Abuse reports point to leadership failure

Broad indictment undercuts notion of 'aberrations'ANALYSIS
By Bradley Graham

Updated: 12:41 a.m. ET Aug. 26, 2004

What began several months ago with the emergence of shocking photographs showing a handful of U.S. troops abusing detainees in Iraq has led this week to a broad indictment of U.S. military leadership and acknowledgement in two official reports that mistreatment of prisoners was more widespread than previously disclosed.

The reports have served to undercut earlier portrayals of the abuse as largely the result of criminal misconduct by a small group of individuals. As recently as last month, an assessment by the Army's inspector general concluded the incidents could not be ascribed to systemic problems, describing them as "aberrations."

But the findings yesterday of another Army investigation offered a more critical appraisal of what led to the mistreatment at Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad. It implicated 27 military intelligence personnel in abuse, providing some support for assertions by some of the seven military guards previously charged that they were not acting alone. Counting other intelligence, medical and civilian contract personnel cited for failing to report the abuse, and three more military police alleged to have engaged in abuse, the report appeared to raise to nearly 50 the number of people who may face charges or disciplinary action for misconduct at Abu Ghraib.

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More eveidence of Bush administration incompetence. Remember it was on Bush's watch when 9/11 occurred. And, we have sent nearly 1,000 American soldiers to the Deaths in Iraq on the basis of erroneous intelligence. And, geez...Bush took us from us from a surplus to the largest federal deficit in history. This administration is the most reckless and incompetent in American history. In order to get re-elected he has to have his cronies lie about John Kerry's service record.