Marine Gen Stands Firm to Rumsfeld on Prisoner Abuse

oldsam · 11-30-2005, 10:45 AM

Pace: Troops Must Prevent Iraqi Abuse
Wednesday, November 30, 2005

WASHINGTON — The nation's top military man, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, said American troops in Iraq have a duty to intercede and stop abuse of prisoners by Iraqi security personnel.

When Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld contradicted Pace, the general stood firm.

Rumsfeld told the general he believed Pace meant to say the U.S. soldiers had to report the abuse, not stop it.

Pace stuck to his original statement.

"If they are physically present when inhumane treatment is taking place, sir, they have an obligation to try to stop it," Pace told his civilian boss.

The unusual exchange occurred during a discussion at a news conference about the relationship between U.S. forces in Iraq and an Iraqi government considered sovereign by the United States.

stevepaa · 11-30-2005, 01:03 PM

And people wonder how the lowly guards ever thought it was okay. It starts at the top.

Rodeo · 11-30-2005, 01:49 PM

I saw that exchange while on the treadmill at lunch. Good for Gen. Pace.

Rumsfeld should have been fired two years ago.

DavidI · 11-30-2005, 03:36 PM

General Pace upholding the Marine Corps motto of "Semper Fi" (always faithful).

David

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Good man, Pace. I think he's representative of the vast majority of our senior military. Decent people doing a difficult job. My problem is with their civilian bosses.

RallyJon · 11-30-2005, 05:41 PM

Rumsfeld actually said that at a news conference? That's a pretty major gaffe, especially for a guy who prides himself as being Mr. Smooth with the media.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by RallyJon
Rumsfeld actually said that at a news conference? That's a pretty major gaffe, especially for a guy who prides himself as being Mr. Smooth with the media.

But it was also Rummy who 'positively knew where the WMDs were.'

"We know where they are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat."

Joeaksa · 11-30-2005, 06:03 PM

You guys are like a broken record. In the last 2-3 years you cannot find anything else to go after Bush and Rummy on? To be under this type of microscope from all you liberals and cannot find any other issue, these guys must be squeeky clean...

JoeA

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeaksa
You guys are like a broken record. In the last 2-3 years you cannot find anything else to go after Bush and Rummy on? To be under this type of microscope from all you liberals and cannot find any other issue, these guys must be squeeky clean...

JoeA

Tell you what. When the product of their lies stops killing and maiming American soldiers, I'll stop mentioning the "imminent threat" we sent them to respond to.

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

I watched the briefing and it appeared that they were talking different things and both were correct. If a military member knows about/suspects potential abuse by Iraqi soldiers...he reports it. If they are "physically present" while abuse is occurring...they are obligated to stop it.
General Pace is a fine Marine, but does not like to speak to the press. He and Rumsfeld were out of sync throughout the press briefing. Rumsfeld took my advice and said we would no longer call the terrorists "insurgents"...and Pace was so used to calling them that ...he just kept doing it (Bushlike)..then struggling to correct himself.