http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040514/ap_on_re_us/prisoner_abuse_sivits_5 there are some accusations by the other MP's that he is full of it and just protecting his own ass. But of course they are the ones in all the pictures. the main culprits seem to Be PFC England, SPC Garner, Sgt Frederick and Sgt Davis. England and Garner seem to be worse offenders . To me it appears it became a game of one upmanship .Maybe if these four were that bored they should send them for a weeks tour of duty with the marines in Fallujah. thoughts on is Sivits saving his own ass or does what he said seem legit? I think he seems to be legit, I think there were a few MI officiers there but I do not think this was something that was condoned by superiors (Sivits stated that chain of command did not know)
Sivits really has no choice. They've probably offered him a deal where he'll serve six months and get a general or bad conduct discharge if he rats out the others.
If he's covering the rest of COC's asses then I'm sure one of the others, probably the MSG will cut a deal to give them whoever else is responsible. I find it telling that to this point that no one has named names of other military personnel besides the ones already involved in the story. These people have to know their screwed, no way in hell that they aren't going to get slammed in a general court martial.
I find it telling that the MPs are blaming military intelligence, and military intelligence is basically keeping its mouth shut instead of flat-out denying it.... Oh, and today/yesterday Wolfie admitted that if it happened to an american, it woulda been torture, in violation of the geneva convention. Things are getting interesting.
From the Taguba report (which is online at: http://www.agonist.org/annex/taguba.htm) ".... ... contrary to the provision of AR 190-8, and the findings found in MG Ryder’s Report, Military Intelligence (MI) interrogators and Other US Government Agency’s (OGA) interrogators actively requested that MP guards set physical and mental conditions for favorable interrogation of witnesses. Contrary to the findings of MG Ryder’s Report, I find that personnel assigned to the 372ndMP Company, 800th MP Brigade were directed to change facility procedures to “set the conditions” for MI interrogations. ... b. (U) SGT Javal S. Davis, 372nd MP Company, stated in his sworn statement as follows: “I witnessed prisoners in the MI hold section, wing 1A being made to do various things that I would question morally. In Wing 1A we were told that they had different rules and different SOP for treatment. I never saw a set of rules or SOP for that section just word of mouth. The Soldier in charge of 1A was Corporal Granier. He stated that the Agents and MI Soldiers would ask him to do things, but nothing was ever in writing he would complain (sic).” When asked why the rules in 1A/1B were different than the rest of the wings, SGT Davis stated: “The rest of the wings are regular prisoners and 1A/B are Military Intelligence (MI) holds.” When asked why he did not inform his chain of command about this abuse, SGT Davis stated: “ Because I assumed that if they were doing things out of the ordinary or outside the guidelines, someone would have said something. Also the wing belongs to MI and it appeared MI personnel approved of the abuse.” SGT Davis also stated that he had heard MI insinuate to the guards to abuse the inmates. When asked what MI said he stated: “Loosen this guy up for us.” Make sure he has abad night.” “Make sure he gets the treatment.” He claimed these comments were made to CPL Granier and SSG Frederick. Finally, SGT Davis stated that (sic): “the MI staffs to my understanding have been giving Granier compliments on the way he has been handling the MI holds. Example being statements like, “Good job, they’re breaking down real fast. They answer every question. They’re giving out good information, Finally, and Keep up the good work . Stuff like that.” <emphasis mine> So who's lying? Again, if it's only footsoldiers who are punished, prosecuted or vilified in all of this, that would be an equal if not bigger crime.