Posted on 06/13/2004 5:17:37 AM PDT by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON — Weeks before U.S. military investigators began uncovering evidence of mistreatment of detainees, commanders at the Abu Ghraib prison launched a crackdown on alcohol abuse and told intelligence troops that guards were suspected of soliciting sex from Iraqi prostitutes, according to soldiers and officers who worked at the compound.
(Excerpt) Read more at story.news.yahoo.com ...
Another American civilian contractor was killed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this morning with the ragheads citing abuse of Muslim prisioners as cause for the murder.
Anybody with half a brain (I know that doesn't include liberals) can see this for what it is.
WASHINGTON — Weeks before U.S. military investigators began uncovering evidence of mistreatment of detainees, commanders at the Abu Ghraib prison launched a crackdown on alcohol abuse and told intelligence troops that guards were suspected of soliciting sex from Iraqi prostitutes, according to soldiers and officers who worked at the compound.
What a shock!!! Soldiers are accused of drinking and soliciting prostitutes! This has NEVER happened before, so it must be Bush's fault and/or official administration/pentagon policy.
The real story is one both the left and right want to hide from: The crimes at Abu Ghriab were perpetrated by a group that were almost all U.S. LEO reservists. The heavy drinking and whoring are also signs that it was cops and screws with "issues" that are at the core of the problem. Nobody, left or right, wants to disturb the police state gravy train.
Where is PFC Matthew Maupin? Does anyone in the media care about him? He is a U.S. soldier who was captured almost 2 months ago-there was a video tape released. I have not heard about this kid at all in the media since his capture and we should be keeping him in the front of stories so that he stands half a chance of survival. But of course, let's constantly focus on sex and alcohol because that's what sells, right?
"Polls a week ago showed the public wasn't interested in Abu any more."
Correct. They/we are not interested. Let's face it, it wasn't that much of a story to begin with. I find it hard to beleive the media are even still talking about this. The more they talk, the less we listen.
The only thing Bush needs to worry about is that Iraq doesn't go totally down the toilet after the June 30th handover. If it is even in as good shape as now it will not hurt him. If it is a mess, that will hurt.
The whole Abu thing, it is a nothingness.
If there was drinking and prostitution, then it appears to me that the officer(s) providing leadership at Abu Ghraib were not providing leadership and were not engaged in running the place as they should have been.
"What a shock!!! Soldiers are accused of drinking and soliciting prostitutes! This has NEVER happened before. . ."
My thoughts exactly. The POINT is that the chain of command is appropriately handling it.
Hate to burst you bubble, but drinking and hiring a prostitute are not crimes. The Chain of Command can do a lot to discourage such activity, including taking such activity into account at promotion time, but it can not be stopped. It has existed since "Christ was a corporal" and will not end any time soon.
Since the excerpted part of the article does not indicate "on-duty" [which has always been a crime under the UCMJ - dereliction of duty], I assume it is off-duty activity.
You're simplification of "if it effects on-duty performance" is too easy. Lack of sleep because a soldier watches a late night movie will have an impact on his/her performance the next day.
A soldier's commander may take measures when problems arise (such as continued excessive drinking which impacts performance), but such activities, as described, are far from being crimes in and of themselves (even under the UCMJ).
Also, you have overlooked the intent of my original post [which was blatantly obvious!].
I hope he is alive.
It's amazing how people read the same things and derive different meanings. I'm not going to argue over semantics. I stand by my post. You stand by yours. Bye.
Drinking is a crime in Iraq...violation of General Order 1...issued by Gen Sanchez....hubby (1sgt) has given several Article 15's for this when troops get a hold of bootleg alcohol........and PLEASE do not send alcohol to our troops in care packages.
BUSH: Make sure there's plenty of booze and prostitution at that prison, you hear?
RUMSFELD: Great idea, Mr. President! I'll order it at once.
BUSH: And stop trying to suck up to me. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's a yes-man.
RUMSFELD: Yes sir! I agree, sir!
So you feel the "moral outrage" of the LA Slimes as well??
yeah right...commanders know that their men are doing wrong...so instead of stopping them and taking care of matters STAT and 'inhouse'...they just sit back let 'er just keep rolling along and report it to the intel people...
So what are they doing? Getting the prisoners drunk and then photographing them with panties on their heads? Sounds more like a frat party than a torture chamber.
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