Six years after the scandal that shocked the nation and left seven members of the group convicted of mistreatment of Abu Ghraib detainees, the 372nd Military Police Company will soon be sent back to Iraq.
According to an Army spokesman, the unit will be sent to Fort Bliss, Texas, for training later in the month, and will be sent back to Iraq some time in the summer. The Army insists they have full confidence in the unit, and noted that very few of the members from 2004 are still in the unit.
The reserve unit was initially formed in World War 2, and served in Iraq in 2003 and 2004. The nation has only recently been reactivated, after over five years of reserve status.
The seven convicted members of the company faced charges including sexual, physical and psychological abuse of prisoners of war. Of the seven only one, Charles Graner Jr., remains in prison.
I think Dr. mangle would be shamed of what the US military regime have done in Iraq, that is to say if the US military regime knows who Dr. Mangle was and what he was doing during second WW.
the correct spelling is Mengele.
š
I would hazard the guess the good doctor would state that the prisoners had not been put to good "use" in aiding the "advancement of science".
I don't think Mengele could be "shamed" at all.
A company would have what 75-200 personnel? So if only 7 got convicted of doing bad stuff, that would mean the other 68-193 are either 'good guys' or were sleeping, watching TV, in prayer or taking a dump while all the bad stuff was going on.
I think it shows a new sensitivity in the American military. Just like it took the Poles a couple of weeks to recognize a Kaminsky Uke, or a day or so to realize what the Dirlewanger Brigade was all about, most 'good' Iraqis might not recognize the steamin' 372nd. I would hope they don't advertise the fact that they're back on the job. Might be some released prisoners who'd like to revisit past times.
The bad apples are back
Did they at least adopt a new motto or patch?
MP Company 372
"We Build Pyramids"
Yes this was a little naughty but not near as bad as beheading . Just how pure does americia think their soldiers are anyway .
A sane and rational US military disbands the unit, not only for its viciousness but for endangering the occupation and making it harder for the combat soldiers.
If it does htat publicly and apoligizes it may even win some hearts and minds.
A pity more Americans don't study miliary history more closely. Caesar was very generous with his troops, and was worshiped by them, but folks like these he would have executed outright immediately, because they were endangering the whole army.
He would have also executed the helicopter pilots who murdered the Reuters reporters and for the same reason.
The US military is nothing right now but mercenary professionals with a lot of technology. Take that technology away and it is an officer corps of time servers, mediocrities, Martinets, and outright lunatics.
The only thing they are good at is killing civilians and losing wars.
This was clear enough in Vietnam. But it is typically American to rewrite the past, and thus be unable to learn from it.
A poor choice considering the taste left after the prison outrage. Could put soldiers in Iraq at more risk because of the rememberance of that Unit's history. Poor. poor descision for our brave soldiers stationed in Iraq. Iraquis don't kn ow that the unit has different members!!! Its the name of the unit.