Former Australian army lawyer says Rumsfeld's handling of Iraq almost criminal

[Barrett808]

Source: Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia: Former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's handling of the Iraq war verged on criminal negligence, a former Australian army lawyer turned political candidate said Tuesday.

Col. Mike Kelly, who ended a 20-year military career last week to run as an opposition candidate at federal elections later this year, gave his first television interview about his experiences in Iraq to Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Kelly, who was among the most senior Australian officers in Iraq during 2003 and 2004, was scathing of Rumsfeld's role.

"If I look at people like Donald Rumsfeld, all I can say is, that verges on criminal negligence," Kelly told the ABC of Rumsfeld's failure to acknowledge problems in Iraq.

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/22/asia/AS-GEN-Australia-US-Iraq.php

[YOY]

1. almost?

n/t

[indepat]

2. Rummy reportedly failed to acknowledge and blew off a major impending terrorist attack in the days

before 9-11. Has Rummy gotten his medal of freedom yet?

[Demeter]

3. What Was the Saving Grace Here, That Keeps It From Being Criminal?

The fact that he was following orders?

[Kagemusha]

4. Immunity for the performance of official acts in his official capacity.

His job was to direct the military in times of war, peace and everything in between. He did so. He did nothing outside that responsibility. There's nothing technically criminal about that; there can be nothing technically criminal about that.

[Demeter]

5. Not Even Illegal Torture and Violations of Geneva?

[Kagemusha]

6. If it's illegal, it's not within his official responsibility, is it!?

That's like arguing that if Rumsfeld took an MP-5 and shot up a department store that official immunity would cover his actions. Like hell it would.

That is most certainly not what this Aussie was referring to, though. His reference was to the legitimate but very, very poor conduct of the war from a POV of competence. You know, looting = outbreak of freedom, and all that.

[Demeter]

7. Bet It Wouldn't Fly At Nuremburg (or the Hague)

[Kagemusha]

8. I hate to say this, but it depends on one's definition of "it".

The "it" that is the subject of this thread is the conduct of the war as competence. And that is all.

Why?

Because you do not torture people by accident. Negligence does not apply.

[Hekate]

9. Almost? I spit my Chinese-made toothpaste in his mother's milk.

With ;-) to Hemingway and "free" trade.

Hekate

[krkaufman]

10. Taking a swing at Rummy is easy, since he's out. Hasn't Bush been just as obtuse?

[Barrett808]

11. But is Rummy really out?

His resignation letter seems to be quite elusive.

[Solly Mack]

12. Almost? Almost? Shut the fuck up with that almost shit

[grytpype]

13. Former Australian army lawyer says Rumsfeld's handling of Iraq almost criminal

Source: International Herald Tribune

CANBERRA, Australia: Former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's handling of the Iraq war verged on criminal negligence, a former Australian army lawyer turned political candidate said Tuesday.

Col. Mike Kelly, who ended a 20-year military career last week to run as an opposition candidate at federal elections later this year, gave his first television interview about his experiences in Iraq to Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Kelly, who was among the most senior Australian officers in Iraq during 2003 and 2004, was scathing of Rumsfeld's role.

"If I look at people like Donald Rumsfeld, all I can say is, that verges on criminal negligence," Kelly told the ABC of Rumsfeld's failure to acknowledge problems in Iraq.

"We knew exactly what needed to be done," Kelly told the ABC.

"Then Rumsfeld came in and overruled that concept and basically threw it out the window and that was where things really started to go wrong," he said.

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/22/asia/AS-GEN-Australia-US-Iraq.php

[acmavm]

14. Almost?

[NV Whino]

15. You can remove the "almost."

[guitar man]

16. I almost agree with him nt

[BikeWriter]

17. We already knew that!

[boobooday]

18. beyond criminal n/t