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In my opinion, this is an attempt, by the pentagon, to put all the blame on the grunts that followed their orders. Bush had better start climbing the ladder and finding the real guilty, "don't tell", general/generals. One/or more disgraced generals will clear up the problem.

If you read the Tagabu report, you will see that several reliefs of command have already taken place with Karpinski and several field grade officers. Additional recommendations by Tagabu will certainly result in more. As for the grunts following orders, Tagabu noted several who either refused, stopped the illegal actions or reported them. So at least some of the "grunts" had sense enough not to follow illegal orders.

I think we need to know the answer to the following questions: 1. Who authorized the use of the tactic of disorienting and confusing the prisoner's sexual identity and sense of his relation to women, as a tactic for interrogation?

2. Did the same authority also direct or permit the photographind and video-taping of the events?

Wherever up the chain of command is the answer to #1, that person should be outed. I am relatively sure that answer is not high up the chain. However, how was these events permitted to take place in view of a considerable number of individuals AND why was there no self-consciousness about the videotaping?

My suspicion is that there is a mix of idiots at a relatively low level of command. But there is mixed with this an incredible absence of discipline and command.

These answers are necessary immediately. Without them, the speculation is damaging to our country, war effort and president.

You said it!! This disgraceful conduct is a failure of leadership, pure and simple! Young troops will do stupid things (I was one) if they are not being lead by able officers and NCOs. Where the hell was the chain of command while this horsecrap was going on?!?!? They should sack the brigade commander on down to the platoon NCOs! If these boneheads were "leading" troops instead of "managing" them, this type of incident would never have happened!

Don't get me wrong-I don't give a damn what the hell happened to those Iraqi bastards. Look at the black eye the military is taking from this though! I lived through the Tailhook fiasco and had to sign a letter stating that I was not at the Las Vegas Hilton on such-and-such a date in order to get promoted (thanks Clinton!)! The senior O's couldn't run fast enough to get away from that mess and of course, all blame was placed on the troops as if the one 0-3 brought to trial created the whole thing himself!!!! This female general is already pulling the Sgt Schultz-routine "I know nothing. . ." so you can see where this whole thing is going. Pvts heading to the stockade and she MAY get a letter of reprimand. Also this really makes the competent female officers look good.
IMHO,
A Navy 0-5

"In my opinion, this is an attempt, by the pentagon, to put all the blame on the grunts that followed their orders. Bush had better start climbing the ladder and finding the real guilty, "don't tell", general/generals. One/or more disgraced generals will clear up the problem."