Stars and Stripes letter signed by 12 generals (ret) opposing Gonzales

[lebkuchen]

Gonzales not right fit for GIs

As retired professional military leaders of the U.S. armed forces, we are deeply concerned about the nomination of Alberto R. Gonzales to be attorney general. We feel that his views concerning the role of the Geneva Conventions in U.S. detention and interrogation policy and practice have put soldiers in harm’s way.

During his tenure as White House counsel, Gonzales appears to have played a significant role in shaping U.S. detention and interrogation operations in Afghanistan; Iraq; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and elsewhere.

Today, it is clear that these operations have:

Fostered greater animosity toward the United States;
Undermined our intelligence-gathering efforts; and
Added to the risks facing our troops serving around the world.
Before Gonzales assumes the position of attorney general, it is critical to understand whether he intends to adhere to the positions he adopted as White House counsel or chart a revised course more consistent with fulfilling our nation’s complex security interests — and maintaining a military that operates within the rule of law.

Among his past actions that concern us most, Gonzales wrote to the president on Jan. 25, 2002, advising him that the Geneva Conventions did not apply to the conflict then under way in Afghanistan. The reasoning Gonzales advanced in this memo was rejected by many military leaders at the time, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, who argued that abandoning the Geneva Conventions would put our soldiers at greater risk and would “reverse over a century of U.S. policy and practice in supporting the Geneva Conventions.”

Perhaps most troubling of all, the White House decision to depart from the Geneva Conventions in Afghanistan went hand in hand with the decision to relax the definition of torture and to alter interrogation doctrine accordingly. These changes in doctrine have led to uncertainty and confusion in the field, contributing to the abuses of detainees at Abu Ghraib and elsewhere, and undermining the mission and morale of our troops.

The full extent of Gonzales’ role in endorsing or implementing the interrogation practices the world has now seen remains unclear. A series of memos prepared at his direction in 2002 recommended official authorization of harsh interrogation methods, including waterboarding, feigned suffocation and sleep deprivation.

The United States’ commitment to the Geneva Conventions — the laws of war — flows not only from field experience, but also from the moral principles on which this country was founded, and by which we all continue to be guided.

We urge senators to take into account the effects of Gonzales’ advice on U.S. detention and interrogation policy and practice.

Marine Brig. Gen. David M. Brahms (retired)
Carlsbad, Calif.

The letter also was signed by: Army Brig. Gen. James Cullen (retired), Army Brig. Gen. Evelyn P. Foote (retired), Army Lt. Gen. Robert Gard (retired), Navy Vice Adm. Lee F. Gunn (retired), Navy Rear Adm. Don Guter (retired), Marine Gen. Joseph Hoar (retired), Navy Rear Adm. John D. Hutson (retired), Army Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy (retired), Air Force Gen. Merrill McPeak (retired), Army Maj. Gen. Melvyn Montano (retired), Army Gen. John Shalikashvili (retired).


http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=26767

[diamond14]

1. the military is now turning against the 'boy king'....always a bad sign

for those claiming to be sent-by-gawwwwddddd.....

[Straight Shooter]

2. Also, CREW has just filed a complaint against Gonzales

"Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the State Bar of Texas requesting an investigation into misrepresentations White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales made in a written response to a question posed to him by the Senate Judiciary Committee which is considering Gonzales’s nomination for Attorney General.

The complaint alleges that Gonzales inaccurately portrayed his role in appearing before a Texas court when President Bush, then Governor of Texas, was summoned for jury duty. Gonzales has claimed that although he appeared in court with the Governor, he merely observed the defense counsel make a motion to strike the Governor from the jury panel and then when asked by the Judge whether the Governor had any views on this, replied that he did not."

http://www.citizensforethics.org/press/newsrelease.php?view=30

Gonzales is a sleazebag. Haven't we suffered enough damage to our reputation as a "moral" country? When will Congress understand that enough is enough, for cryin' out loud.

[jayctravis]

14. So...Bush weaseled out of jury duty?

Guess it is a conflict of interest for a governor.

[madison2000]

3. fantastic

That career military people speak out means a lot.

[oneighty]

5. One cannot help

but notice many did not obtain serious rank. That tells me that while on active duty they DID NOT play the military kiss ass political game that leads to two stars three stars four stars.

In other words they put country and subordinates before personal ambition. I am pleased one of them carries my (Rare) family name.

180

[lebkuchen]

12. One of the signators is the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Look for his name at the end of the list.

[oneighty]

16. Yes I noticed

180

[lebkuchen]

19. You're Polish?

:)

[oneighty]

20. I think

perhaps you did not read my comments correctly. As a former military type I can affirm from personal observation that it is generally the political adept that gain great rank in the service. This goes for both enlisted and commissioned persons.

I am not surprised to see lower ranking officers being against Bush policy BECAUSE they WERE NOT ass kissers and military politicians). It is surprising to see really high ranking officers go against Bush policies.

That is all.

