Iraq'd

First we bring, for your reading plasure, death squads:

Iraq has launched an investigation into claims by the US military that an Iraqi interior ministry "death squad" has been targeting Sunni Arab Iraqis.

The probe comes after a US general revealed the arrest of 22 policemen allegedly on a mission to kill a Sunni.

"We have found one of the death squads. They are part of the police force," US Maj Gen Joseph Peterson said.

These guys were part of the Badr Brigade. They were dressed up as highway patrolman. They were caught after 22 militia members picked up a Sunni, detained him, and said directly, "We're going to kill you." Four more unidentified Sunnis were found shot, handcuffed and blindfolded yesterday. This is routine.

Then we'll add, for more stimulating reading, this story on the latest Abu Ghraib photos:

Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations has told the United States to release any remaining photos it has of prisoners being abused at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison.

New images of abuse have been broadcast around the world, sparking more anger over U.S. mistreatment of detainees.

The U.S. Defence Department suppressed many of the original photos because they might incite violence and could put U.S. soldiers in danger around the world. However, Ambassador Samir al-Sumidaie said it is in America's best interests that all the photos be published.

"It can be argued that the best policy in these circumstances is to ... come clean and be open and show everything that can be shown once and for all and get it over with, and deal with it publicly and make it clear to the world," he said.

This has become a much bigger story in the international press than in countries where the Vice President shoots a guy in the face. Here's why (eyewitness account):

Hajj Ali says he is one of the men in the pictures.

"Their torture methods were constantly renewed," he said. "They would come up with things that were unimaginable."

For years Ali was a respected community leader, known for caring for his people and for starting up a local youth soccer league. Now he spends most of his time in Jordan as full-time advocate for other ex-prisoners.

He said in the five months he spent at Abu Ghraib, he was whipped, had sewage poured on him, even made to bark like a dog, all in an effort to make him talk. Eventually he was released, innocent of insurgency accusations, but damaged for life. He said he is an insomniac with recurring anxiety and stomach pain.

Then, add to your joy with this missive about the shambles we have made of the Iraqi economy:

The Bush administration on Thursday conceded that key sectors of the Iraqi economy had fallen below pre-war levels because of the insurgency, but insisted it was making enough progress on the political and security fronts to press ahead with reductions in US forces.

Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state, told the Senate budget committee that production of crude oil and electricity was down from three years ago. Attacks had also hit oil exports.

According to latest statistics – which Ms Rice did not mention – crude oil production this month is running at 1.7m barrels a day, down from a post-invasion peak of 2.5m in September 2004 that was close to prewar levels.

Ms Rice initially asserted that “many more Iraqis” were now getting potable water and sewerage services. However, under intense questioning from Kent Conrad, a North Dakota Democrat, she conceded that although “capacity” had increased, fewer Iraqis were actually receiving those services.

Senator Conrad, citing the special inspector general, said almost all economic indices showed Iraq was better off before the US had invaded. Republicans, too, are sceptical of administration claims of progress. Senator Chuck Hagel told Ms Rice on Wednesday he believed the situation was getting worse.

Then read this stunning reversal, wherein the Secretary of Defense, after years of saying we're in Iraq to rebuild and bring democracy to the country, promptly absolves himself of any responsibility:

“For the most part, the country is functioning,” he said. It was not “a pretty picture”, but not everything was horrible. “We’re not there to do nation-building. It’s going to be an Iraqi solution ultimately,” he said.

It's like we never even invaded in the first place. I guess all those smart bombs didn't cause an ounce of structural damage. There's not a dime for reconstruction in the latest "emergency" funding appropriation for Iraq (by the way, how is this funding an emergency? Did we suddenly realize that we'd be in Iraq this year? Why couldn't this have been written into the actual budget? Oh yeah, because it's a political play, so Republicans can run "X didn't support the troops" attack ads. I forgot).

Finally, read this little amuse bouche, where the Army has to be shamed into backing off from extorting from a disabled veteran:

Following up on Monday's editorial about Lt. Eddie Rebrook of Charleston, W.Va., the soldier billed for body armor lost when he was wounded in Iraq, it seems the Army will reimburse the trooper.

The editorial recounted Lt. Rebrook's story. The 25-year-old West Point graduate was seriously wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq in January 2005. When he was being medically discharged from the Army last month, Lt. Rebrook was told he owed $700 for his body armor and other gear that had been lost when he was wounded.

Now, the Army has decided it will reimburse Lt. Rebrook for the body armor as well as for a canteen pouch that was attached to the Kevlar vest.

When it was time for Lt. Rebrook to be discharged last month, he was given a list of items, including the body armor, that he would have to pay for before he could leave the base. An investigation began when he refused to sign for the items, but rather than following procedures and waiting for the paperwork, according to the Army, Lt. Rebrook paid for the equipment.

Whether it was it a matter of being billed for equipment lost in combat or not wanting to go through red tape, it boils down to Lt. Rebrook having paid for his body armor before he could be discharged for medical reasons [...]

But it is interesting that as soon Lt. Rebrook's story started getting attention from the press, CNN, MSNBC, Internet bloggers and especially West Virginia's senators, there was a quick decision to reimburse him. It appears the Army can cut through that red tape when it wants to.

I think my outrage meter has peaked. Carry on.

(although you could make an afternoon of it and read this account of how Samarra is a fiery hell-pit)