Sergeant Says Intelligence Directed Abuse

Washington Post ^ | Josh White and Scott Higham

[TexKat]

Sgt. Samuel Provance, from the 302nd Military Intelligence Battalion stationed at Abu Ghraib last September.

[RolandBurnam]

congratulations media, we are now fighting ourselves when we should be fighting the enemy.

[NavyCaptain]

SO?

[Huck]

OH my gosh. I am so shocked and disgusted....not.

[Naspino]

Yeah -- it kind of makes me feel better knowing our intelligence wouldn't submit to PCness. I still doubt it though.

[JennysCool]

Who was it said "military intelligence" was a contradiction in terms?

[Old Sarge]

Who was it said "military intelligence" was a contradiction in terms?

A Democrat who protested Vietnam.

[Bombard]

This guy was strictly support. He set up computer networks and that was all. He say that he was told this by others. This is very lame and questionable at best. The press grabs for straws.

[JennysCool]

John Kerry? :-)

[ASA Vet]

Who was it said "military intelligence" was a contradiction in terms?

Someone who didn't have a clue.

[JennysCool]

The press grabs for straws.

Their support for Kerry leaves them little choice.

[Williams]

I agree. The American people are being duped into abandoning the Iraqis to chaos, civil war, terrorism, and ultimately worse abuse and despotism. Just like Southeast Asia. the liberals and media care absolutely ZERO for the Iraqis. They care only about a U.S. defeat.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

So Sgt Provence does whatever someone tells him to do? I doubt this is his idea. It sounds like the idea of his civilian attorney who wants to try to invalidate all his training concerning legal and illegal orders to get him off the hook. Guess what? It won't work.

[Dr. Frank fan]

Sgt. Samuel Provance said intelligence interrogators told military police to strip down prisoners and embarrass them as a way to help "break" them.

"strip down" and "embarrass" - that I can believe.

"naked homo pyramid" and "forced sodomy" still sounds like the invention of some sicko guard however.

[Klaus D. Deore]

So Sgt Provence does whatever someone tells him to do? I doubt this is his idea. It sounds like the idea of his civilian attorney who wants to try to invalidate all his training concerning legal and illegal orders to get him off the hook. Guess what? It won't work.

You're right of course, but if this was directed by higher-ups, surely the grunts shouldn't be the only ones taking the fall.

Actually... I think the whole thing is blown way out of proportion - Humiliated Iraqi Prisoners?? Ohh the inhumanity! </sarc

[beckett]

Provance was part of that military intelligence operation but was not an interrogator. He said he administered a secret computer network at Abu Ghraib for about six months and did not witness abuse. But Provance said he had numerous discussions with members of the 205th Military Intelligence Brigade about their tactics in the prison.

The guy is a computer programmer. He witnessed nothing and all his statements are hearsay only.

Guaranteed this is a put up job and he's a flaming Democrat.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Sgt. Putz?

[ClearCase_guy]

Bob Woodward is working on a book: "I sat with President Bush and watched as he dialed the phone.

"Sgt. Provance?', said the President. 'I understand you're to be torturing Iraqis today. I just thought I'd mention that they hate that underwear trick. Be sure to use that one, OK? Anybody asks you where you came up with such a great idea, tell 'em it was me, right? That one is my idea -- and don't you forget it! Have a great day.'"

[Tallguy]

Gary R. Myers, a civilian lawyer representing one of seven MPs charged in the alleged abuse, Staff Sgt. Ivan L. "Chip" Frederick II, said his client does not claim he was ordered to abuse detainees, just that military intelligence outlined what should be done and then left it up to the MPs.

This is their defense? They are gonna have to do better than this or they're gonna need Johnny Cochran to start slinging the BS around to make this strategy work.

I also find it interesting that this admission was buried deep in the article. It's probably the pivot around which this whole case will turn:

Did you have orders? No.

< Gavel Bangs > GUILTY!

But, but....!

[Williams]

Well, we may not like it but would stripping prisoners or even putting underwear on them be illegal? I'm not sure I have a big problem with imprisoning a terrorist naked to break him down. If the American people take a break from the breathless news coverage, they won't either.

Does anyone realize what they are doing by suggesting that we must be completely nice to these people?