I know a retired USAR Colonel (O-6) who says he knows her; the fact that he refused to say anything publicly (good or bad) about her spoke volumes to me.

And to think I was going to apply for one of the 67A slots in the 800th MP BDE this past summer.

Originally Posted by LeEnfield 2

The thing is she was in charge of the prison, did she ever go around the inside and carry out spot checks on what was going on, or did she just stay in her office all day. She just can't get away with saying I did not know anything about what was going on, it was her job to know.

I agree. I also dislike her blaming Rummy for part of this, what makes her think if she didn't know anything that he was going to know anything. There are other higher-ups in theater. She should complain about them, but instead she blames the Sec. Def. Besides that’s kind of a big accusation, blame the Sec. Def.?

Anyone remember Col. North getting scapegoat for Iran contra?

I dont know about this idjit being the Fonda of this war but I do believe that most of the leadership of the DNC is competeing to be the John Kerry of this war.

Originally Posted by Missileer

A General of her stature has aides to keep her filled in on everything that goes on under her command. I think the job was a little over her head and she should have acknowledged that in writing to the Pentagon.

She was responsible for everything that did or did not happen in that detention facility. If she didn't know what was going on, then she was incompetent. If she did, she lied.

She would have had one aide de camp, and it sure as hell wasn't his/her job to tell the General what was going on in that facility. It was the responsibility of her officers to make sure that the facility runs according to her guidance.

She's just trying to clear her name I think. It's a huge leap to compare her to Jane Fonda, it's not like she got pictures of her smiling and sitting on Iraqi artillery shooting down american planes.

Ummmm.... not up to speed (unfourtunately) can someone fill me in on Jane Fonda? I Have gathered she was an Anti-War activist, but I don't quite understand the level she took it to.
Hopeful

Here's Jane Fonda's movie career;

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000404/

Jane Fonda's military career during Vietnam war;

http://www.1stcavmedic.com/jane_fonda.htm

Tom Hayden and Jane Fonda being interviewed after their return from North Vietnam. Jane Fonda tells the world press that the American Prisoners of War were being well treated and not tortured.

Although that slightly differs from Sen. McCain's accounts (http://www.usvetdsp.com/story22.htm).

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That 1ST Cav Medic link is excellent. I think it should shed some light on Hanoi Jane's nefarious deeds for those too young to recall.

Karpinski served her country honorably for more than 28 years - Fonda openly opposed it. Those that are comparing Karpinski to Fonda evidently don't have my memories or they wouldn't make the comparison. Fonda was a traitor as far as I was concerned and nothing has occurred in all these intervening years to change my mind (nor will it ever-period). [Well enough of that!].

If you believe Karpinski, when she stated:

"It was Gen. Geoffrey Miller, commander of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay -- a change in command I believe was ordered and endorsed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in order to interrogate "security detainees," whom authorities hoped could lead them to Saddam Hussein. How could (the military) hold me accountable when I had no direct access? How come they didn't hold Rumsfeld accountable. How is that possible?"

How could Karpinski, after more than a 28-year military career be held accountable when she WAS NOT in the chain of command for Abu Ghraib Prison anymore and exercised absolutely no control over operations within the prison at the time of the prisoner abuse.

Saying that she was responsible for the actions of the 800th Military Police Brigade would make sense if she had been allowed access and control of the brigade. According to Karpinski, she had been placed in a subordinate position and was only a figurehead with Gen. Geoffrey Miller holding the actual command of ALL MPs and forces associated with the debacle. She wasn't even allowed access to the prisoners, guards or the prison at that time.

The Bush administration and the military couldn't let accountability stop with enlisted reservists.

"They wanted to satisfy people who wanted punishment of people in high places," she said.

On April 8, Karpinski was formally relieved of command of the 800th Military Police Brigade (even though she maintains she was nothing but a figurehead at the time).

We have seen similar circumstances where a junior officer was held out as the scapegoat while senior officers were protected from the rightful justice they so richly deserve (example -the courts-martial of Lt. Calley and the massacre at My Lai village - Vietnam).

In this case the responsibility should have been portioned out to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Vice President Chaney and President Bush. This kind of abuse doesn't just happen, it has to come from the top (keep in mind that the Bush administration has micromanaged everything concerning Iraq so far).

As veterans that have been through the river and over the mountain, we all know that there was more than just one senior person responsible for what happened at Abu Ghraib, remember what happened to Lt. Calley.

Brigadier General (not Colonel) Karpinski was treated as a scapegoat and anyone with the brains of a sand flea knows it.
The Courts Martial is/was a miscarriage of justice (my opinion).

The truth depends on who is still standing and who is telling the tale.

Just for informational sake, I have taken Karpinski at her word - I have seen nothing so far that has contradicted her account. If you have information which could cast doubt on her account, please post it and if possible give the source of your information. My mind is still open on this one.