[Steel Wolf]

Did the oath she pledged when she joined the US Military mention anything about having an obligation to protect third country nationals?

Sure does. We can't leave wounded enemy on the battlefield, much less allies. If by 'protect' you mean 'not divulge classified informatin', then yes, that's true too. However, there is no indication that she's been covering for anyone. To hear her tell it, she didn't know anything anyway.

If Israeli contractors participated in, or directed, any of these illegal interogations, do you wish to see them "take it like a man"?

I expect her to STFU until the investigation runs its course. She's deliberately avoiding the procedures because she thinks she's in trouble, an option that people of lower rank do not have. This is a horrific breach of military discipline, and shows her deep disregard for the justice she'd expect others to stand to.

If seniors at the Pentagon knowingly hired such poeple to lead these interogations of this nature, do you wish to see them "take it like men" too?

After the investigation, we'll know for sure. If anything glaring is left out AFTER the investigatin, like the presence of Israel interrogators, then that would be a good time to bring it up. Doing it now is flat out inappropriate.

As so many supported the techniques (techniques the President felt obligated to apologize for),

There is nothing wrong with sleep dep or stress positions. Those are some of the most gentle physical interrogation methods around, and have been considered perfectly legal interrogator SOP for the last 50 years.

why would they be at all embarrassed about having the identities of all the particpants in the public record?

1 - It's not what she's saying, but how. By trying to circumvent the investigation, and appeal to the public, she's saying that she doesn't trust the military to give her justice. She's also saying it's better to damage the dignity of her rank, the reputation of her service, and credibility of the nation, than to take her chances in court. That's a message that a general has no business giving those below her.

2 - Many, many countries, on many, many different issues, agree to help us, in secret. The mere presence of an Israeli interrogator doesn't mean anything more than he was there. Unless you are under the impression that the Israelis routinely put underwear on the heads of leashed prisoners, I don't see what the point of mentioning them would be, other than to muddy the waters.

[contessa machiaveli]

there are a few other generals who have been excoriated ....they have taken responsibility and blamed no one but themselves, and most importantly kept their mouths closed. they are heros, karpinski is a take no responsibility cry baby.

she even had her priest write a letter in her favor after this hit the fan.

waaaa, waaaa, waaaaaa.

[mr.pink]

I appreciate you response. You make some excellent points.

However your final points (1 & 2) I have some disagreements with, and I will reply to those later on.

Thanks.

[VeritatisSplendor]

There is nothing wrong with sleep dep or stress positions. Those are some of the most gentle physical interrogation methods around, and have been considered perfectly legal interrogator SOP for the last 50 years.

I'm confused. If a prisoner objects to sleep deprivation and "stress positions", and refuses to cooperate, resisting passively (simply slumping rather than standing as directed, closing his eyes), what measures are taken against him? Is pain inflicted upon the prisoner, or not?

[mr.pink]

Sorry for the delay to respond....hope you had a good 4th.

re: your closing points 1 & 2.

I re-read point 1 again, and understand your position.

as to 2:

2 - Many, many countries, on many, many different issues, agree to help us, in secret.

Of course, but it's important to keep a careful eye on those "helping us" relative to where each particular nation's self interests diverge with ours. Israel's agenda, goals, and timetables relative to America's WOT are very different...in some cases dangerously so for our fighting men and women, and often absolutely disasterous in terms of our long term ME plans.

2 - The mere presence of an Israeli interrogator doesn't mean anything more than he was there.

Again that's true, and it's also true that Israel is one of the few nations with a large pool of Arab language speaking people to utilize. But again, the question becomes which nation's agenda are these people working towards acheiving? That matters very much to me.

2 - Unless you are under the impression that the Israelis routinely put underwear on the heads of leashed prisoners, I don't see what the point of mentioning them would be, other than to muddy the waters.

You might like to read up on Israeli interrogation/torture techniques. I know I'm not the only person who when he first saw the photos thought "this is disturbingly Israeli". With their history of these types of techniques, one could hardly call it "muddying the waters" to mention it.

In closing I'll just say that I think it's of the utmost importance to pay attention to what each of our nation's are looking to achieve and that those who believe both nation's are woking from the same gameplan are foolish.

The most important question now (as I see it anyway), is whether Isreal wants to see a stablized post war Iraq....IMO, the answer is no they do not. IMO what it wants is an expanded American war accelerated according to their timetable, not ours.