http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/25/AR2005042501352.html
Pretty much as expected Lt. General Richard (Ricardo) S. Sanchez, who approved the methods, Maj General Geoffrey D. Miller, Maj. General Barbara Fast and Maj. General Walter Wojdakowski, all managed to get away without reprimmands or any kind of accounting. Moreover those from the CIA who were involved in Abu Gharaib have all walked away with inpunity, and the author of the infamous torture memos, Alberto Gonzales was promoted. Karpinski was punished for not being in the loop and Geoffrey Miller was promoted. Sanchez was rotated home.
The ACLU says:
However, they did just that. Not just one, but two investigations followed the lead of the initial one. No one other than Karpinski of Command Rank was punished. The cover up appears to have been a success. These people appear to have gotten away with murder -- literally.
But I won't let it die. The ACLU put out this Flash image. I think you should listen to it. They appeal to Alberto Gonzales, but considering his role in the genesis of these events, that is like appealing to the Fox to investigate who ate all the Chickens.
Some errata. Sanchez is still there running 5th corps. I was listening to General Myer and the inimitable Rumsfield praising his performance and claiming that those who questioned his "exoneration" had their facts wrong last night. Well they are sort of right; Sanchez executed his job as directed under trying circumstances. Those orders came from the top, they were policy and not an exeception.
The consequences of people "getting away" with such things are hard to figure. But there will be consequences.
Chris
Posted by: chris Holte at April 27, 2005 07:29 AMI've noticed that this subject is about as popular as a PBS fund-raiser.
Everyone directly involved in Abu Gharaib above the level of Pappas has been promoted and/or publicly praised. Fast was and is due to be rotated home. Karpinsky was the only one punished and she was also the one who apparantly had been opposed to her prisons being taken over by CIA/MIA folks. Apparantly she was punished not for negligence, but for not being a team player.
The whole thing is disgusting and because there has been no individual responsiblity -- we are all going to pay for this.
Chris
Posted by: chris Holte at April 28, 2005 10:36 PM