Posted on 06/10/2004 11:51:45 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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| Rumsfeld May Widen Scope of Iraq Abuse Probe Thu Jun 10, 2004 02:13 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld may widen the investigation into abuses of Iraqi prisoners to include top military ranks, and has also ordered that he be told about the death of any prisoner in U.S. military custody, officials said on Thursday. Under past practice, some military prison deaths were not even reported to the army medical examiner's office. Rumsfeld is also considering a request made this week by Central Command head Army Gen. John Abizaid, commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, to replace a two-star Army general investigating the abuse scandal, defense officials said. The move would replace Maj. Gen. George Fay with a more senior general and open the way for questioning of top U.S. officers to help determine who is responsible for the scandal. Under Army regulations, Fay, whose report had been expected this month, is prohibited from questioning officers above his rank. The officials, who asked not to be identified, said the report could be delayed for a month if Rumsfeld gives his approval, as expected. Separately, the Pentagon said Rumsfeld had instituted new rules for investigations of any deaths of prisoners held by the U.S. military. The Army said last month it was investigating the deaths of 32 prisoners in Iraq and another five in Afghanistan since August 2002, but autopsies were performed in only 23 of the cases. The new rules require the commander of a military unit with custody of a prisoner to immediately report any death to the investigative agencies of the service involved, which will then inform the Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner. That office will decide whether an autopsy is needed. In addition, the top officer in a region -- Abizaid in the case of Iraq and Afghanistan -- must notify the defense secretary of any death of an enemy prisoner of war, civilian internee or any other person in U.S. military custody, the Pentagon said. 'LACK OF CLARITY' "There was some lack of clarity into who was supposed to notify whom, and this is just putting it back into the perspective that everybody's working off the same sheet of music," said Perry Bishop, a Pentagon spokesman. Bishop said some recent deaths were never reported to the medical examiner's office. The Pentagon said the changes were part of an effort to "strengthen policies and eliminate procedural weaknesses that have come to light as a result of the deplorable events at Abu Ghraib prison." Seven U.S. soldiers have been charged with abusing and humiliating Iraqis at that prison, and several investigations are underway into the U.S. military's detention and interrogation procedures. Fay has been investigating not only the abuse at Abu Ghraib by military police, but to what extent U.S. military intelligence officers might have been involved in either ordering the abuse or taking part in it. Military police, one of whom has already pleaded guilty and been sentenced to a year in prison, have said they were obeying orders. Pentagon officials also confirmed a New York Times report that Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the ground commander in Iraq, had taken the unusual step of asking to be removed as the reviewing authority for Fay's report and requesting that higher-ranking officers be appointed to conduct and review the investigation. Sanchez, who last year ordered military intelligence to take control of Abu Ghraib, has denied any knowledge of the abuse before the scandal broke early this year. |
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The beating of the dead horse continues.
Totally. I aint even gonna read it.
Thanks for the headline, Rumsfeld. Now the talking heads will reopen the dialogue. Can you say regurgitate?
How many panties, and whose were they?
WHY? There's no use. Let the subject die a quick death.
I wouldn't be so critical of Rumsfeld, I think he's showing that those responsible will be held accountable. That is what seperates him from the liberals.
It's like he noticed the Dems were almost out of gas and bought 'em a new tank full.
I've had it with this prisoner "abuse" story. I've come down with the perspective that this wasn't "torture," it was "hazing." In my view, the prison guards were working to break down the resistance of these prisoners by humilitating them ("humiliation" apparently being the worst thing someone can do an Arab) so they'd squeal on their fellow terrorists still at large. Rather than rake these soldiers over the coals, we should have given them all a medal.
Agreed. And what better time to make an announcement like this than during a week were all eyes are on the Reagan memorials.
OK, I've reconsidered. You're both right.
It's amazing to me that this abuse story is being reported in America all the time but in Iraq, it's almost none. They couldn't care less and know the truth. What the US prison guards did to prisoners was a joke compared to Saddam's treatment. And, he wasn't at war with his own people. In war, sometimes you have to get information from the enemy at all costs. It saves American lives. I know, I know... the American press does not care if Americans die. Just that the enemy is comfortable.
Time to give "hazing" a rest.
Actually, the American press is ROOTING for U.S. troop casualties so they can continue their 'drip, drip, drip' reporting of bad news...and hoping GWB's administration dies the death of a thousand cuts. And as for the enemy's comfort level... heck, the Press wants them to win. Remember how they howled that Afghanistan was going to be a quagmire back in 2001? Oops, never mind, on to the next thing. The "American" press....they ARE the enemy.
Do not ever make any other assumption. Assume the worst.
New Torture Furor
A Defense Dept. memo provides a legal roadmap for prisoner interrogation
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