2013 - Abu Ghraib & Other Captive Torture Iraq - US Govt Contractor to Pay Tortured Captives

ꕤ Article SOURCE Archived News - 2013 http://www.timesofisrael.com/us-defense-contractor-pays-over-5-million-to-ex-abu-ghraib-inmates/ Times of Israel  / AP  - 2013 Summary: Engility Holdings Inc Chantilly, Virginia, USA US government defence contractor lawsuit:  conspiring to torture detainees at:   Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq Paid $5.28 million to 71 former inmates held Abu Ghraib (& at other US-run detention sites) between 2003 and 2007 L-3 Services Inc. (now an Engility subsidiary) provided translators to US military in Iraq over  6,000 translators in Iraq (at $450 million per annum contract) CACI International Inc. Arlington, Virginia, USA (another US government defence contractor) case expected to go on trial each of the 71 Iraqis received a portion Torture - Iraq mock execution (trigger pulling) wall slammed until unconscious stripped, bound (chain) & hooded, threatened with rape forced to consume so much water, vomited blood several captives raped & beaten kept naked extended periods of time 2003 to 2006 USA Defence Department paid $30.9 million to Iraqi & Afghan civilians re killings, injuries, property damage due to US or coalition forces' military actions US government is immune from lawsuits stemming from combatant activities of the military at war 2013 - Times of Israel: "Courts are still sorting out whether contractors in a war zone should be accorded legal immunity from being sued, just as the government is immune." In its defense four years ago against the lawsuit, L-3 said the fact that the claims in the case “cannot be brought against the government means that they also cannot be brought against L-3.” “No court in the United States has allowed aliens — detained on the battlefield or in the course of postwar occupation and military operations by the US military — to seek damages for their detention,” the company told the federal court four years ago. “Yet these plaintiffs bring claims seeking money damages for their detention and treatment while in the custody of the US military in the midst of a belligerent occupation in Iraq.” Allowing the case to proceed “would require a wholly unprecedented injection of the judiciary into wartime military operations and occupation conduct against the local population, in particular the conditions of confinement and interrogation for intelligence gathering,” L-3 added. http://www.timesofisrael.com/us-defense-contractor-pays-over-5-million-to-ex-abu-ghraib-inmates/ ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT The Iraqi torture victims didn't receive much:  $5.28 million between 71 victims is peanuts. Maybe the whole of Iraq should mount a class action lawsuit and get restitution for decades, seeing the entire Iraq war was illegal. If the US cannot be sued re 'war' military actions, why have US taxpayers paid:  $30.9 million to Afghans and Iraqis? And check out the $450-million American taxpayer money that went to the interpreters. And let's not forget the 2010 monthly costs borne by the American taxpayer, that's in the BILLIONS (and, no, that's not a typo): February 2010 Cost of War to USA Taxpayers Afghanistan - $6.7 billion per month Iraq - $5.5 billion per month Link  | Post Bankers must love war USA debt clock: Over $18 Trillion dollars payable to bankers by US taxpayers for generations ahead More US debt clocks: http://www.usadebtclock.com/ www.usdebtclock.org/ *I think that's 'trillions' ... but I'm no good at reading big numbers. ꕤ

GIF - Free Assange

ꕤ Free Assange Political Prisoner Britain ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Political Persecution Transcript [For quotation purposes, confirm audio] Melinda Taylor, Lawyer Geneva Press Club 26 January 2015 How Is Julian Assange being detained? "Now, if you're in a castle surrounded by a moat with crocodiles, obviously you're free to leave if you're willing to swim across that moat and get eaten by crocodiles. Similarly, as a matter of law and as Señor Garzon said, it's very clear under the European Court of Human Rights, it's very clear under the Human Rights Commission and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, you cannot be compelled to put your life at risk [and] you cannot be compelled to give up a fundamental right such as a right of asylum. For this reason, for example, if you have asylum seekers in an airport, who are trying to claim asylum:  yes, they can go back to where they came, but if they have to stay there for months or years, while their asylum application is being processed, that can be detention, because it's not a real choice to leave and expose yourself to a risk of persecution, a risk of harm, or a risk of torture. And that is exactly what would happen to Mr Assange:  the day he steps outside that door, he exposes himself of a risk of extradition to the united States, where he will face an unfair and illegal investigation.  He will face a similar fate to Chelsea Manning, who was subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment, and that's just not a choice. So, yes, he is detained." SOURCE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qILMyxer80 ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Julian Assange Journalist Editor, WikiLeaks Justice4Assange WikiLeaks Site WikiLeaks Twitter BOOK:  The WikiLeaks Files (2015) Link | here ꕤ

