VIDEOS: Systematically Trained Abusive Soldiers

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Ethan McCord

Ethan McCord is a former member of Bravo Company 2-16, the ground troops involved in the now infamous “Collateral murder” video released by Wikileaks in April of this year.

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October 13th, 2010 1:54 AM

VIDEOS: Systematically Trained Abusive Soldiers

By Ethan McCord

These are videos I took from soldiers of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry. If the name sounds familiar, it should. This was the unit I was in that was also depicted in the “collateral murder” video released by WikiLeaks.

I started to “acquire” these videos and some pictures once I realized that what we are doing in Iraq is wrong. These videos are of detainee abuse. Not the type of abuse that’s physical, but the mental, emotional, degrading type. Which in my eyes is worse than simply striking a person.

I’ve held on to these for three years now, debating on how to release them responsibly. I want to point out, first hand, that these soldiers are doing EXACTLY as they have been trained. I’m not trying to excuse their behavior, but simply pointing out that this is a systematic problem. While your anger may initially be placed with the soldiers in the videos, I think your anger should be directed towards the system that trained them.

Soldier from Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry is told, taunts a detainee that he's "going to prison" and is told, "Stop fucking with the detainees. Just let 'em sit there." Video recorded at FOB (Forward Operating Base) Rustamiyah in eastern Baghdad.

Soldier from Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, singing and cackling into a terrified Iraqi detainees ear at FOB (Forward Operating Base) Rustamiyah in eastern Baghdad. The Iraqi was detained for having an AK-47 in his home with two magazines.

Soldier from Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, orders an Iraqi detainee to put his "hands up, hands down" repeatedly. This reportedly went on for approximately 45 minutes at FOB (Forward Operating Base) Rustamiyah in eastern Baghdad.