WP: Top Brass Won't Be Charged Over Abuse ("responsible, not culpable")

[DeepModem Mom]

Top Brass Won't Be Charged Over Abuse
Army Reports Find Officers Responsible, but Not Culpable, in the Abu Ghraib Scandal

By Josh White and Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, August 27, 2004; Page A17


The dramatic leadership failures revealed by two investigations into the abuse of Iraqi detainees will haunt the Army for months or even years as defense attorneys explore them in court in attempts to mitigate accusations and ease punishments for more than a score who could be charged, military legal experts said yesterday.

But the senior officers cited for indirectly allowing the abuse to flourish at the Abu Ghraib prison will not face charges under the findings of an Army report issued this week -- a fact that three Army generals explained and defended yesterday in interviews. Those in the U.S. command structure who failed to supervise their subordinates, who handed down unclear and in some cases illegal policies, and who ignored signs of abuse were found in Army reports to be "responsible" for the problems but not "culpable" because they did not have a direct hand in the mistreatment.

"That's the differentiation that's being made," Gen. Paul J. Kern -- who supervised the Army's most recent investigation, by Marine Gen. George R. Fay and Lt. Gen. Anthony R. Jones -- said in an interview yesterday with Washington Post editors and reporters. "Are we letting them off the hook? I don't think so. In fact, we put the spotlight on them and said, 'You didn't do your job right.' "

Two investigative reports released this week detailed a wider scope of abuse at Abu Ghraib than was previously known, involving military intelligence soldiers, consistent use of illegal tactics and a collapsed leadership -- findings that could begin to receive heavy play in a courtroom as soon as Monday, when one MP charged with abuse is scheduled to reappear at a preliminary hearing at Fort Bragg, N.C....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36943-2004Aug26.html

[cthrumatrix]

1. that's the teflon theme for shrub's admin....never accountable

[wurzel]

2. Biggest white wash since the Warren Commission.

No question: The lower orders will pay. The upper orders will walk.

[rvgwinn]

3. ARE YOU

SURPRISED?????????

[wurzel]

14. I am surprised at how blatant it is.

These guys must be stupidly arrogant if they think a report like that is acceptable.

[Jacobin]

4. How convenient

[short bus president]

5. OK, so the brass "handed down... illegal policies,"

but they're "not culpable?" WTF is that elusive definition of "is", anyway?

[lottie244]

6. Isn't this what Kerry was railing against in his testimony in 1971

He agreed with the punishmento of Lt. Calley but he placed the blame squarley on the brass sitting behind the desks.

[Darranar]

7. "Responsible, but not culpable"...

in other words, "responsible, but we don't care."

[dArKeR]

8. 'serious misconduct and a loss of moral values' at the Pentagon

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040825/480/valj10608252045

[calimary]

9. I swear to High Heaven - SOMEBODY in this regime made a deal with

the Devil. How else could so much evil get away with so much evil?

[DeepModem Mom]

11. You're right, calimary -- they're in cahoots, bigtime --

[gratuitous]

10. And watch the media just nod and let it go

Responsible but not culpable. Double plus ungood.

[GoBlue]

12. The buck stops down there. Stupid.

Don't blame me. You're the one who followed my lead.

[leesa]

13. Their punishment? The spotlight was shown on them for two minutes

Why is our military trying to destroy our country?

[0007]

15. How can these Generals be "responsible" for the abuse at

Abu Ghraib and not be guilty?

In other words the attitude of this administration is "fuck you" we'll do damn well what we please.

[struggle4progress]

16. kick for lack of accountability

:kick: