New disclosures about war crimes committed by British army in Iraq are out. A British soldier named Donald Payne revealed some of the crimes committed by the British soldiers against Iraqi civilians.
“Payne said he had witnessed Col Jorge Mendonca and a platoon commander, Lt Craig Rodgers, punching a group of prisoners, cocking pistols at them and even threatening to set them alight.
The ex-soldier was speaking at a public inquiry into the killing of Iraqi hotel worker Baha Mousa while in British custody in 2003.
Mousa was discovered with 93 wounds on his body after being in custody for more than 36 hours in a temporary detention centre controlled by Payne.”-http://www.presstv.ir/
Payne reported that some troops frequently punched and kicked prisoners. He himself admitted to setting an Iraqi boy on fire out of what he called a “misguided loyalty”. According to the associated press, Payne was reported to claim that he didn’t disclose some of the worst crimes committed against Iraqis, in order to save reputation of his regiment and army.
“A court martial in March 2007 had cleared Payne and six other soldiers, including Col Mendonca, of all charges such as manslaughter and perverting the course of justice.
However, new inquiries have revealed that Payne and other witnesses had lied to the police to protect each other.”-http://www.presstv.ir/
Words are not enough to describe the irony in the fact that all of this was done in the name of freedom and democracy.
