Posted on 05/05/2005 8:10:56 PM PDT by No Longer Free State
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A one-star Army Reserve general became the first high-level military officer punished in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal on Thursday when President Bush demoted her to the rank of colonel.
Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski was disciplined after Army leaders deemed her job performance "seriously lacking" and accused her of concealing a past shoplifting arrest.
The Army said in a statement Karpinski had been reduced in rank to colonel, although an investigation by the Army inspector general's office "determined that no action or lack of action on her part contributed specifically to the abuse of detainees at Abu Ghraib."
Karpinski said last year she was being used as a "convenient scapegoat" for detainee abuse that was the fault of others.
The announcement came 13 days after Army officials disclosed the Army had exonerated Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the former top U.S. commander in Iraq, as well as three other senior officers.
The publication a year ago of photographs depicting U.S. forces abusing prisoners at Abu Ghraib on the outskirts of Baghdad triggered international criticism of the United States. Numerous additional cases of detainee abuse have since surfaced.
Karpinski had commanded the 800th Military Police Brigade at the heart of the Abu Ghraib abuse. Previous investigations found Karpinski feuded with the head of the military intelligence unit at the prison, contributing to an atmosphere of chaos.
Bush approved a recommendation to demote Karpinski on the advice of Army and Army Reserve leaders and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the Army said. It added Karpinski would not face criminal charges.
STOLEN COSMETICS
A U.S. official who asked not to be identified said Karpinski failed to inform the Army as required when filling out an official document about an earlier arrest on an Air Force base in the United States on a misdemeanor charge of stealing less than $50 worth of cosmetics from a military store.
Asked how Army investigators looking into detainee abuse learned of her shoplifting arrest, the official said, "Somebody ratted her out."
The Army confirmed what officials said previously -- that Karpinski received a formal written reprimand from the Army's No. 2 general and was relieved from command of the brigade. It also said Army leaders found that allegations of dereliction of duty by Karpinski were "substantiated."
The Army, which had been accused by human rights activists of punishing only a handful of low-ranking soldiers involved in the physical abuse and sexual humiliation of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison, also said it had taken disciplinary action against other officers in connection with detainee abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan.
They included a colonel, four lieutenant colonels, three majors, 10 captains, four 1st lieutenants and two 2nd lieutenants, the Army added, declining to identify them.
Five of the officers, none with a rank higher than captain, faced unspecified criminal charges, but most of the discipline was administrative punishment such as a formal letter of reprimand or a discharge from the military, the Army said.
In the latest military trial stemming from Abu Ghraib, a judge at Fort Hood, Texas, declared a mistrial on Wednesday in the case of Army Pfc. Lynndie England, who was photographed holding a naked Iraqi prisoner on a leash, after evidence at her trial undermined her guilty plea deal with prosecutors.
Long overdue.......BUMP
Worthless Clintoon Female Dog!
Affirmative action in action.
This person brings disgrace on MP general officers Like Evelyn P. Foote and others.
Scum should be put in a cell in a 68 Oldsmobile driven by teddy the swimmer.
Getting the Sara Lister aura and penumbra, the phantom of Clintonoids past rattling chains.
And that is entirely appropriate. Not doing your job properly is not a crime, but may be a subject for disciplinary action. Anyone who actually knew what was going on, and didn't either stop it or report it up the chain of command, is an accessory to the crime, if crime there be of course, and is subject to criminal penalties.
The General Colonel failed to do her job properly. Pfc. Lynndie England's sperm donor committed a crime by ordering those under him to commit one. (Again, if crime there be). The underlings who obeyed those orders probably committed a crime also, but if it was not completely clear that it was a crime, then they were only guilty of ignorance, because enlisted personnel must obey orders unless they know them to be illegal.
In the military, just as in business, when a serious crime occurs, the person at the top NEEDS to lose their job. This is not being made "scapegoat", it is being made to be accountable for one's lack of ability in doing the task they were entrusted for.
Does anyone know if this affects her pension? I remember somebody posting that a military person is able to petition to have the pension restored to the higher rank after a set period after retirement.
I have a better solution. Once the Iraqi government stabilizes, send her to Iraq and let the Iraqis try her.
PIng for your list
fyi
Granted I only have 15 years civilian service at a couple different military installations, but I haven't had much use for folks higher than Lt. Col. I haven't met a Colonel. or higher who wasn't a political animal in the extreme. Certainly on the field of battle things are different, but administratively they stink.
Beloved (No Longer Free State) posted this and frankly it is difficult for me to top his remarks in comment one. What really outrages me (and my beloved) about this wench, that she shop lifted and it fell between the cracks. How dare she remain in the military after deceiving the military.
For those who only look into the military via articles or threads like this one, if a young enlisted person were to shoplift, write a bad check they will be offered a deal with the stipulation that you keep your nose clean. If an Officer does the same, it is go to prison, do not collect 200.00 smacharooos!
I really REALLY am angry about the developments given in this interview. Her previous behavior should have impacted the punishment given.
While the demotion is fitting punishment I would wager a bet that she will be first interviewed by a left leaning overseas publication. Up until now she has only offered a few stateside interviews and they to were left leaning publications.
-FMC **Outraged in the Heartland**
It was nominal, but, as you have worked with soldier's who go down that wrong path, for most who would like another chance to remain in the military they must prove themselves, the idea that she was a leader and omitted this from the military really ticks me off.
Pathetic, a US general, this is what the late great U.S. military has come to. Whaddaya expect when you water down the standards in order to maintain the farce of women in the military. Oh, sure it's great to drool over a GI with fine Jugs mudwrestling on MTV. But let's get real: women do not belong in combat. I think Iraq has shown that time after itme.
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