Those stark images from Abu Ghraib, with detainees placed in humiliating positions, come to mind. Yet no high-level military brass has been held responsible for either Gitmo or Abu Ghraib abuses, or indeed for any of the murders of detainees or torture of detainees in those prisons or others around the world and in Iraq and Afghanistan. Two soldiers, however, are now under court martial for their use of dogs in connection with interrogations. And Gen. Geoffrey Miller, the person who handled much of the arrangements at Gitmo before moving on to export them to Abu Ghraib, was called to testify. Gen. Miller pleaded the Fifth, an unusal occurrence in military situations where officers are encouraged to think cooperatively. Read more about this story, from the Washington Post article, here.
It is unlikely that any procedures could be so widespread as the use of shackling, dogs, and waterboarding have been found to be in Iraq and Afghanistan, without at least tacit approval from the Secretary of Defense and President. It is too bad that Gen. Miller was not willing to come forward and testify as to his understanding of these issues.
At any rate, the media-whether local or national, broadcast or print--need to be covering these stories better than they are. Americans cannot afford to become complacent and accepting of torture and other inappropriate conduct towards its prisoners. If we do so, we also become complicit in immorality.
Comments