Complaint Phone Number for CBS airing of Troops mistreating Iraqi prisoners

CBS Newspath | 4-28-04 | CBS Newspath

[Thanatos]

A REMINDER THAT IF VIEWERS HAVE COMPLAINTS OR COMMENTS ABOUT CBS PROGRAMMING, PLEASE DIRECT THEM TO 212-975-4321

[Cronos]

Give those involved a LOR (Letter of Reprimand), smack them on the wrist and forgetaboutit.

Nah, court martial them and show the world that these were aberrations from the impeccable ways of our military.

[Cronos]

Every one of those men will be a good recruit for the suicide bomber squads, if he gets out of prison. And everyone of them, whether he gets out or not, will have an uncle, a cousin, a younger brother and even a wife eager to avenge him.

Ping on that. This story could make more slammmie terrorrists

[An.American.Expatriate]

This was ALL OVER the german news last night and has given the opposition even MORE ammunition to use against us.

It is appaling that a few soldiers would commit such acts. It is even MORE appaling that the one soldier interviewed claimed he had no knowledge that this was wrong - according to earlier reports, this guy is a prison guard in civilian life. That alone should have been enough to let him know that such behavior is unacceptable. Furthermore, to claim ignorance of the Geneva Conventions (as an MP tasked to guard prisoners) is, bluntly, totally unbelievable.

A definate example must be made here. We need to show our citizens, the people of Iraq, and the rest of the world that the our military will not accept such actions and that when such things DO occur (as they will), that severe punishment is imposed on the perpetrators.

[elk]

Remember Elian Gonzales -- where the reporters were throwing rocks, trying to incite a riot so they could make a story. Could there be an embedded CBS reporter there, to "ask" for pictures?

And another thing, Brig. Gen. Janice Karpinski -- her name is familiar. Any other background on this general, in terms of being a Clinton hold-over? Was she put in this position to keep her from being trouble elsewhere? Would she have done this to purposely tank the war?

I only pose the questions.

[talleyman]

CBS ignores complaints - contact the advertisers.

[Gopher Broke]

Also, here is an email address: audsvcs@cbs.com

[cbpusa]

If one is current or former military then should know that this is not a big deal ... it is an incredibly huge deal. Under no circumstances can this sort of conduct be passed over as in any way minor. The US is a signatory to the Geneva and Hague Conventions. It is a War Crime to intentionally put POWs on display in a humiliating fashion.

What makes this whole episode even more disturbing is that this indicates that there was a break down in the Chain of Command.

The individuals responsible should be Court Martialed and punished in the harshest terms that the UCMJ allows and this should be done in as clear and public a fashion as possible.

This kind of conduct is the sort of thing that can bring discredit to the honor and integrity of the Army and the military in general. This conduct must be dealt with in the harshest possible terms that military law allows.

thanks,

Christopher Preston
USMA Class of '84
Formerly, CPT, US Army

[Oztrich Boy]

Complaint Phone Number for CBS airing of Troops mistreating Iraqi prisoners

Why complain?

As has been pointed out on other threads, this hasrh treatment will make islamofascists think twice about fighting Americans.

But it will not have this effect if nobody knows it is occurring.

CBS is doing its patriotic duty.

So those who defend the actions of these miitary guards should also contact CBS and thank them for showing the pictures.

[sheik yerbouty]

De Nile is a river in Egypt..

[secretagent]

This kind of conduct is the sort of thing that can bring discredit to the honor and integrity of the Army and the military in general. This conduct must be dealt with in the harshest possible terms that military law allows.

I agree. The court martial of the offenders will show that the US Army will nip future My Lais in the bud.

This can turn into a major PR advance for the US, if handled properly.

[Gunrunner2]

Yes, I agree. . .and I didn't even go to a service academy.
;-)

The problem I see is the double standard, on both sides.

Double standard in that when US prisoners were being tortured and killed by the Iraqi's (Gulf War I and II), nary a peek from the US media and nothing but glee from the arab media.

Now, tables turned, the US media and the arab world are in a howling rage, and we, the original defenders of proper treatment of POWs, we now tolerate mistreatment of enemy POWs. Not good.

The difference between us and them is that for them mistreatment is policy, and for us it is not.

I have no sympathy for terrorists. Kill them where you find them. No question. Once captured do not coddle them or make their life comfortable. Just stuff them in a cell and let them rot. Just don't become active in making them rot.

It matters not how well or how poorly we treat arab POWs.

The arab world and their media/euro-weenie/stinking lefty worshipers will hate the US no matter what. They hate us and will always hate us. Therefore, we treat "humanely" enemy POWs for our sake, not theirs.

[Gunrunner2]

The sad fact is all those reports you refer to---and accept as fact--are inventions. The left wing sites and media have been alleging all sorts of US soldiers committing crime, bad deeds and abuse. According to those "sources," we are no better than Mongols. . .perhaps worse. The point is we are honorable and we are good and we are just, and the American soldier is doing one heck of a job, and all those allegations you refer are nonsense. This POW thing is an aberration, nothing more, and to try and use this situation as some sort of proof to the allegations of rampant criminal activity by American troops is hardly fair and just.

Cheers.

[Gunrunner2]

You are repeating propaganda as fact.

Wantfact, a member since 30 April 04, you have two posts:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1127467/posts?page=108#108
and
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1126299/posts?page=66#66

Both of these posts are anti-American. I suspect you may be a lurking troll.

[Gunrunner2]

Goodness, you are FAST!

[Admin Moderator]

Thanks for the tip ;)

[Gunrunner2]

No problem. Always a pleasure to snag a troll.

[Tilly]

Well said Bruce.

I heard on O'Reilly yesterday that CBS apparently had exclusive rights to the photographs, and chose to show them anyway. CBS spokesmen said the story was going to come out through other media, and they decided to run it, although every foreign media outlet I've seen has attributed their images to CBS.

I wonder if anyone considered that there are still US hostages being held by insurgent groups. I worry.

[secretagent]

The prosecution of US soldiers who abuse Iraqis will set a good example.

I don't know whether it will help US hostages today, but it might. In the long run a humane treatment of POWs might help tremendously in the "war on terror".

[Darnright]

>I'm not trying to start a debate, just offering perspective. Who cares if they were humiliated?

You have a point. Not to sound hard hearted toward these poor little followers of Sadaam, but considering what he did to his enemies (like putting them feet-first through a shredder), making those prisoners stand with their bare butts in the wind to illicit a bit of embarrassment just doesn't get me all up in arms.

After all, we are civilized, and we can't pull their fingernails out one by one, so we have to rely on non physical methods.