January 22, 2006, More Scapegoats of the Empire
The military continued its perfect streak of not charging a single commissioned officer for abuse at Abu Ghraib with the conviction (for manslaughter and dereliction of duty in connection with the death of an Iraqi general from suffocation while in custody) of Chief Warrant Officer Lewis Welshofer, Jr. The incident, as you will recall, took place during the height of the Abu Ghraib abuses at some point in 2003 or 2004; the general in question, Maj. Gen. Abed Hamed Mowhoush, was wrapped in a blanket and jumped on by a number of interrogators, until he suffocated and died.
Once again, we are asked to believe that an extreme high value target, like an Iraqi general, was left entirely to the discretion of a single rogue non-commissioned officer, without any input or control or orders in such a manner as to merit disciplinary action against so much as a single lieutenant, captain, major, colonel, general... or defense secretary.
It would seem that the line we are being fed is that we have a tight, disciplined officer corps presiding over rank and file NCOs who are running amok; if this is the explanation, then... no wonder we aren't making more progress in the conduct of the Global Struggle to Expand Executive Power Beyond Anything Ever Intended by the Constitution... our soldiers are too busy exceeding their orders and abusing the locals to get the job done.
Naturally, that this is an insult of the most outrageous kind against our men and women in uniform will be lost on... just about everyone.
From the Government that told you your patriotic duty in a time of "national sacrifice" when we are "at war" was to "go shopping", we give you this... today's installment of "Scapegoats of the Empire." Good luck to military recruiters trying to fill the ranks in a military where those with the authority to give orders are immune from responsibility for them. You'll need it.
Comments
TD- I've been reading you for a while now and I think you've hit the nail on the head here.
For as much as this administration talks about accountability (No Child Left Behind), Bush and company don't seem to have any problem forgetting their own words whenever it is most convenient.
Let's imagine that at a public high school, there are continued reports of blatant abuses of power and law breaking. I would be awfully surprised if only the teachers would be continually punished. Sooner or later, we need to look at the principal.
The same thing is happening here. I wonder when the American people will eventually become dissatisfied with blaming low-level NCOs. Hopefully soon...
Posted by Ben at January 22, 2006 2:47 PM
HEY-
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Posted by AL at February 2, 2006 3:03 PM
HEY -
Sign the Petition at:
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www.supportmpscapegoats.com
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Posted by AL at February 2, 2006 3:07 PM