Fort Lewis - The Investigation Begins,...
THE
TORTURE AND PROSTITUTION
OF
FORT LEWIS
PART ONE
by Tom Scott
It's about a 20 minute drive south from Tacoma in the beautiful state of Washington. Amid the beauty of this great state sits Fort Lewis, a "once upon a time" for many veterans and currently a place called home to many of the finest military men and women in our Armed Forces. I arrived in October as the leaves were awaiting their seasonal fall to earth and as about 4000 brave soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 25th Infrantry Division celebrated with their family and friends their return from the War of Lies. Many physically untouched, many scarred for life and all unaware of the nightmares they will carry for the rest of their days. You could smell it in the air, you could see it in their young eyes, the mixed emotions, joy for being home, sad and confused from where they had been and why. It reminded me of my tours in Nam, my years in Hell.
On the grounds of Fort Lewis sits the Regional Correctional Facility that houses close to 200 American military inmates. About 2,828 miles west from where the War of Lies is orchestrated by the true criminals - the other Washington. All these men in this facility are serving time in a military hell hole hidden away from the rest of world. Many that live in the state of Washington don't even know this hell hole exists. Millions upon millions of Americans don't know it exists. Not many of your Senators and Congressman know it exists. Not many of these returning soldiers, when asked, ever knew the RCF existed or what exactly went on behind it's gates. There are other military RCF's across our great country and I pray to God that what I have learned and witnessed at Fort Lewis, isn't happening elsewhere in our America.
For it should be of concern to you that the U.S. has repudiated the Geneva accords and espoused the use of torture in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, and secretly through proxy regimes elsewhere with the so-called extraordinary rendition program. It is not only embarrassing but sickening to see this president and vice president insisting that the CIA should be free to perpetrate "cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment" on people in U.S. custody but neighbor, it's happening right here in our own back yard, to our own men in uniform.
Mind you, many a state prison and county jail across America are luxury hotels compared to what these soldiers are put through at Fort Lewis. I was fortunate to meet up with several recently released soldiers and developed good relations with a few willing to talk that actually worked in this RCF.
For a Conscientious Objector to this War of Lies and placed in Fort Lewis, as I would be today, you just have to stop, think and say what hypocrisy this is. The criminal mass murderers and liars to the world are alive and dining well 2,828 miles away and we are currently letting them ruin the America that we have espoused over the last 230 years.
At Fort Lewis, I heard one horror story after another and verified each with those who worked at the facility, brave enough to come forth and verify the truth.
So let me be blunt and give it to you straight up.
For example, the facility has many female guards - some of which have participated in an organized prostitution ring. A very well organized prostitution ring. Yes you read it right damn it. Several inmates have written in detail of such illegal activity to their Senators and Congresspersons. Female guards also watch the all male inmates take showers and use the latrine, they have no privacy. You would think that Lt. Colonel Stephanie Beavers, the Commanding Officer in Charge would correct this situation or is this the responsibility of Enos Hobbs, the Civilian Warden; or is this just our militaries way of humiliating it's "prisoners" of choice.
According to office personnel, one of whom that was exposed for "playing" with the inmates now works in an non-existent program. What the hell is a non existent program may I ask? Makes you wonder who exactly is in charge. These soldiers are kept from seeing their families. They are kept from seeing legal representation. There is no heat. There are broken windows and windows that do not close, which at this time of year in Washington State it gets pretty damn cold at night. They are given no blankets. There is a non existent educational program - did I mention that?. Inmates are kept from seeing the Chaplin of their choice and if they do get to see one, it takes months of paperwork and background checks to make sure that Chaplin of Choice is not going to attempt to "spring" the inmate with the help of God. There are leaking sewage pipes with fresh raw sewage dripping from the ceilings, leaking toilets and sinks that flood the cells of inmates. Regulations state firmly that there is to be one shower head per 8 inmates but one honest guard reports that on several "blocks" there are only 4 shower heads for 50 inmates. You have shower water building up under the bunks. And did I mention there was no heat. Abusive Guards become Counselors. Numerous uncalled for head counts within a single day - sometimes up to 40, as if the great escape was in the works - no State Prison conducts that many head counts in one day. And remember, these are American soldiers, they know the drill. Many suffer from PTSD without help. Some have been framed by the military itself. Telephone calls are monitored when allowed and cut off after 20 minutes and cost roughly $25 per call. And did I mention torture,....can't have torture because it's against military regulations,....
......unless you call chaining a soldier up with his arms and legs tied behind him for 4 straight days in a chair, making him sit in his own waste, is torture,.....then Yes, we have torture, both mental and physical abuse conducted on our own soldiers,...right here in America, at Fort Lewis in Washington State. Violating all military regulations on our own soil. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There is far more to report all because of this Neo Con War of Lies.
I repeat, all of this madness stems from this War of Lies and we have let this Neo Con Administration attempt to divide our precious America. Wake Up, America! Unite!
Retired U.S. Army Col. Larry Wilkerson, who served as former Secretary of State Colin Powell's chief of staff, told CNN that the practice of torture may be continuing in U.S.-run facilities. He said and I quote: "There's no question in my mind that we did. There's no question in my mind that we may be still doing it," Wilkerson said on CNN's "Late Edition."
Lt. Colonel Wilkerson, visit Fort Lewis right here in America and see for yourself. Sir, make a surprise visit today. And being of military you should know the Art of Surprise, sir.
So I leave this information in your minds and in your hands my fellow Americans. I, being a Vietnam Combat Vet, won't stand for such madness and suggest that you learn to take matters into your own hands and call every Senator and Congressperson you can think of in every state and report this abuse. It is past time that we the people held our elected officials accountable for their actions and the actions of our own militaries lack of honorable leadership and demand they stop these Crimes Against Humanity immediately.
Fort Lewis, RCF; America and the World is watching. God help your Command and those that conspire to follow such madness.
Tom Scott is Senior Investigative Reporter for Choice America Network
He is a Vietnam Combat Veteran
Questions:
Does this have anything to do with Bush and the current administration, or has this been going on for years?
Has anyone else reported on this? I have no doubt you're writing the truth and nothing but; however, corroboration of any kind would help overcome the natural reaction -- My God, I can't believe this!
Is this prison exclusively for deserters and would-be C.O.'s, or is this anybody sentenced to military prison? Is there any segregation of the population; if so, are would-be C.O.s treated worse than the prison population as a whole? (Any indication of prisoners assaulting/killing/raping other prisoners?)
I wonder if this would outrage even some conservative commentators/columnists? Maybe they don't care how people who refuse to fight for their country are treated... but maybe some WOULD be shocked this can happen in America. It might be worth bringing this to the attention of the more honorable among the rightwing commentators/columnists -- George Will comes to mind for some reason, and frankly Bob Novak, if he's still writing.
(Comment this)
We have been living in an occupied country for decades now, occupied by corporate militarists. The face of government has not changed this, as both parties and almost all of our media are controlled by these same military corporations.
These organizations have no morals, ethics or compulsion to torturing and murdering any world citizens, regardless of where they are from. These organizations will conduct "false flag" operations against Americans, or any other country if it forwards the mission objectives of the unholy war loving corporate military. These organizations will poison our water, land and air, killing and maiming hundreds of thousand in each affected country they operate in.
How many brave, honest New York patriots are now continuing to suffer because they were guinea pigs to the toxic results of 9/11? The criminals running America, and many world governments today have no moral code that says there is a difference between right and wrong.
This is mirrored by the insane comments from right wing false Christain organizations, who have publically stated for decades that lying, cheating and committing other crimes to forward the holy Christain crusade now occuring are justified. From Rushlooney to Pat Robertson these heretics are taken so seriously that their lack of morality has been twisted into acceptable rationale for war and murder workwide.
It's encouraging to see that we are becoming aware of this. Let's hope that each and every soldier on earth starts to realize that war only brings benefits to these fascist entities, regardless of who starts the war, or who wins or loses. Either way we play into the hands of those who would arem us, pit us against each other and steal our land and cultural resources after we are dead or otherwise removed.
Each and every soldier must individually refuse. In a fascist society the only place for free men is prison. These patriotic Americans should immediately be released and installed into military high command positions, that they may from the weight of their esperiences seek justice against the real evil, that of the systemic criminals who currently perpetuate these injustices.
Keep up the good work! (Comment this)
I am an American who knows that our country is just another 2 bit banana republic, where greed is the highest operating motivation, without the Bill of Rights. I also know that my right to burn this flimsy bit of material represents FREEDOM, not the flag itself. Every country has a flag. As a Nazi survivor, a German, told our Toastmasters' group: "I will never pledge allegiance to a flag again. I saw the harm to an entire country done by a small group of people who put that piece of material uber alles, the swastika, a perverted cross (quite symbolic, come to think of it).
Having grown up in Alabama, I know how easy it is to pervert Christianity into criminality, morality into bigotry. One of the first steps is to subvert the educational system, and ensure that you don't teach the Bill of Rights, OR you teach that the Klu Klux Klan was originated to bring law and order to the South after Reconstruction. That, by the way is true, but just as the Bush administration is proving, a half truth is a whole lie. My history book didn't go on to explain that the KKK was then taken over by white trash and made into the lynch mob it became and is today.
thank you for exposing the dark side of our society, as the rot at the top plunges us into the Dark Ages of totalitarianism. (Comment this)
Jack Dalton you must never stop. I am sorry for my bad english.
Your friend Astrid ( even if you dont remember me I feel like a friend ) (Comment this)
Erin (Comment this)
The conditions were as Mr. Scott reported, but I think the hardest part of "my stay" is that there really weren't any "correctional" or educational programs that would effectively rehabilitate anybody. The other major problem was that the command had serious problems "starting from the top". I say this as a college-educated individual that spent almost 15 years in the military.
It was a punitive experience, as designed, but much of the experience was unnecessarily punitive, inappropriate for who are actually US Soldiers, and quite humiliating for anyone.
As a last word, most of the gaurds were the same gaurds going to or arriving from "Gitmo". (Comment this)