Disgust at prison abuses grows

WASHINGTON — U.S. lawmakers reacted with disgust Wednesday after viewing hundreds of new photographs made available by the Pentagon showing more violent and sexual mistreatment of inmates in U.S.-run prisons in Iraq.

"It's like looking at one of the rings of hell, and it's a ring of hell of our own creation," said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., shortly after viewing several hundred of the pictures in a secure Senate room. "And when you see these accumulated photos of violence and brutality and perversity and depravity, you want to turn around in revulsion."

The latest revelations came as Congress continued to debate the Bush administration's actions in Iraq, as fighting erupted in Najaf and Karbala between U.S. forces and those supporting a rebel cleric and as more information emerged on Nicholas Berg, who was beheaded by captors who said they were retaliating for the prison abuses.

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which is leading the congressional inquiry into the scandal, said he believed the government should wait to release the photos until military trials of those accused are completed.

Some members of Congress, shaken by the videotaped beheading of Berg, said they feared that publicizing more photographs of abuse and degradation of Iraqi prisoners could further stoke anti-American sentiment and increase the danger faced by U.S. citizens and troops.

"You've got the potential inflammatory problem that you might put our troops more in danger. I don't know that the government can take that responsibility to do that," said Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, who called the photos he saw "absolutely disgusting."

But others, including Republican Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, said they thought releasing the pictures would be best in the long run.

Two more U.S. soldiers will face trials in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal for abuses ranging from punching and kicking detainees to ordering them to engage in sex acts, according to documents released Wednesday. Seven soldiers have been charged, with one court-martial set for May 19. Numerous investigations are under way, and officials have said at least two or three others are likely to be charged.

More than 1,000 images were brought by the Pentagon for lawmakers to view Wednesday. Several of those who saw them said there appeared to be hundreds of duplicates as they were displayed by military personnel on a screen.

Durbin said there were also many horrific images but no information about when or where they took place and who was involved.