US Training of Death Squads in Iraq? - War Is A Crime .org

Maj. Gen. Hussein Kamal, who announced the investigation, said the four policemen identifiedby Peterson as ringleaders had been transferred to the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison in westernBaghdad and the rest were held in Iraqi jails.Kamal, Iraq's deputy interior minister in charge of domestic intelligence, hinted that the scope ofthe probe could go beyond the 22 policemen arrested last month."After Iraqi authorities were informed by the Americans about the so-called commando forcesengaging in assassinations, the interior minister immediately formed an investigation committeeto uncover what has actually happened," Kamal said.The U.S. military has been fighting a tough battle to rebuild a legitimate Iraqi security force thatit hopes will eventually replace American-led coalition forces and maintain order throughout thecountry.There is no shortage of Iraqis, particularly in Baghdad, who say family members have beenkidnapped and killed by men wearing police uniforms."Interior Ministry special forces detained my brother and four cousins two weeks ago from(Sunni Arab) al-Aqsa Mosque in northern Baghdad's Shula neighborhood," 24-year-old securityguard Ayad Ali Mahdi said."After two days, their bodies were found in pickup truck on a highway. It was horrific. Theirbodies were tortured and mutilated by drills and an oxyacetylene welder," Mahdi said.The relative of another victim described how two dozen men wearing security forces uniformsbroke into his northern Baghdad home last month, pushed his pleading wife aside and draggedout his two brothers, the only men at home at the time."We contacted many police stations searching for them but couldn't find any trace. After nine or10 days, we heard 36 dead bodies were found near (the southern Iraqi city of) Kut, and I foundmy brothers among them," said Sunni Arab taxi driver Youssef Abdul-Karim, 35."They were blindfolded, handcuffed and severely tortured. One of my brothers had drill woundsin his head, while the other was shot in the head and chest."A Sunni Arab political group, the Iraqi Islamic Party, welcomed the Interior Ministryinvestigation and said perpetrators should be brought to justice.Iraq's human rights minister, Nermine Othman, said Interior Ministry officials have been behindnumerous execution-like murders, either by taking part in the roundups and killings or providingpolice uniforms, information on potential victims and weapons to culprits.119