Senator: 'Many, Many' Iraq Abuse Probes Under Way

Reuters ^ | May 9, 2004

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - There are "many, many" criminal investigations going on of deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq, well beyond Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison, a leading Republican senator said on Sunday "This is deeper and wider than I think most in this administration understand," U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska told CBS's "Face the Nation."

U.S. officials have insisted the abuses at Abu Ghraib were carried out by a handful of soldiers and not part of a systematic program of brutality.

Hagel said he could not discuss matters presented to him as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee but they extended beyond the ongoing controversy over Iraqi prisoners of war at the prison. The panel was briefed on Friday by top intelligence and Army officials.

"There are many, many investigations ongoing now as a result of deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq, deaths that came at the hands of United States officials," Hagel said.

He said some of the probes have been referred to the U.S. Justice Department. "It's probably in the range of 30, maybe more than that, of investigations, not all are homicide," he said.

The scandal exploded last week with the release of photographs showing grinning uniformed personnel posing in front of naked detainees.

So far, seven military police have been charged with abusing prisoners in the prison where Saddam Hussein tormented thousands of Iraqis, and a court martial was set for one in Baghdad next week. The Army said on Friday it was investigating possible abuse by U.S. soldiers of 42 Iraqi civilians in addition to 35 investigations of abuse of prisoners.

The Army said previously it was looking into the deaths of 25 prisoners held in Iraq or Afghanistan, determining there were two homicides by Americans against Iraqi prisoners, one case of justifiable homicide and 12 cases in which the cause of death was natural or undetermined.

Ten other deaths and 10 cases of nonlethal assault remain under investigation, the Army has said.

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About the soldier that reported this abuse.
First, please remember that this young man is one of us. He is an American, he is a soldier, he is serving his country, and his parents are fine Americans who are very proud of there son standing up and doing 'the right thing'.

That being said, It is my belief, after following this story the past week, that the young man is a dupe.
I believe that the Democratic Party, along with their buddies organized crime, had a plant that got these pictures into this young man's hands, and likely made some suggestions about what a moral, American Soldier should do to expose the corruption of the military under the Bush Administration. This young man is being used .

How do I know? Just what you said in your post. Going around the chain of command is a no-no. Someone was protecting the Private until the story gained momentum and the army would look revengeful if it took any action against him.

Heck, Peeter Jennings even announced the Private PERSON OF THE WEEK on National TV. That in itself tells me it is all part of organized crime's plan to shutdown BUSH. Starting with Rumsfeld. If they stop Rummy, they have won, as far as Iraq goes. Too much slack in the rope will appear if we have to change Chiefs in the middle of the battle.

Again, I make no slight against the proud American Soldier who is doing what is morally right, in his view. Maybe, I am totally wrong, and there is no sinister plot.

I do believe that any treatment of prisoners that violates our Military Code of Justice, or (if this is still applicable) the Geneva Convention should be investigated and if necessary prosecuted. I believe that some did go on, and it is being investigated and one court martial has started this week.

I could see some troops stepping over the line with the experience they are having over in Iraq where enemy and friend are indistinguishable.

I also can see that to save American lives, some soldiers do what must be done, and sometimes the commander in the field makes the call on what to do about it.

Rumsfeld had already done what a GOOD, MORAL, PRINCIPLED, HONEST, Man of INTEGRITY should do. He admitted the buck stops on his desk for this. I can't think of one Democratic politician or officeholder who would bite the bullet. Seems they are always hiding behind WOMEN's SKIRTS (Need I mention a name or two here??????????of can u all fill in the blanks?)

Any man who takes the responsibility for actions under his command, is one who will take actions to ensure the violations are curtailed.

We must not let the best players on the team be fouled out by the snakes in the woodpile.