WASHINGTON – The abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. troops went beyond the photos seen by most Americans, shaken lawmakers said Wednesday after viewing fresh pictures and video that they said depicted forced sex, brutality and dogs snarling at cowed prisoners.
Some members of Congress said they feared that making the images public would inflame international outrage and endanger Americans still in Iraq. The private screening of more than 1,600 photos in a top-secret room of the White House came one day after Islamic militants announced they had beheaded an American in Iraq to avenge abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., called the pictures “very disturbing and very disgusting.”
“I continue to point to the fact that we need a full investigation from Congress, all the way up the chain of command to find what happened to create this culture” at the prison, she said.
“I saw cruel, sadistic torture,” said Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., who said some of the images were of male prisoners masturbating. She said she saw a man hitting himself against a wall as though to knock himself unconscious.
Others said they saw images of corpses, military dogs snarling at cowering prisoners, women commanded to expose their breasts, and sex acts.
“There were people who were forced to have sex with each other,” said Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y.
Some questionable photos appeared to have nothing to do with prisoners, including several that lawmakers believed were of sex between male and female U.S. troops.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner urged before the photos were shown Wednesday that lawmakers use caution in describing them publicly.
“I think we’ve got to be extremely cautious … not incite in any way further anger against our forces or others working in the cause of freedom,” the Virginia Republican said.
Not everyone reacted the same way to the additional photos.
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said he thought “some people are overreacting.”
“The people who are against the war are using this to their political ends,” he said.
Associated Press
Sen. John Warner (right) and Senate majority leader Bill Frist speak Wednesday after viewing photos of prisoner abuse.
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