Editorial: A failure of leadership at the highest levels

Published: May 17, 2004

Editorial: A failure of leadership at the highest levels

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2903288.php

"Around the halls of the Pentagon, a term of caustic derision has emerged for the enlisted soldiers at the heart of the furor over the Abu Ghraib prison scandal: the six morons who lost the war.

Indeed, the damage done to the U.S. military and the nation as a whole by the horrifying photographs of U.S. soldiers abusing Iraqi detainees at the notorious prison is incalculable.

But the folks in the Pentagon are talking about the wrong morons.

There is no excuse for the behavior displayed by soldiers in the now-infamous pictures and an even more damning report by Army Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba. Every soldier involved should be ashamed.

But while responsibility begins with the six soldiers facing criminal charges, it extends all the way up the chain of command to the highest reaches of the military hierarchy and its civilian leadership."

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Mr. Sharkey asked me, when was the last time I read, in a semi-official u.S. government publication, the calling for not just "...the highest reaches of the military hierarchy," but, "...its civilian leadership," heads as well.

I do not recall- ever, until I read this article.

I must presume, that some of the soldiers at the Army Times are feeling a tad paranoid for those six, since they will be scapegoats, and I do not think they like it.

--WP