Eutrusca
01-12-2005, 15:56
COMMENTARY: In the exchange between General Pace and Secretary Rumsfeld, General Pace was correct ... any American soldier witnessing abuse is duty-bound to attempt to stop it. I'm just wondering what the consequences to General Pace will be for contradicting his boss. Heh!
Pace: Troops must stop abuse when they see it (http://www.military.com/earlybrief/0,,,00.html)
By William C. Mann
Associated Press
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.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld contradicted Pace, telling him he believed the general meant to say the U.S. soldiers had to report the abuse, not stop it.
Pace stood firm. “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.
Noting that the United States and its allies train Iraqi forces, a questioner asked whether foreigners might be responsible for preventing mistreatment of people under arrest.
“There are a lot of people involved in this, dozens of countries trying to help train these Iraqi forces. Any instance of inhumane behavior is obviously worrisome and harmful to them when that occurs,” Rumsfeld said. “Iraq knows, of certain knowledge, that they need the support of the international community. And a good way to lose it is to make a practice of something that is inconsistent with the values of the international community.”
He added: “Now, you know, I can’t go any further in talking about it. Obviously, the United States does not have a responsibility when a sovereign country engages in something that they disapprove of.”
Pace, asked what orders the troops have to handle such incidents, said: “It is absolutely the responsibility of every U.S. service member if they see inhumane treatment being conducted, to intervene, to stop it.”
He said soldiers who hear of but don’t see an incident should deal with it through superiors of the offending Iraqis.
That’s when Rumsfeld stepped to the microphone and said: “I don’t think you mean they have an obligation to physically stop it. It’s to report it.”
Pace then repeated to Rumsfeld that intervening when witnessing abuse is the order, not reporting it.
Pace: Troops must stop abuse when they see it (http://www.military.com/earlybrief/0,,,00.html)
By William C. Mann
Associated Press
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.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld contradicted Pace, telling him he believed the general meant to say the U.S. soldiers had to report the abuse, not stop it.
Pace stood firm. “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.
Noting that the United States and its allies train Iraqi forces, a questioner asked whether foreigners might be responsible for preventing mistreatment of people under arrest.
“There are a lot of people involved in this, dozens of countries trying to help train these Iraqi forces. Any instance of inhumane behavior is obviously worrisome and harmful to them when that occurs,” Rumsfeld said. “Iraq knows, of certain knowledge, that they need the support of the international community. And a good way to lose it is to make a practice of something that is inconsistent with the values of the international community.”
He added: “Now, you know, I can’t go any further in talking about it. Obviously, the United States does not have a responsibility when a sovereign country engages in something that they disapprove of.”
Pace, asked what orders the troops have to handle such incidents, said: “It is absolutely the responsibility of every U.S. service member if they see inhumane treatment being conducted, to intervene, to stop it.”
He said soldiers who hear of but don’t see an incident should deal with it through superiors of the offending Iraqis.
That’s when Rumsfeld stepped to the microphone and said: “I don’t think you mean they have an obligation to physically stop it. It’s to report it.”
Pace then repeated to Rumsfeld that intervening when witnessing abuse is the order, not reporting it.