[Peace-discuss] Sorry about that

[Stuart Levy]

Re apologizing for 'the distress these photos cause' -- yes, exactly.

Still... too often the atrocity-of-war headlines are about people who've
run amok -- *individuals* whose actions are seen to be wrong by
the standards of the system, if enough attention can be brought
that the system can't ignore them.

But I keep thinking that the much greater harm gets done in routine
ways, by people who are just following established procedures, and
loyally Doing Their Job.  


On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 11:11:02AM -0500, Karen Medina wrote:
> Thanks for sharing this, Carl. The Army apologizes for the pictures,
> not for the actions. GRRR.
> 
> I hold this story in direct contrast to the people who claim the US
> intervention in Libya is humanitarian.
> 
> -karen medina
> 
> On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 9:32 AM, C. G. Estabrook <galliher at illinois.edu> wrote:
> > US army apologizes for Afghanistan abuse pictures
> > By Agence France-Presse
> > Monday, March 21st, 2011 -- 7:53 am
> >
> > WASHINGTON (AFP) – The US Army on Monday formally apologized "for the
> > distress" caused by pictures portraying abuse allegedly committed by
> > American troops serving in Afghanistan.
> >
> > "We apologize for the distress these photos cause," said a statement
> > released by the Army.
> >
> > German weekly Der Spiegel earlier Monday published photos that it said
> > showed two US soldiers in Afghanistan from a rogue army unit posing with
> > dead Afghans.
> >
> > Two photos, which Spiegel said US authorities had sought to keep secret,
> > appear to show two members of a unit that allegedly killed Afghan civilians
> > for sport.
> >
> > In one, a purported soldier, cigarette in hand, holds up the head of a
> > blood-spattered man who is apparently dead. In a second, another purported
> > soldier is grinning widely while also holding up the same man.
> >
> > A third photo shows two bodies propped up against a post. Again the people
> > in the picture appear to be dead.
> >
> > The Army statement said the actions seen in the pictures were "repugnant to
> > us as human beings and contrary to the standards and values of the United
> > States Army."
> >
> > It noted that the actions portrayed in these photographs were under
> > investigation and subject to ongoing US court-martial proceedings.
> >
> > "These court-martial proceedings speak for themselves," the Army pointed
> > out. "The photos appear in stark contrast to the discipline, professionalism
> > and respect that have characterized our soldiers' performance during nearly
> > 10 years of sustained operations."
> >
> > The photos relate to an ongoing high-profile case of soldiers accused of
> > killing civilians, mutilating their bodies and collecting trophies.
> >
> > Spiegel said one of the troops in the photos is Corporal Jeremy Morlock, who
> > faces charges of premeditated murder in the deaths of three Afghans.
> >
> > The other, Private Andrew Holmes, stands accused of participating in a plot
> > to execute an Afghan man in January, the magazine said.
> >
> > The plan, supposedly concocted by ringleader Sergeant Calvin Gibbs and
> > Morlock, allegedly involved shooting a civilian and tossing a Russian-made
> > grenade at the man to make it appear he was an enemy combatant.
> >
> > In November, Holmes won a temporary reprieve from legal action relating to
> > murder charges, according to his lawyer.
> >
> > Morlock is one of five soldiers charged with murder in the case, while seven
> > others are accused of trying to block the investigation, using hashish and
> > severely beating a comrade in retaliation for informing superiors.
> >
> > Spiegel said the US military tried to prevent the publication of the
> > pictures, fearing a possible backlash against its troops on the ground in
> > Afghanistan.
> >
> > The well-respected magazine said it had researched the story of the
> > so-called "Kill Team" for five months.
> >
> > "Spiegel is publishing only three of the 4,000 pictures and videos, only
> > those which are necessary for the story which needs to be told here," the
> > magazine said.
> >
> > The Army said it is committed to the Law of War and the humane and
> > respectful treatment of combatants, noncombatants and the dead.
> >
> > "When allegations of wrongdoing by soldiers surface, to include the
> > inappropriate treatment of the dead, they are fully investigated," the
> > statement said. "Soldiers who commit offenses will be held accountable as
> > appropriate."
> >
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> >
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> -- karen medina
> "The really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." - Mark Twain
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