- News>
- World
Bush expresses dismay at US treatment of Iraqi prisoners
Washington, May 05: President George W Bush told a skeptical Arab world today that the treatment of Iraqi prisoners by some members of the US military was `abhorrent` and does not represent `the America that I know.` He stopped short of apologising.
Washington, May 05: President George W Bush told a
skeptical Arab world today that the treatment of Iraqi
prisoners by some members of the US military was "abhorrent"
and does not represent "the America that I know." He stopped
short of apologising.
"There will be investigations. People will be brought to
justice," Bush said in a television interview that was aired
in the Middle East late this afternoon.
In the first of two planned interviews, the President did
not specifically apologise for the mistreatment of prisoners
at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.
But, he said, "the actions of these few people do not reflect the hearts of the American people." "The American people are just as appalled" as Iraqis, Bush said, over images broadcast around the world of naked detainees and gloating US soldiers at Abu Ghraib, a notorious prison during Saddam Hussein's regime that was taken over by US troops.
"People in Iraq must understand that I view those practices as abhorrent. They must also understand that what took place in that prison does not represent the America that I know," Bush said.
"The America I know is a compassionate country that believes in freedom. The America I know cares about every individual. The America I know has sent troops into Iraq to promote freedom, good honourable citizens that are helping Iraqis everyday," he said.
Bureau Report
But, he said, "the actions of these few people do not reflect the hearts of the American people." "The American people are just as appalled" as Iraqis, Bush said, over images broadcast around the world of naked detainees and gloating US soldiers at Abu Ghraib, a notorious prison during Saddam Hussein's regime that was taken over by US troops.
"People in Iraq must understand that I view those practices as abhorrent. They must also understand that what took place in that prison does not represent the America that I know," Bush said.
"The America I know is a compassionate country that believes in freedom. The America I know cares about every individual. The America I know has sent troops into Iraq to promote freedom, good honourable citizens that are helping Iraqis everyday," he said.
Bureau Report