American Prisoner Abuse Controversy

- April 2004: The New Yorker and 60 Minutes reported torture and humiliation at Abu Ghraib
- U.S. Army report confirmed abuse occurred at Abu GharibMSNBC: U.S. Army report on Iraqi prisoner abuse (May 4, 2004)
- Seven soldiers court-martialed in Abu Gharib case
- June 29, 2006: Supreme Court ruled that prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay were protected by the Geneva Conventions
- September 2, 2006: Abu Ghraib turned over to Iraqi government.
- 2002: U.S. began holding prisoners at GuantanamoReuters: U.S. Sends Home Six Guantanamo Prisoners (January 17, 2009)
- Amnesty International has criticized the U.S. treatment of military prisonersAmnesty International: War on Terror
- Techniques criticized include: prolonged isolation and sleep deprivation, intimidation by the use of a dog, sexual and other humiliation, stripping, hooding, the use of loud music, white noise, and exposure to extreme temperaturesAmnesty International: Torture
- 525 prisoners who were held at Guantanamo have been releasedReuters: U.S. Sends Home Six Guantanamo Prisoners (January 17, 2009)
- 4 Guantanamo detainees have committed suicideReuters: U.S. Sends Home Six Guantanamo Prisoners (January 17, 2009)
- 245 detainees remain at Guantanamo as of January 2009

Shortly after the invasion of Iraq in 2003, allegations of prisoner abuse by Americans began to circulate, particularly involving detainees at Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq.The New Yorker: "Torture at Abu Ghraib" (June 4, 2004) The U.S. government, under George W. Bush, has also been criticized for interrogation techniques used on military prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, which included waterboarding.BBC: 'Struggle' to close Guantanamo Bay January 21, 2009)
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced on May 13, 2009, that President Obama would try to block the court-ordered release of photos allegedly showing U.S. troops abusing prisoners. The President is reportedly concerned that if the photos are released they could endanger the lives of soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.Associated Press: Obama tries to block release of abuse photos (May 13, 2009)
Criminal Investigation

On March 27, 2009, Spanish investigating judge Baltasar Garzon took the first steps towards opening a criminal investigation against six Bush administration officials.New York Times: Spanish Court Weighs Inquiry on Torture for 6 Bush-Era Officials (March 28, 2009)
Spain vs. The Bush Administration

Spain argues that waterboarding and other forms of questioning used at the Guantanamo Bay camp violated the Geneva Convention and the 1984 Convention against Torture, both of which were signed by the United States. Spain claims jurisdiction because five citizens or residents were jailed at Gitmo and claim they were tortured there.New York Times: Spanish Court Weighs Inquiry on Torture for 6 Bush-Era Officials (March 28, 2009)
Bush administration officials named in the preliminary documents include Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, John Yoo, who served in the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel; William J. Haynes II, general counsel at the Department of Defense; Jay S. Bybee, Yoo's boss at Justice; and David S. Addington, chief of staff and legal adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney.New York Times: Spanish Court Weighs Inquiry on Torture for 6 Bush-Era Officials (March 28, 2009)
Background

In 2004, General Antonio Taguba was sent to Abu Ghraib to investigate the claims and his resulting report was leaked to the press, inciting public outrage and leading to further investigations.
Allegations of similar human rights violations and torture were made in connection with the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba, leading to an FBI investigation in 2004. Since the results of both reports were made public, there has been ongoing controversy as to the involvement of senior government officials in the Bush administration, including former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, in authorizing the torture and abuse of prisoners.
Dennis Blair on Waterboarding

Dennis Blair, director of national intelligence under the Obama administration, was confirmed to his post on January 22, 2009. During his confirmation hearing, Blair was asked if he believed that the waterboarding had been an effective practice. Blair responded, "I'll have to look into that more closely and get back to you." ABC News: Intel Pick Holds Back on Waterboarding (January 22, 2009)
President Obama and Gitmo

President Barack Obama has committed to closing the military prison at Guantanamo Bay.Reuters: U.S. Sends Home Six Guantanamo Prisoners (January 17, 2009) A draft order released by the Obama Administration on January 21, 2009, calls for the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay within a year. It was unclear when President Obama would sign the order.Associated Press: Draft order sees Guantanamo prison shut in a year (January 21, 2009)
Disclaimer

This page links to several photos of Iraqi prisoners, many of them bruised, bleeding or stripped nude, and should be viewed only by mature audiences.