David Norris (Independent)

Does the Leader share my concern at the statement by Colin Powell that we should look beyond Iraq? It suggests to me that Mr. Powell, in a form of queasy hypocrisy which one has come to expect from the Goering of the Bush regime, wants us to overlook what has been happening in Baghdad, Falluja and Abu Ghraib.

I would like the Leader to draw to the attention of the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reports in The Irish Times today where it is clear that the torture in Abu Ghraib consisted of using electric shock instruments and included the squeezing of the genitals of male prisoners by female operatives, which is very shocking, particularly to Islamic people. There were also prisoners with burns on their backs and prisoners with damaged kidneys. This is not a laughing matter. I am very surprised that some of the Senators on the opposite side of the House can smile about it.