Mark Danner has argued persuaively that we're in the age of the "Frozen Scandal." He introduced it in reference to the torture scandal, why nobody has been held to account, and the effects of that. (Indeed, the top people involved in that scandal appear to have a funny tendency of nailing promotions.)
"The great problem in this new age is that revelation is followed by nothing but more revelation," says Danner. There are no overarching investigations, and no punishment of those most responsible, so that "it's as if we're this spinning wheel, constantly confirming facts that we already knew" and "the revelations become less and less effective in causing public outrage."
One thing to look at the Frozen Age is how investigations end up playing multiple roles, one of them being an effort to keep away from blaming top officials. Take a look at a report in Salon today.
A bit of background: After the Abu Ghraib photos, one Pentagon investigation was tasked to look at alleged abuse at Gitmo. The head of that investigation conlcuded that there had indeed been abuse and wanted to formally admonish the then-commander of Gitmo, Maj. General Miller. He was overruled. (He also found evidence of Rumsfeld's involvement, but his report was not allowed to look at policy issues or policy-makers, so that didn't go in the conclusion.)
After he left Gitmo, Miller was assigned to...Abu Ghraib, as it happens right around the time the abuse blossomed there.
What Salon came across is more evidence that the Army and investigators know which way the wind is blowing and really don't want to go there:
Army investigators have employed a hairsplitting distinction between a small group "briefing" and "direct discussions" to exonerate Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, a central figure in the detainee abuse scandals, of allegations that he lied to Congress.
OK, so they're covering for Miller. But what did Miller lie about? Back to Salon:
The Army inspector general has concluded that Miller, who set up detention operations at Abu Ghraib just before the infamous abuse there, did brief a top Pentagon intelligence official about his work at the Iraqi prison. Miller had been accused of lying under oath to Congress in May 2004, when he told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he had "no direct discussions" with Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence Stephen Cambone.
So the "investigators" turn out to lend a blind-eye to policy-makers. Just the kind of thing that calls out for congressional investigation. Oh, right. Well, then, carry on.
wasn't there a female lieutenant that was found guilty and sent to prison for the Abu Ghraib abuse?
Posted by: smthnglikehmn | April 26, 2006 at 05:13 PM