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Four Corners transcript
Jun. 8th, 2004 11:54 amAnd the transcript of that program is up now.
BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK KIMMITT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR COALITION OPERATIONS, IRAQ: There were some accepted passive techniques that the military police could use to assist in, uh, the interrogation process.
LIZ JACKSON: So you're saying that he was... The phrase that they should be 'actively engaged' actually meant that they should indulge in passive techniques?
BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK KIMMITT: Uh, that has been misinterpreted by some people, yes. You're exactly right. Uh, their techniques should be passive but their roles should be active.
It also offers a plausible explanation for why those photos were taken: they were used to intimidate incoming Iraqi prisoners.
I concur with Ken Roth's comments about Graner, Frederick et al. - 'just following orders' doesn't excuse their behaviour. But it does mean that they were only the tip of the iceberg, and if they want to talk about who gave those illegal orders that suits me fine. Even if one completely disregards their claims as a last-ditch attempt to save their own skins, the report details plenty of other evidence that the use of torture and violation of the Geneva Conventions was sanctioned at a much higher level.
Edit: In distantly-related news, George W. Bush is apparently looking at hiring a private criminal defense lawyer in relation to the Valerie Plame leak investigation. Velly interesting indeed.
BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK KIMMITT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR COALITION OPERATIONS, IRAQ: There were some accepted passive techniques that the military police could use to assist in, uh, the interrogation process.
LIZ JACKSON: So you're saying that he was... The phrase that they should be 'actively engaged' actually meant that they should indulge in passive techniques?
BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK KIMMITT: Uh, that has been misinterpreted by some people, yes. You're exactly right. Uh, their techniques should be passive but their roles should be active.
It also offers a plausible explanation for why those photos were taken: they were used to intimidate incoming Iraqi prisoners.
I concur with Ken Roth's comments about Graner, Frederick et al. - 'just following orders' doesn't excuse their behaviour. But it does mean that they were only the tip of the iceberg, and if they want to talk about who gave those illegal orders that suits me fine. Even if one completely disregards their claims as a last-ditch attempt to save their own skins, the report details plenty of other evidence that the use of torture and violation of the Geneva Conventions was sanctioned at a much higher level.
Edit: In distantly-related news, George W. Bush is apparently looking at hiring a private criminal defense lawyer in relation to the Valerie Plame leak investigation. Velly interesting indeed.
