to brutalize people into submission. It doesn’t work long term.
By Maggie, Thursday, 20 December , 2007 @ 9:48 pm
Come on, Gaius!
A “torture center”??!!???
Hardly … I mean, where the frak is the waterboarding station, huh?
By Gaius, Thursday, 20 December , 2007 @ 11:18 pm
My bad, I guess……
By Maggie, Thursday, 20 December , 2007 @ 11:23 pm
You DO recognize North Coast sarcasm, right?
By Gaius, Friday, 21 December , 2007 @ 6:38 am
Yes, I do, Maggie.
By Maggie, Friday, 21 December , 2007 @ 8:00 am
Oh, good … Thought I’d have to get my “Great Lakes to Rest of the Country” translation book out … Heh!
By Gaius, Friday, 21 December , 2007 @ 8:13 am
I speak fluent Great Lakish, Ontario sub-dialect.