Fucking wonderful. Your tax dinars at work.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will demolish Iraq's notorious Abu Ghraib prison in consultation with the incoming government as a way of symbolizing the country's new start, the White House said on Monday.
The prison near Baghdad, scene of torture under Saddam Hussein and of a prisoner abuse scandal under the U.S. military, would be replaced by a new maximum security prison funded by the U.S. government, the White House said in a statement. The statement was issued ahead of a prime time speech on the future of Iraq by President Bush.
"Under Saddam Hussein, prisons like Abu Ghraib were symbols of death and torture. That same prison became a symbol of disgraceful conduct by a few American troops who dishonored our country and disregarded our values," the statement said. [Emphasis mine.]
"America will fund the construction of a modern, maximum security prison. When that prison is completed, detainees at Abu Ghraib will be relocated.
"Then, with the approval of the Iraqi government, we will demolish the Abu Ghraib prison as a fitting symbol of Iraq's new beginning," it added.
Somewhere in a cave on the Afghan border, maniacal laughter is heard...
Update, 10:20PM EDT - Interesting that Dubya takes credit for this idea. The House attached an amendment to the $422 Billion Defense Appropriation Bill last week to do just this same damn thing! It passed with bi-partisan sponsorship, 308-114. Thanks to Poppy @ Patridiots Watch for the heads up!