PageLink - Gen Stanley A. McChrystal

Gen Stanley A. McChrystal "known for saying and thinking what other military leaders were afraid to" *one of the reasons cited for his appointment* to lead all forces in Afghanistan AFGHANISTAN post fm:  June 15, 2009 - June 23, 2010 Defence Secretary Robert Gates: "perhaps the finest warrior and leader of men in combat I (have) ever met." Last assignment: Commander, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander, US Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) Director, Joint Staff fm Aug 2008 - Jun 2009 Commander, Joint Special Operations Command fm 2003 - 2008 *criticized for alleged role in cover-up of the Pat Tillman friendly fire incident. reportedly: unflattering (and unprofessional) remarks about Vice President Joe Biden and other administration officials attributed to McChrystal and his aides in a Rolling Stone article McChrystal recalled to Washington, DC Obama accepted his resignation as commander in Afghanistan ISAF COMMAND - Afghanistan assumed by: deputy commander, British Army General Sir Nicholas "Nick" Parker { pending the confirmation of a replacement } General David Petraeus = McChrystal's replacement ------ serving in the Pentagon as member of the Joint Staff, start of Iraq War in March 2003 {vice director of operations, J-3, since July 2002} McChrystal delivered nationally televised Pentagon briefings on US military operations in Iraq April 2003 shortly after the fall of Baghdad: announced, "I would anticipate that the major combat engagements are over." Commanded the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) for five (5) years Sep 2003 to Feb 2006 Commander, Joint Special Operations Command/ Commander, Joint Special Operations Command Forward, fm Feb 2006 to Aug 2008 Most of assignment in Afghanistan at US Central Command forward headquarters in Qatar & in Iraq {nominally assigned Fort Bragg, Nth Carolina} Success: capture by JSOC forces of Saddam Hussein in December 2003 McChrystal's Zarqawi unit, Task Force 6-26 = well known for interrogation methods, Camp Nama = accused of abusing detainees = taskforce disciplined after Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal became public in April 2004 criticized for his role in aftermath of 2004 death by friendly fire of Ranger and former professional football player Pat Tillman. McChrystal = one of eight officers recommended for discipline by a subsequent Pentagon investigation. = Army declined to take action against him. late spring 2007 JSOC and CIA Special Activities Division teams launch new series of highly effective covert operations that coincided with the Iraq War troop surge of 2007 killing or capturing many of the key al-Qa'ida leaders in Iraq joint efforts of JSOC and CIA paramilitary units said to be: most significant contributor to the defeat of al-Qa'ida in Iraq McChrystal credited with = transforming and modernizing JSOC = into a "force of unprecedented agility & lethality" = key factor success of JSOC in success of war Iraq George W. Bush failed to promote McChrystal assigned 3-star: Dir. Joint Staff, Feb 2008 Senate Armed Services Committee stalled McChystal confirmation more info sought: alleged mistreatment detainees by Special Ops under McChrystal command in IRAQ & AFGHANISTAN AFGHANISTAN June 10, 2009 Senate approval to take command McChrystal was promoted to general assumed command of NATO ops Operation Khanjar commenced largest offensive op and beginning of deadliest combat month for NATO forces since 2001 LEAKED REPORT McChrystal submitted a 66-page report to Defense Secretary Robert Gates calling for more troops in Afghanistan "We are going to win." public: Sept 20, 2009 *warned that the war Afghanistan may be lost if more troops are not sent *30,000 - 40,000 more troops needed in Afghanistan Chief UN Weapons Inspector in Iraq (Scott Ritter) stated McChrystal: should be fired for insubordination for disclosing info he should have said only in private to the President of USA leaked report - aka the "McChrystal risk" boxed Obama into a corner about boosting troop levels in Afghanistan MICHAEL HASTINGS freelance journalist Article: "The Runaway General", Rolling Stone magazine, July 8–22, 2010 issue McChrystal and his staff reportedly mocked: *civilian government officials *Joe Biden *National Security Advisor James L. Jones *US Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl W. Eikenberry *Special Representative for Afghanistan & Pakistan Richard Holbrooke McChrystal's staff = contacted prior to release of article and did not deny validity of the article = Hastings: bemused at degree to which soldiers were free when speaking to him = senior members of his staff dispute this = accused Hastings of exaggerating seniority of aides quoted & breaking the "off the record" trust of private conversations McChrystal apology to Joe Biden: "I extend my sincerest apology for this profile." McChyristal called in by Obama = McChrystal tendered his resignation | Obama accepted Obama statement re resignation: "... certainty that it is the right thing for our mission in Afghanistan, for our military and for our country." WHITEHOUSE - 4-STAR RANK WH announced that McChrystal would retain his four-star rank in retirement {law generally requires a four-star officer to hold his rank for three years in order to retain it in retirement} RETIREMENT CEREMONY McChrystal awarded the: Distinguished Service Medal by Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey Defence Distinguished Service Medal by Secretary of Defence Robert Gates PENTAGON INQUIRY Pentagon report = challenged accuracy of article "The Runaway General" (Michael Hastings) = disputing key incidents or comments reported in Hastings' article. Rolling Stone: = "... Pentagon’s inspector general offers no credible source—or indeed, any named source—contradicting the facts as reported in our story, 'The Runaway General." ------- At Yale University faculty, teaching courses in International Relations Chairman of the Board of Siemens Government Systems On the strategic advisory board of Knowledge International a licensed arms dealer whose parent company is EAI a business "very close" to UAE govt co-founded / partner McChrystal Group LLC Alexandria, Virginia-based consulting firm 2011 - advocated instituting a national service program in USA 2013 - endorsed stronger US gun control laws ------- OTHER McChrystal is the son of Major General Herbert Joseph McChrystal, Jr. (1924–2013) Entirely military family / and married into military family McChrystal said to: run 11-13 km daily eat one meal per day sleep four hours a night source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_A._McChrystal ---------------------- ꕤ  ---------------------- COMMENT I know this isn't PC, but ...  Ummmm, I sort of like the sound of McChrystal (on first impressions). Seems strong, tough, and forthright. Sounds like some kind of superman.  Swoon ... lol ꕤ