From: (HiC)


Regarding the Iraqi prisoner scandal, whether the actions of the
soldiers was right or not - and I don't believe nearly enough of the
facts have been brought to light to make an informed judgement - does
anyone believe that any of this could have possibly happened without
the knowledge and consent of superiors?

I don't doubt the knowledge, with or without consent, went at least as far as
brigade. It doesn't excuse the abuses. I hope everyone in a position to put a
stop to it gets the maximum allowed under the UCMJ.

I don't buy the "lack of training, discipline" etc. line. I believe
they were doing what they were told to do.

Lack of discipline leads to things just like this. A disciplined soldier would
not have done such a thing. One of the very first thing they teach you in mil
law is you are NOT to obey an unlawful order. Every GI from basic trainee
general knows this.

Does anyone believe worse wasn't done during WWII? It seems throwing
men into a mortal combat situation and then judging them by armchair
standards is a mistake.

Much worse was done in WW2 on all sides but that doesn't excuse what happened
this year.

Guarding and transporting prisoners is not "mortal combat" by any stretch of
the term. None of us veterans are armchairing, we all know the limits under
Geneva and UCMJ.

Join the military branch of your choice and learn.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired