Posted on 05/18/2005 6:35:32 AM PDT by Cougr
FORT HOOD, Texas — An Army reservist tearfully apologized for her role in the Abu Ghraib (search) prison scandal, saying she failed in her duties and took full responsibility for her actions. Spc. Sabrina Harman's (search) voice cracked as she spoke during the hearing, where she was sentenced to six months in prison for mistreating detainees. "As a soldier and military police officer, I failed my duties and failed my mission to protect and defend," said Harman, 27. "I not only let down the people in Iraq, but I let down every single soldier that serves today. "My actions potentially caused an increased hatred and insurgency towards the United States, putting soldiers and civilians at greater risk," she continued. "I take full responsibility for my actions. ... The decisions I made were mine and mine alone." Harman was the second low-level soldier... (full story http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,156890,00.html )
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I have one comment. However, since it would have the unintended effect of bunching a lot of people's panties, I'll just keep it to myself.
I'm still wondering about this whole story. On one hand I'm angry about the abuse, but then again when our civilian contractors and soldiers are hung from bridges.. a few pictures don't seem so bad. We always hold ourselves to a higher standard but I believe sometimes that standard is what makes us vulnerable.
No, please speak what's on your mind. That's what we're here for.
If those people had just been shot, everything would have been fine.
Abu Ghraib need never have occurred.
It is commendable that she is taking responsibility for her action, regardless of what others did or however they may have contributed to her actions - whether superiors or otherwise. In her statement, she is not blaming others for her actions, going forward, I wish her the best.
I completely agree with taking responsiblity for her actions. I'm happy to hear that someone is putting blame on the person in the mirror. It's about time. I'm sick of the whole, "It's always someone else's fault" mentality that's creeping into our society.
Abuse is dropping the bastards into giant woodchippers.
Humiliating murderous Jihadis is nothing.
This whole episode was a travesty.
Next time, boys and girls, just shoot em.
Master Sgt. Brian Lipinski, who served with Harman's unit, said she was widely known by her first name and her kind deeds among those living in Hillah."She presented a very positive image, a very caring image," Lipinski testified. "They were a country very much in need and she filled some of the gaps."
Two Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib, whose testimony was read into the record, said Harman's gentle treatment was unique among the guards in the part of the prison reserved mostly for detainees believed to have intelligence value.
"She has no cruelty in her," Amjad Ismail Khalil al-Taie said through an interpreter. "Even though she is an American woman, she was just like a sister."
You don't like the 'positive' aspect they put on the story?
OK I want to hear the comment too.
While I am not sympathetic to the prisoners AT ALL, (and I am mindful of what they do to our people if they catch them) the antics of this unit gave a moral black-eye to our military and has made the lives of our troops all that much harder..
When you stop to consider that this thing was broken open by a lowly PFC who did NOT go through his Chain of Command, but rather anonomously slid the pics under the door of CID, that tells you everything you need to know about this Unit, and their discipline. Complte failure from the top on down.
I'd sack the lot, from the Officers on down, if for NO other reason that some of these idots thought it was a cute and good idea to take pictures and film.
These people are too STUPID to be in our military.
Beheading is also on the ok to do list as well.
But this defendant is making all the right noises - so much so that you wonder if it's too right.
she is making quite the case.. but be careful to run down that road of "damned if you do, damned if you don't" I mean if she had taken the opposite stance we'd all be saying "WHY DON'T YOU TAKE RESPONSIBLITY!!" But you're right - after all the comments from the rest of the folks involved saying quite the opposite.
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