Rumsfeld Need Not Testify Over Iraq Abuse - Judge

[cal04]

A U.S military judge ruled on Tuesday that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld could not be forced to testify in the court martial of a sergeant accused of abusing Iraqi prisoners.

The photographs of smiling American soldiers tormenting naked detainees rocked the U.S. military when they emerged in April, prompting claims that policies adopted in President Bush's "war on terror" had encouraged the cruelty.

Sergeant Javal Davis, 26, is charged with assault, cruelty and maltreatment and conspiracy for offences that include jumping on a pile of detainees and stamping on prisoners' hands.

He is among four soldiers facing pre-trial hearings at a U.S. Army base in Germany.I fail to see a connection between this group and the authorities in Washington. I'm not saying there is no link, but you have not shown sufficient evidence," Judge James Pohl told Davis's lawyers.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6055023

[lottie244]

1. This is outrageous. They want to keep Rummy from commiting perjury

If he testifies you know his will lie and someone or some documents will be able to prove it.

This is a truly evil administration. They not only send our children to be killed or to kill but they then want them to take the blame for following their orders.

[searchingforlight]

2. It's a moot point. He would lie anyway. n/t

[leesa]

3. Rumsfeld signing off on the abuse order is not sufficient evidence?

Nice Republican judge. Wonder what prize he wins for that.

[Jacobin]

5. Ah yes, I see a five star general in the making...

Eerily similar to how Colin Powell made his bones by attempting to cover-up My Lai.

Ain't the military just great?

[Gman]

4. Rummy will sure have to decide if he will testify when he's on trial

at the Hague for war crimes.

[whosinpower]

6. The report came out today....

A person familiar with the report said it implicitly faulted Rumsfeld and Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, by finding that those responsible for the military prison system in Iraq were operating under confusing policies on allowable interrogation techniques. The person discussed some aspects of the report on condition of anonymity.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=1&u=/ap/20040824/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/iraq_prisoner_abuse_4

[young_at_heart]

7. If you're a "Bushie", you are immune

They are all shielded, as opposed to the rest of us. I think it's because God has chosen Bush to lead us in these troubled times and therefore anyone connected with him is immune from any criticism or punishment.

[bobthedrummer]

8. They have tried to set-up General Karpinski but she went to the BBC

and she's mentioned General Sanchez, General Miller, Col. Pappas, etc., since Day 1 that they tried to "blame the woman".

She ain't going down before her time-she's a fighter and a patriot.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. There have been very mixed opinions on Karpinski

of course they are just that- opinions. Mine is that there was an "anything goes" attitude starting from Bush on down ("You're either with us or against us") into which Karpinski found herself, and the climate in which most of the troops were operating under the belief (also supported/encouraged by the administration) that Saddam was in some way responsible for 9/11. Heck, much of the Iraq invasion motivation was whipped us "payback" for 9/11.

Sadly, these kinds of intangible arguements are very hard to make in court- that Bush and Rummy fostered the environment in which the abuse could take place. Still, if I were on the defense I would definitely cite that on my behalf.