The poor Iraqis. From Saddam to Bush to themselves, no one gives them a break. Ya know that this will continue after the inevitable pullout, when the US declares victory and democracy and leaves except for the military bases. And oil fields.

Abuse reports fuel Iraqi tensions
By Jim Muir BBC News, Baghdad

"Many Iraqis were not surprised at the existence of the interior ministry centre where detainees were allegedly tortured, abused and starved."

"Sunni groups alleged that Iraqi police have been involved in torture. They were surprised that its existence has been revealed, creating a local and international scandal. "

Iraqi detainees tell of torture
By Caroline Hawley BBC News, Baghdad

"Detainees told of beatings and being given electric shocks. Prisoners at an Iraqi detention centre opened up to journalists have told the BBC of widespread abuse.

One man said he had been whipped with a cable and then had salt rubbed in the wound, while another said his captors had tried to pull out his toenails."

"The BBC was also shown inside a Baghdad bunker at the centre of a scandal over detainee abuse by Iraqi forces."

"Even in a facility opened up to journalists, it was so crowded there was barely room for all the prisoners to sit, let alone lie down."