Prisons Are Breeding Grounds For Insurgency

Even as there is proof that the surge has been a success militarily, there is a report that a backlash may occur, due to all of the detainees that are being held. The news report that follows indicates the mini-insurgency that the huge numbers of detainees may be creating.

American officials have detained thousands of insurgents in the months since the surge of forces began this spring, in an effort that most agree has improved security in Iraq. But now the commander of the American detention facilities in Iraq is wondering aloud if holding all those detainees is breeding a "micro-insurgency" and asking whether it's time to begin releasing thousands of people.

The two main detention facilities operated by the US military in Iraq, at Camp Bucca near Basra and Camp Cropper in Baghdad, have swollen to hold nearly 30,000 detainees. That's not the 40,000 individuals Army Gen. David Petraeus allotted for when American forces began to implement the Baghdad security plan this spring. But it may be too many, says Marine Maj. Gen. Doug Stone, who oversees detainees for the US-led force.

Let us not go so overboard in holding detainees, to the point that we create more problems than we started with. It seems that we are walking the fine line between security and rebellion, and I hope we can get something right in this war, as past decisions have not been very wise. May they please listen to the General, and find a way, to let the detainees go, and lessen the likelihood of creating more enemy combatants, as it would seem that we have a sufficient force to work against already!!


detainees