So, these prisons are no different than any other throughout the world, where the inmates are left to rule over other inmates?

Other than executions, what else can be done to change it?

This reminds me of the stories of the imprisoned Islamo-fascists throwing fecal matter at the guards. It's done here in the states all the time by U.S. convicted/imprisoned felons.

Nothing is new here, including the Bush-hating pablum for dummies.

Now if one wants to create real change, let's start considering that execution thing. Otherwise this is like complaining-101 for 1st graders.

Oliver, Denver, USA

Hey Peter,

The war in Irag is not done in the name of Christianity. The Jihad waged against Western Civilization is done in the name of Islam. Huge difference.

Jack Vincent, san diego , ca

These Gitmo inmates need their day in court. If the US doesn't follow the constitution ,we have put ourselves down on the same level as our enemy. America needs to hold itself to a higher standard.

Kim Righetti, Upland, Calif. USA

Sounds like our prisons here in the US, hence the expression 'jailhouse muslim'.

John Cunningham, Haverford, PA, USA

It seems that every attempt by Bush or Blair to solve a problem be it foreign or domestic has entirely the opposite effect. Add corruption and sleaze on a grand scale and this duo stir the most strongest emotions ever felt against world leaders. Far from protecting democracy its been eroded almost fatally by these warmongers and their actions. Emotions towards world leaders generally convey like or dislike, moving up to love or hate. With Bush & Blair, many people in the west let alone the middle east , despise them to such a degree that few would shed a tear if a terrorist took them out. When you look back at Kennedy getting shot or Thatcher nearly getting blown up, people of all parties denounced the criminal act, but today many would mutter good riddance if similar criminal acts occurred to Bush or Blair. Such is the level of hate & distrust from these two administrations it will take a decade to even try and rectify the damage done to democracy by the founders of democracy.

Mike, Denia, Spain

Craig you got it backwards...innocent people locked up in jails get angry and make plans for revenge on those who failed the law...don't you see? You say we don't follow laws to fight these terrorist outlaws- forget Geneva, etc and because of that, we have lost our moral high ground. Get off your belly snake-you make the rest of us look bad.

Uncle Sammy, Columbus, Ohio

Craig. Just like a neo-con, send someone else over to fight and fix it.

360 tons of $100 bills unaccounted for no corruption there hey?

The only time table I see for getting out is when Halliburton hit $80 on the NY Stock Exchange.

Tom, Guilford,

This is by design. America is using the same model of its crime training prisons, but now on a global scale for regional/global terrorist training.

Joseph, Washington, DC

Pablo! I am glad christianity is the religeon of peace! Can you imagine if it wasn't?

Peter Dent, Saint Augustine, Fl

I think we should just bring our military home. We can not help people who do not want our help. Iraq has been fighting within since the bible times. We are losing Americans lives, and also using money that we can use here for our country. I think Bush needs to listen to the Americans and start bringing our military back to American soil. How many more soldiers have to lose their lives? Or lose a leg or an arm and sometimes both. How many more parents and spouses have to get that knock at the door that their son, daughter, husband, or wife is not coming home alive? Bush needs to think about us the American people.

Heidi Exton, Columbus, Ga

I agree with Fernando Leza , Caracas, Venezuela's comment.....That's all I'm gonna say.

Derek, Vancouver, Canada

When will discrimination in Western societies come back into vogue? We are not all equal, notwithstanding our faggoty human rights high court judges and immigration departments in the respective Anglo Saxon societies around the world. We need a good dose of racist based laws so that the well behaived majority don't have to suffer from the one-law-fits-all "liberal" view of the world. I say all liberals need to spend 6 months in Iraq learning the implications of their bleading heart ways. It will give new meaning to the term "bleading heart"...

Craig, Sydney, Australia

Sounds like we're treating them like Urban Americans...

"We'll be greeted as liberators!"
"Who could've predicted..."
"We were all wrong."
"A few bad apples"
"Mission Accomplished"


"A free nation is a peaceful nation."

Dinsdale, Gary, Indiana

Persuade the Iraqi govt to vote if they want the Brits and US Soldiers to stay. If they vote yes, that would them serious legitimacy and if they vote "no", then the request of the govt should be honored and LETS MOVE OUT and let them establish law and order.

I am glad Islam is a religion of peace; can you imagine if it wasn't?!?!

