The Daily Mirror has published photographs which show British Army Troops viciously beating, torturing, humiliating and possibly killing an Iraqi that they suspected of mere theft. The photos only add weight to previous claims that British Troops have been involved in actions which bring shame to the entire Armed Forces. The Army itself had doubted the authenticity of these photos, but there can be little doubt that British Soldiers have a track record of strained relationships with the locals, we only need look at Ireland. Invade someone's country and act like you own it, the odds are that your going to be in deep trouble sooner or later.

"We go to liberate, not to conquer." British Army Lt. Col. Tim Collins.

Beaten to death by British Troops (Again)

Robert Frisk (one of our best English war correspondents) has already reported that Eight young Iraqis arrested in Basra were kicked and assaulted by British soldiers, one of them so badly that he died in British custody, according to military and medical records seen by The Independent on Sunday. Baha Mousa, the son of an Iraqi police colonel, died of asphyxiation. One of the other 7 survivors has given a frightening account of their ordeal and states that Baha was tied and hooded and then repeatedly kicked and assaulted by British troops, begging all the while to have the hood removed because he could no longer breathe. The British Military authorities offered £4,500 in compensation providing they are not held responsible for his death, but the young hotel receptionist's family plans to take the Ministry of Defence to court. (more here )

"But if you are ferocious in battle, remember to be magnanimous in victory." British Army Lt. Col. Tim Collins.

On the 4th of June 2003 it was reported that Staff in a British photo-processing shop allegedly handed-over photographs to the police that indicated British troops tortured and sexually abused Iraqi prisoners of war. (here) Funny how this one managed to stay out of the papers. Maybe it was just too sensitive an issue to raise as the troops were thought back then to be on the threshold of a 'magnanimous victory'.

Lt. Col. Tim Collins

Remember the allegations that British army Lt. Col. Tim Collins on several occasions kicked and hit prisoners, threatened them with summary execution, and fired at the feet of civilians who defied his orders? The British Media, including the Daily Mirror seemed to find difficulty in believing that any British Troops would act in an inhumane manner. Tim Collins was a typical upper class officer who used the occasion of War to make a name for himself, you may recall the speech he gave his troops before the War, parts of that speech are quoted here. He has now retired from the army; he was cleared of all allegations and got an MBE recently, a reward for his 'magnanimous behaviour' no doubt.

"There are some (Iraqis) who are alive at this moment who will not be alive shortly" British Army Lt. Col. Tim Collins.

If these photos are real, then the soldiers guilty of the assault and possible murder of this Iraqi are thugs who should surely have been stopped at some stage from ever wearing the uniform. If they killed this man, they should be given life. The soldiers who have come forward with the photographs have done the right thing. At least 18,000* Iraqis are now being illegally held in jails and prison camps. The prisoners are held without charge and denied access to lawyers, family and friends for months on end. Is this really 'liberating' a Country? - is this the freedom we promised the people of Iraq?(*Baghdad-based Organisation for Human Rights)

"Those who do not wish to go on that journey, we will not send. As for the others, I expect you to rock their world" British Army Lt. Col. Tim Collins.

Hooding and torturing Prisoners again.

Many of us have seen footage or genuine photos of Iraqi prisoners who have hoods put over there heads. We saw this from the start of the war as prisoners were captured. This is a cruel treatment yet it is one that British Troops have used and been warned about before. In Northern Ireland, putting hoods on suspects was noted as one of the so-called "five techniques" used in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s. The four other techniques were wall-standing, subjection to white noise, and deprivation of sleep and of food and drink. These "five techniques" were found by the European court of human rights to constitute inhuman treatment, in breach of the UK's obligations under the European convention on human rights. British troops have not learned much since then have they? It is likely that the Iraqi resistance will now view UK troops much the same as USA ones. The odds of more British Troops coming home in body bags has gotten shorter.

Northern Ireland Revisited.

Amnesty International (here) has received frequent reports of torture or other ill-treatment by Coalition Forces during the past year 2003. Detainees in Iraq have reported being routinely subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment during arrest and detention. Many have told Amnesty International that they were tortured and ill-treated by US and UK troops during interrogation. Methods often reported include prolonged sleep deprivation; beatings; prolonged restraint in painful positions, sometimes combined with exposure to loud music; prolonged hooding; and exposure to bright lights. Hey, that sounds familiar! - It's almost like Northern Irelands darkest days revisited. The IRA, we may recall, eventually outwitted us, and it seems the Iraqi's too will see British Troops leave the land, either by a political process, or by guns, explosives and the spirit of resistance. We will never win these people. We can pull out now and save some lives, or stay and wait for the inevitable reaction. Prepare the Union Jacks to be draped over more coffins.

Note - The daily Mirror has admitted the photos they published were fake - but WHO was behind the fakes. Soldiers? Security Services? Some bloke having a laugh? - more soon. Despite a few photos being faked it makes little difference and UK Troops will find there support for the SCUM gutter rag (The Sun) will lead them to spilling some-ones blood. Piers Morgan was of course, an ex Sun Editor.

Victory to the Iraqi People.

Its not our Country and we have no right to be there.

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