Meanwhile in Iraq

We are continuing to bring our own special brand of justice to the Iraqis.

From Billmon:

Col. Sassaman probably isn't a bad man. [Christian human rights activist David] Hilfiker didn't seem to think so. But he's trapped in a role (Great White Father) that became obsolete about three generations ago. And, not surprisingly, it's bringing out some of his worst authoritarian instincts -- just as the neo-colonial reality of the occupation no doubt is bringing out some of the worst anarchistic instincts of his Iraqi subjects.

I don't like to argue good and bad. So, I'll just leave it aside. But, if the Great White Father role was ever appropriate, and Colonel Sassaman's actions, as related by Mr. Hilfiker, are appropriate to that role, then I know this isn't my home planet.

"With a heavy dose of fear and violence, and a lot of money for projects, I think we can convince these people that we are here to help them," Colonel Sassaman said.

...The most vociferous complaints, however, concerned nighttime raids and detentions. Military people had previously acknowledged to us a policy of "45 seconds of rage and fury"on entering a house. They consider this necessary to obtain immediate submission and keep their troops safe. Soldiers break down doors, yell commands to lie on the floor, run through the house, and generally try to frighten the occupants into submissive behavior.

"Why do the soldiers break down our doors and smash our cupboards. We would give them the key if they just asked?" was a typical question from the outraged lawyers.

"When Saddam raided," said one, "he took only the person he was after. Now the whole family is taken, even when the soldiers know they have the wrong house."

The treatment of women infuriated some of these men. With embarrassment, one lawyer claimed that US troops had raided a house, found a couple naked in their bed and took them away in that state. "This is not acceptable in our culture," he said."

...It was quickly clear from his body language and his curt responses, however, that he was in no way disposed to listen to these [Iraqi] lawyers. I was shocked some minutes later when he became particularly irritated and, turning to us, blurted out without preface or explanation: "You need to understand that these people are Muslim, and their values are just different from Judeo-Christian values. They aren't for doing things for other people like we are; they're only out for themselves."

...Sassaman then accused the Iraqi lawyers of being "imposters," and told Hilfiker he was being "used" -- by whom was not made clear, but the implication was clear enough: The lawyers were simply mouthpieces for the resistance. When Hilfiker invited the Colonel to a meeting with other local human rights activists, he replied:

"There'll be a meeting, all right, and all the lawyers will be there. And it'll be a humdinger of a meeting."

The meaning of this statement became clear early the next morning, when Sassaman and his men came and arrested one of the Iraqi lawyers who had accompanied Hilfiker to his meeting with the Colonel, and shipped him -- and his five brothers -- off to a Coalition gulag.

In your name. With your money.

The rest of the post.

And the incredible Hilfiker report is here.