Saturday, May 22, 2004

Provance backlash

That soldier who decided to speak up is now reaping his reward.

A witness who told ABCNEWS he believed the military was covering up the extent of abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison was today stripped of his security clearance and told he may face prosecution because his comments were "not in the national interest."

Sgt. Samuel Provance said in addition to his revoked security clearance, he was transferred to a different platoon, and his record was officially "flagged," meaning he cannot be promoted or given any awards or honors.

Provance said he was told he will face administrative action for failing to report what he knew at the time and for failing to take steps to stop the abuse.

"I see it as an effort to intimidate Sgt. Provance and any other soldier whose conscience is bothering him, and who wants to come forward and tell what really happened at Abu Ghraib," said his attorney Scott Horton.
  ABC News article

I thought at the original report Sgt. Provance was being a bit, shall we say, optimistic when he was worrying about being "ostracized".

Truth is rarely "in the national interest" it seems.

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