Pablo Durissimo, Olympia, Washington

The problems the US military are ones they themselves created by their tactics of using dragnets - scooping up thousands of innocents in the process merely for military efficiency. For every action there is a reaction - if somone shooting at you is justification for putting them in prison - putting someone in prison (not shooting at you) would be justification for them to shoot you. Abu Graib, abductions, torture, false justification for the war, and so on - as ye sow, so shall re reap. It's no stretch of the imagination that these prisons would be terrorist academies - what with the huge number of those there who shouldn't. Thr acilles heel of any military is that it seek to either justify or ignore its mistakes. Arrogance can be deadly.

Gene, Cedar Rapids, IA, USA

Peace had a chance. Give War A Chance

Don, albuquerque, NM

I have to agree that the United States government stepped in when it was none of our business. We had no right to try and fix problems in other countries when we can not even fix our own. We, as a country, need to try and help OUR homeless, and OUR poverty-stricken. Many countries, as is apparent by many different newspaper articles, agree that the United States needs to concentrate on the United States. Who knows how many homeless children from our own country could have homes now if only we would have avoided this senseless war, or as many like to call it, operation? How much food could those same starving children have? But instead, the United States government CUTS our funding as it watches more and more people in our own country go hungry and homeless. The Iraqi government need not be our concern, the United States should be our concern. If another government REQUESTS help it is one thing. For us to step in without that request is wrong.

Heather, Brookfield, Missouri

Tucker from Trenton has a valid point. I'm a UK subject. I have a great fondness for American people and indeed many are my friends. My judgement is the US and UK are diverging from on foreign policy. Tucker the British have always had a dislike for many "American" exports and gunboat diplomacy policies and at the same time a fondness for other American values and friendliness. The special relationship was typically equal with Thatcher and Reagan, but has become unequal with the interests of Rumsveldt, Chainey and John Bolton (Hawks) really alienating many UK public with their indifference over Iraq and reconstruction strategy, and having two or three levels of human rights for detainees worldwide.

I'm not to worried as with Bush and Blair clearing out of power, with the iminent likihood of a Iraqi forces withdrawal, it is`likely the US and UK can politically navigate post Iraq scenario and moderation. Its a phase that will go when Bush goes, and America renews itself.

Rob, London, UK

The Iraq invasion was illegal, the occupation is illegitimate, and immoral. Both the USA and Britain have covered themselves in shame. And the failure is yours. Not only are you defeated, you are shamed, and it will be a long time before you can recover your prior status in the community of nations.

Those of you who think this attack upon an innocent nation was intended to liberate it, or are so ignorant you think an election means democracy and freedom, need to go back to school.

Your failure to acknowledge your mistakes convinces me it may be required to hold Nuremberg trials for Bush and Blair in the future, and you should be forced to teach your children better, for you are truly a menace to human society.

Fernando Leza , Caracas, Venezuela.

The vast majority of Americans believe that the British are our best friends and allies. It has been nearly 200 years since we were on opposite sides in a war, and that only lasted a year (1812). Taking sides in a war against the British is inconceivable to most Americans even though most of us are German descendents. Sir Winston once said, "Germans make the best Americans, but they make the worst Germans." We probably like you more than the Canadians do.

As for the war in Iraq, together we gave the Iraq people a chance at democratic form of government based on rule of law. They had something no other Middle Eastern country has had. . . a free election. If they cannot rule themselves in a civilized manner, then the failure is theirs, not ours.

James L. Jacobson, Chicago, Illinios

Does anyone really believe that the British sailors were stopping Iranian ships in Iraqi waters? They would of course sail down the Iranian side of the straits. he 'hostages' were let off lightly, in my opinion.

Al Beatty, Calgary Ab,

I really feel it's time for America & Britain to end this so called relationship.

The reason being is: the majority of British do not like we American's. And a lorge percentage of American's, thanks to the inter-net, have come to realize this, and we are disliking Britain more & more.

So, let's end this rediculas relationship. If a friend, or family member spoke about you constantly, in such demeaning fashion, as the Britsh do we American's, Than that relationship would be severed, and over.

Hopefully our next President, and your next Prime Minister, will see the American & the British people's point on this and will act.

The point being, we do not like each other!

Get my drift?

Tucker, Trenton, USA

At this point it is clear that middle eastern Muslims have no concept of peace and the rest of the world would be better served by containing these savages to the middle east by locking down immigration policies, enforcing embargos, and ending all funding to the regimes.

The result, less money for weapons to kill infidels, more internal strife and killing of each other - as barbaric as this sounds it is a positive effect to have killers kill each other rather than innocent people. The US and others can then focus on Iran, North Korea and internal issues such as deteriorating societies in the Europe (also largely a Muslim issue) and the US.

Mustaffah, Saed,

Thank God the British captives were detained in care of The Iranian Revolutionary Guards and not in an American administered facilty

thsverr, reykjavik, iceland

Perhaps someone knows how many prisoners the American army is holding and will post the information. I have read, but cannot confirm, that since the "surge" started we have captured 27,000 Sunni. Also that 20,000 have been killed. Our tactics did not work for the French in Algeria and I doubt that they will work in Iraq.

c. perry, Boynton Beach, U.S. Florida

Yes we all know that Americans are the most stupid idiots in the world, don't we? Its true, Americans consider themselves somekind of world power because its what we psychologists call severe narcissism. Americans believe that everybody loves them. Yet they are the most sadistic illed people in the western world. As an American, I find it within my rights to tell the truth and diagnose America as I see fit. A very predatory capitalistic state that uses its money for sadistic ends, and lies about its own constitution.

Peter R, Wash DC,

Freaky Liberals, look what's happening to pathetic Europe with their Muslim problem. We need to continue what we are doing or wind up like them

Dan, Norwood, ma.

Don't we have enough rope to hang the terrorists?

stan ewald, Mt. Carmel, Illinois

Where are the Muslim clerics who preach peace between Sunni and Shia on the basis of love God and your neighbour?

Ibnez, Homerton, UK

Where is Daniel Finklestein and his war mongering comrades when you need him?

Its easy to start a war, dealing with these problems once its started is not so easy. Conveniently the neo cons have disaapeared from the scene of the crime.

akram, London,

Enough is enough. It's time to get out of Iraq.

Kevin, St. Petersburg, Russia

Well said Jairo. Really well said...

Fenasi Kerim, Papua New Guinea,

Well said Craig. Thank goodness the lack of oil prevents the radical fascist US army from coming over and disturbing the order of things...

Jairo Sabina, Madrid, Spain

Well said Brian. Thank goodness the immigration policy in the UK prevents these radicals from coming over and disturbing the order of things...

Craig, Sydney, Australia

Lets get out!

Brian Bush, Hastings, U.K

This ia what the invadors brought to Iraq... terrorism.
So please - you Americans and British - do not say about the iraqi people "they are terrorists" but say "we have turned them into terrorist".
Please, publish this comment as it is not offensive.
You - "The Times" - always HIDE the comments that always criticise your invasion and then you say "freedom of speech"!!!!

rana, california, US

Why dont we simply merge the two factions and let them destroy each other? I think the same concept would be paramount to reducing crowded prisons in the US , merge surrenos and nortenos, bloods and crips, aryan brotherhood, let the riff raff destroy each other, lighten the load so to speak.

mark, Walnut Creek, USA/ Ca

This follows the same pattern seen in Egypt for the last 30 years. Mubarak would throw islamists into prison, and there they would radicalize other young muslim men. Mary Anne Weaver (A Portrait of Egypt:) has written quite a lott on how the prisons in Egypt. Instead of quelching the islamists in prison they would exploit the treatment to radicalize more recruits.

Allied forces better be quick about developing a policy to isolate the islamsts from the rest.

Ryan, Irvine, USA

The article does not mention that the population of America’s high-security prisons in Iraq exceeds 17,000 at current count. All in orange jump suits, many if not most rounded up on "tips" of dubious veracity. This is more lunacy. Once in these security prisons, just how do you get out? Is it not easy to see that this creates furious and outraged individuals who if not previously so inclined, will leap at the chance to blast themselves along with soldiers of the occupation army? So wrap the intelligence around this policy.

John, Seattle, USA

I lived in the Gulf for 16+ years so am familar with my fellow American's lack of knowledge of the world outside .
While Bush gets well deserved criticism, the Machiavelli/Svengalis behind him like the NeoCons are escaping the spotlight.
Iraq will only get some sembalance of peace with autonomous Sunni,Shia,Kurd administration.This will not happen cause the US wants to suppress Iran & the Shias and the Saudis will allways oppress Shia and non-Arabs.
Standing up to the Saudi tyrants will be the first important step towards a fair and just Iraq.Bush and co are only too glad to hug the Saudis.

Nathan, milwaukee, wis, usa

Ireland 1916:
internment camps in Wales
Union breakup 1921

NI 1972
internment camps in NI
30 year civil war

Donal, Salford,

What's the big deal? You start an obscene war based on Orwellian lies you get Orwellian results.

Pity you Brits are such craven lapdogs and participate so enthusiastically with such a totally disgusting war...but your choice ...just stop whining when your own volunteer brigands there occasionally suffer a few casualties.

John Hanna, Taoyuan , Taiwan