180

[oneighty]

21. Post Script

Not Polish but I feel stupid.

That went right over my head.

Hee hee hee!

180

[lebkuchen]

22. What name is rarer than

Shalikashvili?

I know you get it.

:)

[GOPFighter]

4. Fantastic!

Just the thought of my country, the United States of America, the country I've loved and respected all my life, would even consider the use of torture, TORTURE!, makes me furious. Someday the whole truth will come out and this whole gang of political devils will go down in shame. I'm so glad good people are speaking out!

[Demrock6]

6. Here, here!

It seems like the good people are saying enough is enough. Even though Democrats are in the minority, some Republicans are even standing up to bush* and his crap. Social Security is probably the biggest one, some Republicans are also not so hot for Alberto or Condi, getting high power cabinet positions.

But these former Military personal are some brave people. Put their life on the line their entire life and now are going to probably get a lot of crap for speaking out about an appointee.

[hector459]

7. Has the MSM reported on this? FOX news, ?

They are so quick to quote "generals."

[ohtransplant]

8. I wish this letter was on one of those petition web sites.

so all veterans could sign it!

I bet if they beat the bushes, more senior officer would be willing to stand up.

Slowly, *'s coalition of the misguided is falling apart.

[alfredo]

9. Send it with the link to

your senator.

[lebkuchen]

11. I will, along with these two letters, which were printed Sun and Mon

Hopefully there will be a snowball effect in Stripes on Gonzales in particular and Rumsfeld in general. They both have to go.


Abu Ghraib offers lessons

It looks like the Army and the Pentagon have been successful in localizing and isolating the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal to a few unfortunate lower-enlisted soldiers. These soldiers were indeed guilty for mistreating Iraqi prisoners and deserved to be punished. There is no possible way, however, that prisoner abuses of this magnitude could possibly have taken place without the acquiescence of higher headquarters, or the dereliction of duty by higher headquarters to not have noticed what was happening in Abu Ghraib prison.

By blaming the whole scandal on some lower-enlisted soldiers, the Army and the Pentagon successfully protect those higher up in the chain of command who should have stopped what was happening, who ordered the abuses, who never properly trained the soldiers serving as guards, or who were not aware of what was occurring in that prison — but should have been.

This prisoner abuse scandal is a good example for senior noncommissioned officers and officers how not to allow your lower-enlisted soldiers to be made into scapegoats for policy-makers. U.S. soldiers might be curious about when the higher-ranking officials who were in charge of Abu Ghraib will be facing their own charges relating to the prisoner abuses that took place there.

Staff Sgt. Thomas P. Murt
Hatboro, Pa.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=26745


Where were prison supervisors?

It seems to me that something is amiss totally in the Abu Ghraib prisoner-abuse scandal.

I also was embarrassed when I first saw the photos and heard of the breaking abuse scandal. I fully agree that these actions are immoral, indecent, intolerable and against the Geneva Conventions.

I sometimes tend to agree with some writers when they say, “So what?” Do these fanatic terrorists have any remorse about the crimes they commit against their own countrymen, our soldiers, and innocent civilians and children?

However, these actions are illegal and deserve punishment. What I cannot come to terms with, and accept, is that a junior enlisted reservist, an E-4, could manage to put together and be ring master to such a “band of rogue guards” without being noticed.

These actions didn’t just happen in a blink of the eye, and in an isolated corner, or back room. These actions took time, and occurred over a period of time.

My question is, where were the senior enlisted, and officers, when this abuse was taking place? Were these supervisors never in the work area where these actions took place? The military/civilian interrogators surely outrank this “ring master,” and had to be present in the environment. How could these professionals not notice what was happening around them?

Anyone would agree that if the senior chain of command didn’t see what was happening under its eyes, then it was negligent or absent in its duties also. You can delegate authority, but you can’t delegate responsibility.

Will there be any senior-level personnel in positions of responsibility courts-martialed and serving sentences, or was the explanations of “I wasn’t aware of these actions under my command” accepted.

Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth A. Cox (Ret.)
Stuttgart, Germany

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=26744

[alfredo]

18. When bush bullied the ICC into granting immunity from international

law, he was delegating responsibility. What we have seen so far are show trials, a put on show making it appear he actually cares about the Geneva convention.

[leesa]

10. You'd think they would have similar complaints about Rice and the Boy King

Good for them and their efforts.

[theresistance]

13. The Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change

came out before the election opposing Bush. See
http://www.diplomatsforchange.com/mission/mission.shtml

This group consists of 27 former senior commander and diplomats. Only two on the above Gonzales letter are already members of DMCC. The should also join this group.

[Karenina]

15. Kick!

:kick:

[NVMojo]

17. Excellent!

kick!

[theresistance]

24. Further to my post#13

I meant to say that "The others should join..."

[LeftHander]

23. They were probably forced into retirement

by the Neo-fascists now in charge...

[Joanne98]

25. Great! now the Dems have something to run with.