Posted on 05/16/2004 9:32:23 AM PDT by jmstein7
The female GI who is at the center of the storm over allegations of mistreatment at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison has told military investigators that she received no specific orders to abuse detainees.
A transcript of her May 5 military interview obtained by the New York Times shows England was asked, "Did anyone ever give specific orders of how to 'break' detainees?"
"No," England answered point blank. Instead she told probers that military intelligence merely encouraged them to keep doing whatever they were doing to soften prisoners up - "that we were doing a good job."
If true, England's admission suggests that the idea to use sexual humiliation to break Iraqi prisoners originated with the accused MPs - and not with higher-ups on site or at the Pentagon.
A lawyer for Specialist Charles Graner seemed to echo England's comments, telling the Times that the orders his client was following were usually general in nature.
"Most are not specific. Some are pretty clear. The exact wording, it's hard to say," attorney Gary Womack told the paper.
Neal Puckett, the lawyer for Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski who oversaw Abu Ghraib, said the testimony by England and others would complicate any legal defense attempting to pin blame on higher-ups.
"I think they are going to have a hard time demonstrating that they were instructed, that they were to specifically to strip these guys naked and pile them up on the floor," Puckett told the Times.
Court records of interviews with other suspects in the Iraqi prison abuse scandal show that military intelligence officers might have authorized interrogation tactics that included sleep and food deprivation and intimidation with muzzled dogs.
But the same witnesses said none of the orders sanctioned hitting Iraqi detainees, building naked pyramids or having them photographed while simulating sex acts.
Ok. But enough already. President Bush, get out there and remind the country that our real priority has to be in the field of battle, and that the leftists pushing this prisoner story will do nothing but consign the Iraqis to chaos and oppression. Enough defense.
And yet the media and the whining liberals will still blame Rumsfeld and Bush for this.
As the 'under oath' testimonies start surfacing from the trials, the dems/libs will be disappointed. I doubt they find much 'order' from anyone high up than those who were on 'late night duty.'
The half-dozen weren't ordered, just encouraged, by those who were present during the after hours, late nite event(s).
A male guard has essentially said the same thing--there were no 'orders' to do what they did.
I don't really think they realize what is coming their way.
indeed, he better get on offense fast. Bush needs to realize quickly - if he wants a second term, forget about running against Kerry, its the media he has to take on.
all that have to do is ask Seymour Hersch to make up some additional stories - whatever they need, he'll say it. and if the white house doesn't take him on directly, the media will make it stand as the truth.
Just did it on her own. Freelancing you know!
Englund is so hot i think i want her to terrorize me
not
It would be nice to get Seymour Hersch and George Soros to take a ride in a Ford Pinto.
The CRY of LEFTISTS everywhere. "IT IS NOT MY FAULT!!" ......... "I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MY OWN ACTIONS!!!"
The only problem would be with the MI not asking what was being done to achieve the "good job." If this statement from her is accurate, that is.
I was Subbing at Garland High School when the poop hit the fan re the gang fight between Garland and South Garland High. The news made it to Fox News and the O'Reilly Factor because the gangstas' had video taped and then posted the mayhem on an Internet Website. When Tony Snow was told this, (he was sitting in for O'Reilly) he said, "What was the web site? GangsRUS?
We're at war and those Dombocrats better back off! They're politicizing this issue while ignoring the 911 families.
I'm starting to get angry with the President. Not for the alleged abuse, but for not vigorously pointing out what is obvious to us--that a little humiliation is not torture, and that a wearing women's panties on one's head would be far preferable than losing that same head by some clumsy and inept beheader. If the President doesn't start fighting back (and not with these mild denials), much more is lost than just the next election. If Kerry is elected, I have no doubt whatever that it will mean the end of our free country.
Backlash? I hope so, but I also have my doubts. If the truth turns out to be different, the media will scarcely report it. Most will likely continue on in ignorance mode, believing that Rumsfield (if not the President himself) ordered horrible things done. Many probably still believe the faked pictures were genuine because few will report that they were obtained from a porn site. Such is the state of this sorry media.
I think Bush needs to get back on the offensive about this. Most people now see it was much adoo about nothing. I was at Physical Therapy last week, and they have a TV with Fox on. Everything there doing PT was fussing about why the media was making such a big deal about this. I was surprised that so many were complaining considering it was a pretty diverse group both culturally and socially economic wise. I think it is time for another Bush press conference. I wonder if Bush is waiting until some of the court martials are compeleted before speaking out much?
"Most are not specific. Some are pretty clear. The exact wording, it's hard to say," attorney Gary Womack told the paper.What the MI op said to clerk-typist England: Hey, Specialist. Tomorrow we plan to interrogate Ahmed the Abominable in cell block four. Please direct the sargeant of the guard to ensure he is fed and showered and prepared to move by, say, about 10.00AM.
bumpo for later reference
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