"Harry Krause" wrote in message
news:2g3qjoF450haU1@uni-


According to Rumsfeld, we haven't seen the worst acts of torture and
degradation inflicted by US soldiers on Iraqi prisoners.

Stick that up your denials, Gaquin.

Crude response, but not atypical, Harry.

Actually, if you read carefully you'll find that what Rumsfeld actually said
is that there are more photos and tapes of the crimes already committed at
abu Ghraib that are already the subject of reports and investigation. Of
course, this in no way ameliorates the situation, but nor does it exacerbate
it. Taking one hundred pictures of a train wreck instead of fifteen
pictures does not mean there were more train wrecks. But it does mean that
those who don't pay attention can be made to think that there were more
train wrecks, if someone wants to convince them of that.

If you also read the Taguba report, two things are clear.

1) The leadership, training, and command oversight within the 800 MP Brigade
was seriously deficient. The Brigade in general was ill prepared for its
responsibilities in Iraq. This, however, does not cause wanton prisoner
abuse. The Taguba report specifically references a number of units and
individuals within the 800th that overcame the challenges and performed in
an exemplary fashion. I have not seen this mentioned in any press coverage.

2) The 800th MP Brigade comprised some 8 MP Battalions. Both prisoner
abuse events -- the Oct-Nov multiple incidents at abu Ghraib and the May
2003 incident at Camp Bucca (for which 4 soldiers have already been charged
and, I think, tried)-- involved members of the same unit, the 320th MP
Battalion. All MP soldiers involved in the abu Ghraib incidents were from a
smaller group within the 320th, members of the 372nd MP Co. All prisoner
abuse actions appear to have occurred involving MP soldiers operating in
conjunction military intelligence operatives, specifically from the 205th MI
Brigade.

The press gives little or no attention to the fact that the abuses in
question were initially reported by soldiers within the very units, and that
the command initiated investigations immediately. The command
simultaneously issued a public press release stating that they were
investigating allegations of prisoner abuse. There was no cover-up here,
although one is widely implied in the press coverage.

When the report is read and all is said and done, you still have what I
referred to earlier -- a few dozen people drawn into the maelstrom, while
99.9% behave honorably and well. Will that change with possible additional
revelations? Possibly. The Red Cross report is an unknown factor, until
they release details. The IRC has been known to define both beatings and
slow mail delivery as prisoner abuse. They sometimes seem to start with the
premise that there is presumed abuse by virtue of incarceration, and grade
downward from there. But if you have ten times the troop abuse involvement
in Iraq, it will remain a statistical aberration. A political and PR
bonanza for the press and the DNC, who have been hoping for just such an
event, but a statistical aberration nonetheless. Those who deal in facts
instead of feelings can see this.