BG Janis Karpinski, EX-Commander of the 800th MP Bde cries "IT'S A CONSPIRACY!"

Sierra Vista Herald, Sierra Vista Arizona (AP Story) ^ | 9/05/04 | JIM KRANE

[headsonpikes]

She was a commissar, not a real soldier.

A political tool and creature.

[mylife]

"shut up Karpinski, and take it like a man!"

[monday]

She is right. It is a conspiracy. She was not even physically present at Abu-Gharib. The prison was under command of a Colonel in Military Intelligence. Military Police having a commander which is not also MP is against military protocol. Mistakes made by the colonel and the brass who assigned him to Abu-Gharib are being blamed on Karpinski.

I don't really feel sorry for Karpinski. She knew going in that this is pretty much standard operating procedure for the military. Whenever the $hit hits the fan, a scape goat must be designated. Her bad luck that in this case it turned out to be her.

[RichInOC]

"Hoooooogaaan!!!"

[Warrior Nurse]

She is a Clinton General need I say more?

[King Prout]

ROFLMAO!

[Gunrunner2]

Commanders have GSU's all the time (geographic separated units). No big deal. Commanders in those situations understand their responsibilities and duty and make the effort to establish presence.

If she was aware of the abuse and says there was nothing she could do, she is being less than truthful.

She has UCMJ authority and is empowered to enforce rules, regulations and guidelines. If she was unable to function as a commander she should have elevated the problem up the chain, and if that failed, she should have resigned.

If she is saying it all happened without her knowledge, she is admitting incompetence.

As the in-country prison commander she had the responsibility to visit all her locations, inspect them, establish and maintain discipline. She was to COMMAND, not sit in an office somewhere and play video games.

She failed in her duty as a commander.

She should be punished for it.

No "conspiracy."

The fact she is trying to weasel out of her responsibility further demonstrates her unfitness to command.

[Gunrunner2]

Better re-read what I wrote there, Bucko, as I never defended her actions, never agreed that officers should be exempt, and support HER punishment (you will be hard-pressed to find any officer that supports Karpo's exoneration).

What I objected to was your allegation that somehow it is policy (conspiracy) to get all officers off the hook for wrong-doing. That allegation is simply not true.

In fact, an enlisted guy receiving an Article 15 is not that big a deal, as they can recover from it; whereas an officer receiving the same Article 15 will result in a career killed.

Now, have a nice day, as this thread has run its course.

Buh-by.

[monday]

"She failed in her duty as a commander."

Perhaps, but she wasn't the only one. She was simply the most expendable. Like I said. I don't really care, she knew what she was getting into when she joined the military.

[mylife]

L0L!

Thats one ugly woman isnt it?

Inside and out.

[RichInOC]

When this story broke and I first saw pictures of her, I thought she reminded me of Lotte Lenya as Rosa Klebb in "From Russia With Love". Then when she started trying to defend herself by saying she had no control over what was going on, I looked again and realized she bore a striking resemblance, both in looks and spirit, to Wilhelm Klink from "Hogan's Heroes". What a buffoon.

[SandRat]

Gunrunner2 said it best in a later reply.

"Commanders have GSU's all the time (geographic separated units). No big deal. Commanders in those situations understand their responsibilities and duty and make the effort to establish presence.

If she was aware of the abuse and says there was nothing she could do, she is being less than truthful.

She has UCMJ authority and is empowered to enforce rules, regulations and guidelines. If she was unable to function as a commander she should have elevated the problem up the chain, and if that failed, she should have resigned.

If she is saying it all happened without her knowledge, she is admitting incompetence.

As the in-country prison commander she had the responsibility to visit all her locations, inspect them, establish and maintain discipline. She was to COMMAND, not sit in an office somewhere and play video games.

She failed in her duty as a commander.

She should be punished for it."

In the initial report that was release evidence was posted that she was "Willfully Derelict in the performance of her assigned duties" and as the courts martial of the others come to pass additional evidence will come to light in the courts martial records to put her in in front of her own courts martial - becoming the first flag officer since Adm Kimmel and Gen Short to face a courts martial. As a retired officer just let me say that from what I've read so far of the findings that have been released she deserves it. No "conspiracy." The fact she is trying to weasel out of her responsibility further demonstrates her unfitness to command.