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Posted on 08/24/2004 6:26:24 PM PDT by hope
By Charles Aldinger and Philip Blenkinsop
WASHINGTON/MANNHEIM (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld came under fire on Tuesday from a high-level inquiry into the Abu Ghraib prison scandal but a U.S. military judge ruled he did not have to testify at a trial arising from the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
A four-member panel headed by former Defense Secretary James Schlesinger issued a report accusing the chain of command from Rumsfeld down of leadership failures that created conditions for the abuse late last year that sparked anti-American outrage across the world.
Schlesinger described the events at the U.S.-run Baghdad prison as "'Animal House' on the night shift," a reference to a 1970s U.S. film about riotous behavior at a student boarding house.
But he said it was clear that Rumsfeld had issued no orders for the mistreatment of prisoners and direct responsibility ended with field commanders in Iraq.
"Command failures were compounded by poor advice provided by staff officers with responsibility for overseeing battlefield functions related to detention and interrogation operations," said the report, commissioned by Rumsfeld in May.
"Military and civilian leaders at the Pentagon share this burden of responsibility."
Seven military police personnel have been charged so far in connection with the abuse at Abu Ghraib, which became public in April when photographs emerged of naked, hooded Iraqi prisoners being sexually humiliated and threatened with dogs.
In Mannheim, Germany, the judge hearing some of the cases dismissed a motion brought by one of the accused, Sgt. Javal Davis, to force Rumsfeld to testify.
"I fail to see a connection between this group and the authorities in Washington. I'm not saying there is no link, but you have not shown sufficient evidence," said Judge James Pohl.
One of Davis's lawyers, Paul Bergrin, referred to memos which he said showed Rumsfeld had approved hooding and stripping prisoners, who could also be put in stress positions and subjected to "physical conduct."
RUMSFELD "APPROVED TECHNIQUES"
BS liars.
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I question the "timing" of this. . .
I heard Schlessinger read the findings live on the radio today. They led in by saying his panel found Rumsfeld responsible. Schlessinger started reading their numbered findings and re-emphasizing each one. They were so totally favorable to Rumsfeld the radio station cut away after four or five findings, and the reporter had to acknowledge what was just said. Schlesinger found without a doubt these were hijinks done for entertainment by what he called the "night shift" at the prison. Had nothing to do with intelligence gathering.
Connecting Rumsfeld to Abu-Grabag is as easy as connecting anybody to Kevin Bacon.
Oh, wait. That's not harsh enough.
Put panties on his head!
That'll learn 'im.
heh-heh..
The person responsible was the female General who was derelict in her duties. I will include those soldiers who acted without orders. They are all probably card carrying democrats, instructed by the DNC to stir up trouble for President Bush. The dems keep on trying and falling on their swords. Bush/Cheney 2004
That is a bunch of you know what. Pardon my language. The persons responsible for the abuse are the ones who did the abuse and who allowed it and who were there.
The report blaming Rumsfeld is bogus. Rumsfeld is one heck of a man to put up with this crap. Rumsfeld is another man of character and integrity. I admire and respect that man and thank God for him in the Bush Administration. Oh well, he can take it.
However,That 9-11 panel was a joke from beginning to end and still is. They need to be investigated themselves! they are nothing but a committee of pompous, arrogant old windbags all of them. Who says THEY are all doing their jobs the right way? Maybe we should investigate THEM how they do their jobs and some of the results from their actions and THEN do a witch hunt on them!!! Yes, that's all the 9-11 panel was a witch hunt and a chance for the windbags to showboat in front of the cameras. Shame on them. They should be ashamed of themselves but...look at the panel members...they probably don't have any shame. None of them. They are a laugh a minute and a disgrace to boot!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our President defends America and this group of know nothings looks to put blame on everyone in the administration. Disgusting. Shameless.
They should be downright thanking the Almighty that President Bush and his Administration of Adults were at the helm and not the likes of clintin, gore and kerry.
Amazing how all this stuff just happens to come out now that the Republican Convention is starting in a few days.
Pure BS. Whoever was DIRECTLY in charge of the nightshift was to blame, unless some higher-up new about or ordered it.
These reporters should apologize! We demand an apology!
Please God, let's hear from our POWs from Viet Nam.
Please God, let them speak loud and clear as to what
they endure when they were prisoners of war.....
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