Junior Enlisted Bear the Brunt of Abu Ghraib
According to news reports, Specialist Sabrina Harman was a model soldier whose previous service in Iraq made things better for both Iraqis and allies. She tearfully apologized for her role in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, saying she failed in her duties and took full responsibility for her actions. She was tripped up by terrible leadership from senior enlisted non-commissioned officers, and from commissioned officers, throughout her time at Abu Ghraib.
She was just sentenced to six months in prison for mistreating detainees. She will be demoted to private, and discharged after prison with something that will haunt her forever: a bad conduct discharge.
Meanwhile, the Commanding General was busted to Colonel and will be allowed to retire, with pay and allowances. Nothing will happen to the Major who was in charge of operations, or to any of the other commissioned officers. That is, to those responsible.
Is this justice?
Another item for Rumsfeld's memoir. But that isn't enough: I am disgusted, and ashamed, as a former Navy officer and as an American, of the way we are treating these junior people.
She was just sentenced to six months in prison for mistreating detainees. She will be demoted to private, and discharged after prison with something that will haunt her forever: a bad conduct discharge.
Meanwhile, the Commanding General was busted to Colonel and will be allowed to retire, with pay and allowances. Nothing will happen to the Major who was in charge of operations, or to any of the other commissioned officers. That is, to those responsible.
Is this justice?
Another item for Rumsfeld's memoir. But that isn't enough: I am disgusted, and ashamed, as a former Navy officer and as an American, of the way we are treating these junior people.
posted by Greg Finnegan @ 5:00 PM
2 Comments:
At 5:15 PM,
Unknown said…
Yes I agree, it doesn't seem right for the bigwigs to escape all punishment.
At 5:46 PM,
Anonymous said…
Although it is wrong - it's also nothing new. The little guys/gals always pay and are used as the scapegoats while the big guys are kicked upstairs without harm.
We watched a movie about the atrocities American soldiers faced in Vietnam - they were tortured, beaten and hung by their wrists until they gave up information - we turned to each other and were having the same thought - our soldiers, although they did do WRONG, did nothing nearly as horrific to their prisoners. Somehow, we don't think the Vietnamese soldiers fared as badly for how they treated our people - eh?
Nita.
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