Head of Inquiry on Iraq Abuses Now in Spotlight (Taguba is son of POW)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/11/politics/11TAGU.html?pagewanted=print&position=

As the son of a survivor of a Japanese prison camp whose military service went all but unrecognized for decades, Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba learned early lessons about right and wrong.

The unflinching report on abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq that General Taguba completed in March, people who know him say, was shaped by that strong moral compass and by his vision of the Army as a noble calling.

"If you want the truth, he's going to tell you the truth," said one Army general who has served under General Taguba. "He's not bullied; he's a stand-up guy."

General Taguba went out of his way in 2001 to call attention to what he described as the injustice the Army had accorded his father after a two-decade career that began in the Battle of Bataan in 1942, where he fought alongside American forces. He was captured by the Japanese, whose cruelties toward many of their prisoners has been well documented.

Staff Sgt. Tomas Taguba left the Army "without so much as a retirement ceremony to thank him for those 20 years of hard work and faithful service," General Taguba recalled with evident bitterness in a Veterans Day speech.

[riverwalker]

1. great post

I have a feeling that tomorrow morning, America will be introduced to a real hero, Gen. Taguba.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. I am even gong to bed early so I can get up in time

but you are right, we are about to meet a real hero

[TahitiNut]

3. When I read his report, I was convinced this guy was for real.

It's sad that people like him are in the minority in the military, but the real heroes in uniform are those who charge the guns of censorship, political correctness, and entrenched interests to tell the truth.

It's supposed to be a courts-martial offense to make a "false report" ... but it's astounding how little territory that's been made to cover.

[riverwalker]

4. Offense: what to expect from the neocons

We know by now what we are dealing with, so be prepared. After his testimony (which will be astounding) they will begin to attempt to discredit him. They will begin with subtle racism, then more blatent racism. From his history, Taguba is uncorruptable, which is the Buschcos worst nightmare. Integrity scares the hell out of them. Just from reading a little about him, I really, really like this guy. I hope he is ready for what they will try to do to him.

Here is a little more about Taguba.
http://www.npr.org/display_pages/features/feature_1888943.html

[central scrutinizer]

5. they are digging into his past right now

this is their SOP - slime the messenger rather than deal with the message.