corrente

The Fog Machine created by deliberately confused chain of command seems to be insulating the higher-ups from real responsibility; the usual Bush strategy of "plausible deniability."

So, can we forget the whole thing after a few show trials of privates and sergeants? Seems to be what's happening: Except some honest Republicans—yes, apparently they exist—are trying to keep the issue alive, as anyone who cares about Constitional government should be doing.

Disparate inquiries into abuses of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan have so far left crucial questions of policy and operations unexamined, according to lawmakers from both parties and outside military experts, who say that the accountability of senior officers and Pentagon officials may remain unanswered as a result.

Senator Lindsay O. Graham, Republican of South Carolina, said he was troubled that the only criminal cases brought so far involved seven low-ranking soldiers from the 372nd Military Police Company. He said he believed that there was "command failure at many levels that could be criminally culpable."

Senator Susan M. Collins, Republican of Maine, said "one of the critical unanswered questions" is at the heart of General Fay's review.

"We really don't have an picture of whether this abuse was the brainchild of a small number of prison guards or whether it was something created or condoned by military intelligence officials," she said.

Representative Heather Wilson, a New Mexico Republican and former Air Force officer, was unsparing in her assessment of the House's investigative oversight role to date: "We should be doing this directly and bluntly, and in the House we are not. It's been very disappointing to me."

As usual, it's those who really care about the military who are appalled by the Abu Ghraib torture, unlike the chickenhawks, neo-cons, and Republican operatives generally.

Of course, Rummy has set up a commission!

Mr. Rumsfeld, facing criticism over his leadership and calls from some Democrats to resign, last month appointed a four-member panel, led by James R. Schlesinger, a former defense secretary, to assess whether the inquiries are sufficient. The commission plans to begin interviews on June 14 at the Pentagon and by teleconference with officers in Iraq

Though it seems some dishonest Republican commission members have already made up their minds.

One of its members, Tillie K. Fowler, a former Republican congresswoman from Florida, ... made it clear that Mr. Rumsfeld was not a focus. "The secretary is an honest, decent, honorable man, who'd never condone this type of activity. This was not a tone set by the secretary."

So it's starting to look like a YACI—Yet Another Criminal investigation of the Bush regime. And so far, all the YACIs have led to nothing, since the administration is very skilled at this form of warfare, at least.

Mr. Hutson, the former Navy judge advocate, said [that] "I think in a very narrow sense we'll see that justice was done for the seven low-level soldiers, or whatever number it ends of being," he said. "Whether justice is done for the more senior people implicated remains to be seen. I don't hold out great hope that any of these investigations are going to result in that."
(via Times)

Not with a bang of a whimper.

Izvestia on the Hudson—thanks for doing your part. There was a time when a disaster like Abu Ghraib would call for... What's the phrase, it's on the tip of my tongue... Damn... Some investigative reporting, but not at today's Pulitzer-light, demoralized, and increasingly irrelevant Times. They get themselves spoon fed, and then complain about the nutrition.

Thank God for Seymour Hersh, and let's hope he's got something this week.