A Minor Torture Incident

Not that you should care...it's really nothing of any importance...don't even know whether it happened at all. AND IF SO, WHAT WOULD IT PROVE?

Anyway, since you're asking, here's the story (again, no big deal, really):

EU Soldiers Accused of Torturing Civilians in Congo
The Swedish military has accused French soldiers of torturing civilians during the EU-led Operation Artemis in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2003, one of the bloc's first joint missions.
Five years ago, the European Union sent some 1,500 soldiers to DR Congo as part of a UN mission to take action against the bandits marauding the north-eastern part of the country. The troops were there to protect the civilians.
Now the Swedish military is saying that French soldiers tortured Congolese civilians during the operation. The German government, which didn't send troops on the mission but provided logistical assistance, couldn't confirm the accusations.

"The Foreign Ministry is not aware of the report," a ministry spokeswoman told DW-WORLD.DE. "We will examine the issue."

Now - that means a lot, I can tell you. Until the examination is finished (somewhere in the vicinities of the 22nd century), the German media's coverage of the incident will be merciless till truth is found.

Or not.

After all, what's all the fuss about torture? I mean, there was a war going on, and some folks got a bit agitated in the course of it... Perhaps these "civilians" weren't so civil at all?

Don't we have more important things to talk about? Such as this incredible, huge torture scandal in Abu Ghraib which for the upteenth time was presented in last week's edition of German left wing weekly magazine stern. (Hat tip Jane)

Comments

[swink]

Don't you get it? It's only torture if AMERICA is involved. Otherwise, no biggy.

[jlwb]

When the story 1st appeared on DW the header read: "Out of line".

[Pat Patterson]

The investigation will really take off when its discovered that the French soldiers were wearing underwear out of cotton from Texas. Blame it on Frankenfabrics.

[WhatDoIKnow]

Amazing, isn't it...? But after all those years everyone with half a brain inside the skull knows the drill: the actions of a handful rogue/idiot/criminal American GI's must and will be projected upon the entire American military.

OTOH, the wrong actions of a few in the (insert your favorite country here) military must *not* present that country's military in a negative light in any way. (The exception is evidently when that country is America).

Each and every single American must behave perfectly (OK, almost perfectly) because America should be an "example" to the rest of the world. Right...? OTOH, Europeans, although everyone knows that they are the true example of civilized world citizens, are allowed to torture a bit, here and there, without "loosing their moral standing in the world".

Just a fanatic neo-con would be able to see any double standards here.

[Mike H.]

Do these people know what a dead horse looks like? Do they actually derive enjoyment from standing around and beating it? That doesn't present a good picture of the media, to have a dead animal that they're required to beat as they come to work in the morning. Oh well, we have our own unfortunately. After all they're all brothers, they merely work for different uncles

[Doug]

Looks like the story's been yanked. DW still returns that URL in a search, but it's dead.

What sort of torture are we talking here, anyway? Did they serve them inadequately chilled pudding?