Posted on 08/25/2004 11:00:28 AM PDT by GulliverSwift
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry called today for Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign and urged President George Bush to appoint an independent group to recommend reforms after a report faulted all levels of the military for abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
Its not just the little person at the bottom who ought to pay the price of responsibility, Kerry said at a Philadelphia union hall. The buck doesnt stop at the Pentagon.
A report released yesterday by an independent panel led by former Defence Secretary James Schlesinger concluded that senior US military leaders in Iraq and the Pentagon could be faulted for inattention to prisoner abuses, but it did not recommend that Rumsfeld step down.
What is missing from all these reports is accountability from the senior civilian leaders in the Pentagon and in the White House, Kerry said.
From the bottom of the chain of command all the way to the top, there needs to be accountability. The Schlesinger report makes clear that Secretary Rumsfeld was responsible for setting a climate where these types of abuses could occur.
Kerry said an independent investigation should review the decision-making process that led to the abuses and provide comprehensive reforms to ensure abuses do not recur.
The time has come for our commander in chief to take charge, he said.
"Look how well I can salute. Rumsfeld can't do that."
Then I suppose he should quit for the war crimes he admitted committing.
Yo Ketchupman, trying to change the subject away from your lying, traitorous past and present actions, huh?
What happened at Abu Ghraib is secondary to the prosecution of the war effort. Why Mr. Kerry would want to derail our war effort just to make a few brownie points on the Abu Ghraib controversy is beyond me.
Pathetic.
If I cared at all for him, I would be embarassed for him.
How long does Rumsfeld have if the Americans are foolish enough to elect its royal highness Terrorayza as co-president? A few months?
And if he resigns today, that will make a difference, how??
Yes, lets trump up Abu Ghraib again, keep beating those drums.
Perhaps you can cover what a lying, boasting, bloviating braggart you are.
I'm sure Kerry would distort the military records, just like he did in 'Nam.
"Rumsfeld asked officers in Iraq to think of the funnest ways to torture prisoners."
Quick, somebody post the Aw Jeez guy. At least the Grab an Arab guards didn't cut off ears and heads and zap people's genitals, Mr. Kerry--remember the stuff you witnessed and participated in in Vietnam. What a schmuck.
So much Washington "theater", much like the useless 9/11 Commission.
Senator, the voters of America want you to step down
In fact, being a US Senator at the time of the Abu Ghraib incident, Kerry is also partially responsible. He should resign and decline any other public office.
What happened at Abu Graih amounted to hazing. The fodder Kerry gave the North Vietnamese during his 1971 testimony before the Sen. FR Comm. amounted to treason.
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As Kerry selfs destructs, can anyone tell me if there has ever been a presidential nominee who fled the country prior to the general election, or will this be a first?
Funniest thing to me about all of Kerry's latest "issues", there are no, I mean no, other elected Dems backing him up.
At least I haven't heard or seen any.
Cleland doesn't count because he's not an elected Dem anymore. Podesta doesn't count. Donna Brazille or Carville don't count.
I'm talking folks like "deeply saddened Tommy", or Big Teddy, even Hillary or Billary. Nobody around seems to be echoing Kerry's sentiments or delusions. He seems isolated from his party.
He may be the first with a horde of Rats to follow.
Kerry must be falling like a rock in their internal polling. They have smacked of desparation for two plus days now.
BTW, the commision that released the report said it would be terrible for the country if the defense secretary resigned over this.
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