2008 Woodie Awards
National Updates
Tony Azios
Issue date: 2/9/05 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Further Evidence of Prisoner Abuse in Guantanamo Bay by US Soldiers
The Associated Press obtained a secret report by the U.S. Southern Command in Miami, which oversees the US military prison and camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detailing several instances of physical abuse by American forces against the detainees, who are suspected of terrorist involvement. The report is based upon approximately 500 hours of video footage obtained from the Guantanamo prison, showing guards punching several prisoners and stripping them from the waist down. Footage also shows a prisoner being tied to a gurney for questioning, and a separate clip reveals a platoon leader repeatedly taunting and spraying a detainee with pepper spray. The report also raises concerns of the Guantanamo camp using all-female squads in such activities, which may be seen as insensitive to the detainees' religion and culture. Most of the roughly 545 prisoners being held in Guantanamo are Muslim, and are suspected of links to the Taliban regime or the al-Qaida terrorist network. According to the Associated Press, the military has cited 10 substantiated cases of abuse at Guantanamo, and announced on February 2 an extension would be granted for an investigation to interview of witnesses in the United States and abroad.
(AP)
President Bush Proposes Cuts in Defense and College Aid for 2006 Budget
As record federal deficits are looming over next year's budget, President Bush has urged congress to reduce projected spending on defense and to cut some aid to farmers and college students. According to the Associated Press, Bush's roughly $2.5 trillion spending plan for 2006, while still providing the Pentagon with an increased budget of 4.8 percent more than this year, would allocate $3.4 billion less than Bush had estimated a year ago. Federal officials said on Friday that Bush will attempt to raise the maximum Pell Grant for college students from $4,050 to $4,550 over the next five years, while urging congress to phase out Perkins loans. Last year, 673,000 Perkins loans were given to graduate and undergraduate students. Officials said that Bush also plans to reduce farmers' federal payments and other agricultural supports by $587 million in 2006 and $5.7 billion over the next decade.
(AP)
The Associated Press obtained a secret report by the U.S. Southern Command in Miami, which oversees the US military prison and camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detailing several instances of physical abuse by American forces against the detainees, who are suspected of terrorist involvement. The report is based upon approximately 500 hours of video footage obtained from the Guantanamo prison, showing guards punching several prisoners and stripping them from the waist down. Footage also shows a prisoner being tied to a gurney for questioning, and a separate clip reveals a platoon leader repeatedly taunting and spraying a detainee with pepper spray. The report also raises concerns of the Guantanamo camp using all-female squads in such activities, which may be seen as insensitive to the detainees' religion and culture. Most of the roughly 545 prisoners being held in Guantanamo are Muslim, and are suspected of links to the Taliban regime or the al-Qaida terrorist network. According to the Associated Press, the military has cited 10 substantiated cases of abuse at Guantanamo, and announced on February 2 an extension would be granted for an investigation to interview of witnesses in the United States and abroad.
(AP)
President Bush Proposes Cuts in Defense and College Aid for 2006 Budget
As record federal deficits are looming over next year's budget, President Bush has urged congress to reduce projected spending on defense and to cut some aid to farmers and college students. According to the Associated Press, Bush's roughly $2.5 trillion spending plan for 2006, while still providing the Pentagon with an increased budget of 4.8 percent more than this year, would allocate $3.4 billion less than Bush had estimated a year ago. Federal officials said on Friday that Bush will attempt to raise the maximum Pell Grant for college students from $4,050 to $4,550 over the next five years, while urging congress to phase out Perkins loans. Last year, 673,000 Perkins loans were given to graduate and undergraduate students. Officials said that Bush also plans to reduce farmers' federal payments and other agricultural supports by $587 million in 2006 and $5.7 billion over the next decade.
(AP)