Posted on Fri, Aug. 27, 2004
Let Rumsfeld go; Abu Ghraib report too damning to ignore
Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
(KRT) - The following editorial appeared in the Lexington Herald-Leader on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004:
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The world, the American people and the Army need to see those responsible for the abuse at Abu Ghraib held accountable.
That responsibility reaches all the way to the top of the Pentagon's civilian and military leadership, concluded a commission appointed by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to investigate the mistreatment of prisoners.
An internal Army investigation released Wednesday reinforces the commission's findings.
The sickening scenes of Iraqis being tortured and humiliated by their American captors did incalculable damage to U.S. interests in Iraq and around the world. The episode shamed the U.S. military.
To hold only those on the bottom accountable would be a travesty, especially in light of what these two investigations have found.
Rumsfeld should resign or be fired. And some of his deputies should go as well.
The independent commission headed by former Defense Secretary James Schlesinger found that Abu Ghraib had far too few military police to deal with the prison population. Couple that with weak or no oversight, and chaos reigned.
The commission faulted Rumsfeld and the Defense Department for failing to set clear guidelines on interrogation. It also said that military commanders, surprised by the strength of the Iraqi insurgency, failed to seek adequate resources and personnel as prisoners poured into Abu Ghraib.
By last October, just 90 guards were supposed to oversee more than 7,000 prisoners.
Contrary to Bush administration contentions, the abuses were widespread and "serious both in number and effect." Prisoner abuse also was not confined to Iraq but was a problem in Afghanistan and Guantanamo as well.
The incompetence, botched planning and unrealistic expectations that created the monster at Abu Ghraib are shocking. But Abu Ghraib is also a microcosm of the whole Iraq fiasco.
Only voters can fire the person responsible for that.
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Let Rumsfeld go; Abu Ghraib report too damning to ignore
Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
(KRT) - The following editorial appeared in the Lexington Herald-Leader on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004:
---
The world, the American people and the Army need to see those responsible for the abuse at Abu Ghraib held accountable.
That responsibility reaches all the way to the top of the Pentagon's civilian and military leadership, concluded a commission appointed by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to investigate the mistreatment of prisoners.
An internal Army investigation released Wednesday reinforces the commission's findings.
The sickening scenes of Iraqis being tortured and humiliated by their American captors did incalculable damage to U.S. interests in Iraq and around the world. The episode shamed the U.S. military.
To hold only those on the bottom accountable would be a travesty, especially in light of what these two investigations have found.
Rumsfeld should resign or be fired. And some of his deputies should go as well.
The independent commission headed by former Defense Secretary James Schlesinger found that Abu Ghraib had far too few military police to deal with the prison population. Couple that with weak or no oversight, and chaos reigned.
The commission faulted Rumsfeld and the Defense Department for failing to set clear guidelines on interrogation. It also said that military commanders, surprised by the strength of the Iraqi insurgency, failed to seek adequate resources and personnel as prisoners poured into Abu Ghraib.
By last October, just 90 guards were supposed to oversee more than 7,000 prisoners.
Contrary to Bush administration contentions, the abuses were widespread and "serious both in number and effect." Prisoner abuse also was not confined to Iraq but was a problem in Afghanistan and Guantanamo as well.
The incompetence, botched planning and unrealistic expectations that created the monster at Abu Ghraib are shocking. But Abu Ghraib is also a microcosm of the whole Iraq fiasco.
Only voters can fire the person responsible for that.
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