New lawsuits allege torture in Iraq

Why is it not surprising to hear that four Iraqis have accused U.S. military contractors of detaining and torturing them in the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad. Lawsuits filed in federal courts in Washington, Ohio, Maryland and Michigan contend the contractors, acting on behalf of the U.S. military, subjected them to beatings, electric shocks and mock executions while they were in detention. They all were released without trial. The lawsuits name ACI International Inc, CACI Premier Technology, L-3 Services Inc. and three individuals, based in the states where the suits were filed, according to the Reuters international news service. CACI provided interrogators at Abu Ghraib and L-3 provided translators at the prison. "This litigation will contribute to the true history of Abu Ghraib," said Susan L. Burke, an attorney for the detaineess, according to Reuters. "These innocent men were senselessly tortured by U.S. companies that profited from their misery." CACI called the allegations "unfounded and unsubstantial." Of course, we all hope the stories are not true. But the United States was the subject of global condemnation in 2004 after reports first surfaced of detainee abuse by soldiers at Abu Ghraib.