Ringleader?

[jhetley]

Well, the military has convicted Specialist Graner of being a really bad boy. That's nice. Ten years strikes me as being either not enough, or too much.

Anyway, based on my own antique military experience, I seriously doubt he was the ringleader they make him out to be. An E-4, even in the combat chain of command (which a specialist isn't, or wasn't back when I knew the definitions), has about enough authority and latitude of action to wipe his own ass without command supervision.

On a totally unrelated note, the weather PTBs are forecasting 4"+/- of snow overnight. _If_ we get that, or more, I may be back in business for ski outings. Forested trails should still have a base, even after the warm and rain. Hope, hope, hope....

Comments

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

I tend to think the crime they really convicted him of was "embarrassing the Army." On a personal note, I think the officers in command should bear the heaviest punishment. "I wasn't aware of what was going on," when it is your job to know what was going on, is no more a valid excuse than "I was only following orders."

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

"Embarrassing the Army."

Yep. But I didn't see that listed anywhere in the charges. I'd suggest that the Army or DoD is doing an excellent job of embarrassing itself -- one of the current units serving at Abu Ghraib is from Maine, a field artillery unit given a crash course and OJT as MPs. (Can't remember if they are Guard or Reserve.) Some of those charged with abuses were trained as mechanics and such.

That's asking for trouble.

[moropus.livejournal.com]

"I wasn't aware of what was going on," when it is your job to know what was going on, is no more a valid excuse than "I was only following orders."

They've admitted they weren't doing their jobs, which is another offence one may be charged with. Not to mention, they are either dumber than dirt, or just plain lying.

Anyone who has been in military service anywhere knows there is no privacy, no secrets, no hiding anything. Everything comes out eventually.