Torture in Iraq

I'm a half full kind of gal, so while the torture going on in detention centers by Iraqis isn't good, the democracy used to find out about it and expose it, is. via Iraq the Model

"Keeping an eye to prevent such atrocities is rather difficult but at least having an opposition guarantees that that when they happen, there will be people to expose them, speak out and demand justice and this incident proved that democracy and freedom of speech are the real protectors of the people and not this minister or that official."

How did this all work out in Saddam's days again?