NYT: Officer Criticizes Detainee Abuse Inquiry(ignores high-rank officers)

[DeepModem Mom]

Officer Criticizes Detainee Abuse Inquiry
By ERIC SCHMITT
Published: September 28, 2005


WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 - An Army captain who reported new allegations of detainee abuse in Iraq said Tuesday that Army investigators seemed more concerned about tracking down young soldiers who reported misconduct than in following up the accusations and investigating whether higher-ranking officers knew of the abuses.

The officer, Capt. Ian Fishback, said investigators from the Criminal Investigation Command and the 18th Airborne Corps inspector general had pressed him to divulge the names of two sergeants from his former battalion who also gave accounts of abuse, which were made public in a report last Friday by the group Human Rights Watch.

Captain Fishback, speaking publicly on the matter for first time, said the investigators who have questioned him in the past 10 days seemed to be less interested in individuals he identified in his chain of command who allegedly committed the abuses.

"I'm convinced this is going in a direction that's not consistent with why we came forward," Captain Fishback said in a telephone interview from Fort Bragg, N.C., where he is going through Army Special Forces training. "We came forward because of the larger issue that prisoner abuse is systemic in the Army. I'm concerned this will take a new twist, and they'll try to scapegoat some of the younger soldiers. This is a leadership problem."...

***

After fruitlessly trying for 17 months to get his superiors to take action on his complaints, Captain Fishback said, he finally took his concerns this month to aides to two senior Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee, John W. Warner of Virginia, the committee chairman, and John McCain of Arizona. When the Army learned he was talking to Senate aides, Captain Fishback said that Army investigators suddenly intensified their interest in his complaints....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/28/international/middleeast/28abuse.html?hp&ex=1127880000&en=1bdbf4a30584ebaa&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[rodeodance]

1. "This is a leadership problem."... YUP

[mike_c]

2. "...prisoner abuse is systemic in the Army...."

There you have it. It's finally being said from within the military. Can WE say this now without being accused of "bashing the troops?"

[slay]

3. "After fruitlessly trying for 17 months to get his superiors to take actio

n". I couldn't be more proud to have a stand up guy like Captain Fishback in our armed services. Sounds like a brave guy doing the right thing. If only our leaders would follow his example.

[MADem]

4. Yep, and where are HIS LEADERS???

Have all the ones with guts been forced out?

[tblue37]

8. Maybe he will leave the military and run for office.

Even if he is a Republican--we could use some pricipled Republicans.

[understandinglife]

5. "Army investigators seemed more concerned about tracking down young ...

... soldiers who reported misconduct ...".

So many are placing their life on the line to save America -- time everyone realize it and do the same.


Peace.

[tuvor]

6. Officer Criticizes Detainee Abuse Inquiry

By ERIC SCHMITT
Published: September 28, 2005

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 - An Army captain who reported new allegations of detainee abuse in Iraq said Tuesday that Army investigators seemed more concerned about tracking down young soldiers who reported misconduct than in following up the accusations and investigating whether higher-ranking officers knew of the abuses.

The officer, Capt. Ian Fishback, said investigators from the Criminal Investigation Command and the 18th Airborne Corps inspector general had pressed him to divulge the names of two sergeants from his former battalion who also gave accounts of abuse, which were made public in a report last Friday by the group Human Rights Watch.

Captain Fishback, speaking publicly on the matter for first time, said the investigators who have questioned him in the past 10 days seemed to be less interested in individuals he identified in his chain of command who allegedly committed the abuses.

"I'm convinced this is going in a direction that's not consistent with why we came forward," Captain Fishback said in a telephone interview from Fort Bragg, N.C., where he is going through Army Special Forces training. "We came forward because of the larger issue that prisoner abuse is systemic in the Army. I'm concerned this will take a new twist, and they'll try to scapegoat some of the younger soldiers. This is a leadership problem."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/28/international/middleeast/28abuse.html?hp&ex=1127966400&en=b11876b6431b2840&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Systematic Chaos]

7. 911 hasn't been EXPOSED here yet?

What a shame. :eyes:

On edit: Yippee! We all get to do the Tombstone Shuffle now! :bounce:

[0007]

9. junior where are you? I hear yo mommy calling you!

junior you get in here right now and pack you bags. It is time to leave.

[Roland99]

10. That man deserves a medal!

[Autonomy]

11. Of course we have a leadership problem!

Solution: replace the old guard leaders by promoting Fishback and any others like him.

[paineinthearse]

12. CSPAN Journal featured this story

They often share interesting articles from the corporate media.

[truth4achange]

13. Dylan's perspective, decades on

On a related note, has anyone else caught the Dylan documentary on PBS? It is just terrific and reminded me how current classics like Masters of War are to current affairs (lyrics here: http://www.hairytruth.blogspot.com). Really very chilling.

[Nothing Without Hope]

14. I really do not understand the fascination with torture that this

Administration has. They would not put put off by the immorality of it, but it is also well known to NOT WORK in getting reliable information. They are good at making up their own information, so why use torture? It has never made sense to me. But they keep doing it and these military brass continue to lie about it and cover up. What the hell are they doing, and WHY???

And what will it take to FINALLY open the eyes of the American public to the horrors done in their name?