Tuesday, May 25, 2004

Ms. General is suspended

Janis Karpinski, who should be suspended at the very least, has been. That decision was easy to foretell from watching the Senate hearing testimony of Taguba, Miller and Sanchez. She was the one they were willing to give up. But I bet Sanchez thought they'd protect his ass.

An Army general accused by military investigators of providing too little supervision for an Iraqi prison where abuse of inmates took place has been suspended from her command, officials say.

The decision to temporarily move Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski from her command of the 800th Military Police Brigade came amid reports that the top U.S. military officer in Iraq, Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, is due to be replaced soon.
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Of course that isn't official. And of course, being replaced doesn't mean being suspended (whatever that means besides a break from duty). And the big boys are saying that Sanchez' replacement is simply part of the rotation of officers. Yeah, whatever. Powell says he's done a "terrific job". Sure has. Just what they wanted him to do. (Why are we talking to Powell? Where's Rumsfeld?)

Taguba and Sanchez disagreed on some points during their testimony. And Taguba recommended Karpinski be "reprimanded" as well as suspended, but Sanchez gave her "a less-severe 'memorandum of admonishment' on Jan. 17". Sure he did. And figuring the truth wouldn't catch up to him.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.