BAGHDAD - The commander of US forces in Iraq warned his soldiers Friday not to abuse Iraq detainees after a survey found that one third of US troops approve of torture as a method of gathering intelligence.
"Some may argue that we would be more effective if we sanctioned torture or other expedient methods to obtain information from the enemy. They would be wrong," General David H. Petraeus said in a letter to the troops.
"Beyond the basic fact that such actions are illegal, history shows that they often are neither useful nor necessary," he added.
A survey carried out by the army's mental health advisory team, released last week, found that more than a third of US combat troops deployed in Iraq condone torture to obtain important information from an insurgent.
Nearly one in 10 of those surveyed acknowledged personally mistreating civilians or damaging their property unnecessarily.
The study found continuing problems with morale and said acute mental health issues were more prevalent among troops with extended tours, or on their second or third deployment to Iraq.
Petraeus, in an open letter to his force that was published on a military website, acknowledged the report's findings that the stress of combat drove some soldiers over the edge.
"I fully appreciate the emotions that one experiences in Iraq," Petraeus said in his letter. "Seeing a fellow trooper killed by a barbaric enemy can spark frustration, anger, and a desire for immediate revenge."
But he called on US troops to treat detainees with "dignity and respect."
"In everything we do, we must observe the standards and values that dictate that we treat noncombatants and detainees with dignity and respect. While we are warriors, we are also human beings."
The team surveyed 1,320 soldiers and 447 marines between August and October 2006 in Iraq. Although the report was completed in November, it was released on May 4 in censored form after its findings began to leak to the press.
05/11/2007 11:17 GMT