CPTnet
May 25, 2004
IRAQ: An open letter to John Brushaber, re: Prisoner abuse
[Note: CPT received the first letter below was on May 6, 2004 from John
Brushaber, who expressed a desire that CPT widely distribute his letter.
CPTer Stewart Vriesinga's response follows Brushaber's letter. Both
Brushaber's and Vriesinga's messages have been edited for length. People
wishing to see the originals should NOT hit "reply" to this release but
rather send their request to guest.445947@MennoLink.org.]
Date: Thu, 06 May 2004 10:29:22 -0500
From: "John B."
Subject: Prisoner abuse
To: guest.903627@MennoLink.org
The comments to the news media Stewart Vriesinga has made recently do not
reflect the beliefs of all Christians. See the following snippet from
CTV.ca News Staff (web site) "New photos show more Iraqi prisoner abuse"
"Aid groups sounded the alarm".... Steve's [sic] comment to Iraqi prisoner
abuse: "We've spent a lot of time with released detainees and families of
detainees," he said. "And it seems that without exception they were treated
at some point during their detention in a very dehumanizing and degrading
manner."
**News flash**
These are prisoner's! They were previously haters and killers of American
Soldiers, many whom are Christians! I am preparing to go to Iraq, and
support the fight AGAINST aggression as a soldier. I thank God every day
for the salvation that he has given us through Jesus Christ. The last thing
I want to see in this world is a Christian group aiding the enemy by not
sharing HOPE to the lost. Steve's [sic] comments do nothing but spark
further flames in the effort to win others to Christ. The media will always
twist words to suit their purposes, so please share this at your meetings.
The plan for this country is bigger than you or I, and all Christians must
work together. The hatred that is flowing throughout the world goes farther
than pointing at the U. S. A., but more deeply it's pointed at God and God's
people, this is where the struggle is. I could continue to complain about
your organization, but I won't. Remember, I'll die fighting if I must, but
I'll be fighting to share the love with those that will receive it.
Regards,
John Brushaber, Christian, Soldier, & Firefighter, Student Tarleton State
University
Vriesinga's response to John Brushaber:
First: I stand by my comment that "without exception they were treated at
some point during their detention in a very dehumanizing and degrading
manner." In most cases the worst treatment was experienced in the first
three to seven days before being processed and transferred to one of the
larger prison camps such as Abu Ghraib, Bucca or BIAP (Baghdad Airport),
although we have certainly documented testimonies of extremely degrading and
dehumanizing treatment of detainees in the larger prisons as well. (Go to
"Testimonies" on the Christian Peacemaker Teams Website: www.cpt.org .) . .
.
I did not say that all Coalition Forces soldiers that came into contact with
detainees treated them badly, and I also said that most released detainees
also mentioned, often by name, someone who treated them with respect and
tried to help them.
Second: Your assumption that: "These are prisoners! They were previously
haters and killers of American Soldiers," is inaccurate. . . The majority of
the thousands of Iraqis being detained by the Coalition Forces have not been
found guilty of anything, and high-ranking Coalition officials themselves
say that they fully expect that the vast majority of them will be released
when they finally get around to reviewing their cases. The majority of these
detainees are arrested as a result of house-raids and military sweeps. . .
.Coalition soldiers carrying out these raids readily acknowledge that they
are neither detectives nor police; they expect and presume that the bulk of
the investigative work will take place after the arrest and detention.
Furthermore, house-raids and sweeps are often based on misinformation and
false intelligence. . . .
Even if these detainees were convicted of some offence--the vast majority is
not likely to be-- they should be treated as human beings with a view to
rehabilitating rather than punishing them.
Third: Wrongfully imprisoning and mistreating thousands of innocent Iraqis
is neither bringing "hope to the lost," nor is it "winning others to
Christ.". . . To justify such treatment on religious grounds as some kind of
holy war or crusade wrongfully implies that Iraqis are also less loved by
God --that Iraqis are not also "God's people." . . . To imply that what
"Christian" soldiers and/or "Christian" countries are doing to Iraqis and
Iraqi detainees is part of the plan and will of God is every bit as counter-
productive, offensive and destructive as the rhetoric of . . . Muslim
extremists who claim that God is calling all Muslims to a holy Jihad against
western countries and western infidels.
I agree that Christians must work together to share the love of God . We
must work with each other and with . . . Muslims in Iraq and elsewhere who
agree that killing and abusing fellow human beings in the name of God is a
sin. Christian Peacemaker Teams will continue to work with Iraqis who
non-violently seek peace and justice through the love of God --that Love
that has the power to transform, not only us, but also our enemies!
Yours respectfully,
Stewart Vriesinga
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