Washington, D.C.
Army investigators said last week that there were 94 confirmed cases of prisoner abuse in Afghanistan and Iraq, but no evidence of a “pattern” of mistreatment. Lt. Gen. Paul Mikolashek, the Army’s inspector general, blamed the abuse cases on a few soldiers “who failed to maintain self-discipline or failed to follow procedure.” The vast majority of the 50,000 people detained in the war zones had been treated humanely, he said. The Pentagon in February ordered a thorough investigation, when reports surfaced that guards had beaten and humiliated Iraqis at Abu Ghraib prison. Senate Democrats said the report was a whitewash that absolved generals by blaming the scandal on a handful of lowly soldiers.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
An ingredient in Coca-Cola may be funding Sudan's warUnder the Radar Global trade in gum arabic centres on the African nation – and proceeds bankroll conflict between the army and paramilitary rebels
-
Homes for multi-generational familiesFeature Featuring a 1900 Jacobean-style mansion in Massachusetts and a 22.5-acre compound in California
-
The Week contest: Foot PSAPuzzles and Quizzes
