Pentagon: 130 Troops Punished for Abuse

[wicket]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&ncid=693&e=6&u=/ap/20041215/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/prisoner_abuse

A total of 130 American troops have been punished or charged in cases involving the abuse of prisoners in Iraq, Afghanistan or Guantanamo Bay, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

More than 100 of the cases involve the Army, which has deployed the bulk of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and provides most of the guards at facilities where detainees are held. The others are Marines and Navy SEALs.

-snip-

"The clear and distinct message is we investigate all allegations of detainee abuse," said Lt. Col. John Skinner, a Pentagon spokesman. "Misconduct is not tolerated. Anything less than humane treatment of detainees is not tolerated."

A total of 26 Army soldiers were referred to courts-martial and 46 received nonjudicial or administrative punishment. Another 13 received letters of reprimand, and 17 others were dismissed from the military, Skinner said.

[Democracy Died 2004]

1. Is a few "bad apples" more than 20? n/t

[VegasWolf]

2. Sounds like a systemic, top down problem to me. n/t

[saigon68]

3. A Lot of Thugs and Hoodlums

With very little supervision or leadership.

what the hell are the sergeants doing when their men kill and rape Iraqis--???? Standing and watching I think. Maybe even participating.

The whole barrel is rotten.

A lot of these trouble makers aren't even US citizens, who are recruited to kill "Rag-Heads"

[TahitiNut]

5. "Professional" military: it comes with the territory

When the draft was discontinued in favor of an "all-volunteer" force, I predicted just this kind of abuse. I detest the draft as designed. We should have a Universal Service obligation. If the military isn't democratically constituted, then neither is the nation.

[saigon68]

6. Yes I saw it happening too

Wait til these sweet hearts get back and start killing at random in the ZI.

[Democracy Died 2004]

7. At least with the draft people are

put in harms way that will question authority. Probably one of the big reasons they won't get the draft going unless they run out of fodder.
It just wouldn't do if soldiers served that have a conscience.

[MasonJar]

4. Rummy, I'm waiting for someone to court martial you.

[wicket]

9. He'll probably get the Medal of Freedom instead

n/t

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. How about punishing the apple rotters?

Guess they're too wealthy.

[hollowdweller]

10. Where is the outrage from the religious right over this kind of stuff?

[NVMojo]

11. Their jumpsuit GI Joe President needs to be punished.

[wicket]

12. kick

:kick:

[ernstbass]

13. Isolated incidents, huh?