IRAQI PRISONERS

The fallout continues from the media release of photos showing Iraqi prisoners of war being humiliated, degraded, and abused by American and British prison officials.  The House and Senate are holding hearings to question senior military and civilian leaders.  In a statement on May 11, Senator Inhofe (R-OK) suggested that what occurred in Iraqi prisons were not atrocities, but were isolated instances of abuse.  Many others have voiced their opinion that these were systemic acts of violence and perhaps even torture.

+ Senators See Abu Graib Prison Photos Held by Defense Department
(Washington Post)
+ General Asserts She Was Overruled on Prison Moves (Washington Post)
+ Fantastical Occupation (editorial)
+ Protecting the System (editorial)

$25 BILLION MORE REQUESTED FOR IRAQ

With the official deadline for transferring sovereignty to Iraq nearing, President Bush has requested an additional $25 billion for Iraqi operations.  The Bush Administration had intended to wait until January 2005 to make its request, but the recent escalation of violence in Iraq has required action much sooner.  Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has suggested that the Iraq mission might require a total of $50 billion for fiscal year 2005.

+ $25 Billion More Sought to Fund Wars (Washington Post)
+ $25 Billion More Sought for Iraq, Afghanistan (LA Times)
+ Lawmakers to Insist on Oversight of Iraq Money (Washington Post)

SUDAN GARNERS A NEW SPOTLIGHT

The peace accords between the Muslim north and Christian/animist south were close to being completed; however, negotiations have slowed and the process seems ready to collapse.  In the Darfur region, international organizations and aid groups continue to report on the ethnic cleansing program of the government and its allied militias.

In the midst of all this, Sudan was elected to the UN's Commission on Human Rights.  Sudan was included in the African region's slate of nations to fill four African seats on the Commission.  In protest, the U.S. walked out of the Commission room before the vote was called.  The U.S., along with other nations and nongovernmental organizations, is working to increase the number of democracies playing important roles in UN bodies.

+ U.S. Protests Sudan's Election to Human Rights Panel (Washington Post)
+ Sudan keeps seat on U.N. rights panel (CNN)
programs/intl_instit/CD_factsheet.html"> + Global Solutions fact sheet on the Community of Democracies
programs/intl_instit/UNDG_factsheet.html"> + Global Solutions fact sheet on the UN Democracy Group
programs/glob_engage/Legislation/S.CON.RES.83.html">+ Global Solutions information on the UN Democracy Caucus Senate resolution