We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:52:35 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification I'm sorry this is so long. I'm having a Cassandra moment. Indulge me. I won't lie. I had an attitude when I ordered the book. I've always been just fine with the Commanding General of Abu Ghraib getting relieved. In these pages I've grumped that not enough officers have yet sat in the dock, accounting to a Court for their actions or inaction. I've noted the trials and convictions. I've mocked Karpinski's post-retirement embracing of the Moonbats as she acts like a camo'd Mother Sheehan. I was especially appalled by the Amazon page for her book - which I parodied... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html Thu, 01 Jun 2006 08:17:43 -0600 Early on in the press coverage of the Abu Ghraib scandal, Karpinski appeared on TV and said, "I can't be held responsible for this." (Or, something close to that, essential part being "I'm Not Responsible.") Bull. AR 600-20, Army Command Policy, says "A commander is responsible for everything his unit does or fails to do." For a GO to appear in public and say, "I'm Not Responsible" is really weak. I don't see how she could fight her way that far up the chain of command, and still not understand that she was responsible. For me, she lost any credibility right there. Thanks for the review. I may actually have to read this for material for the RC commanders I train. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45957 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45957 Sat, 03 Jun 2006 19:29:46 -0600 I'm with Maggie on this one - better you than me. I do appreciate your analysis though. I'd much rather hear your thoughts than read her excuses. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45919 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45919 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 21:47:09 -0600 see what i mean? thx for your thoughts on the matter. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45910 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45910 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 13:37:45 -0600 Great review, John. Maybe if COL Karpinski had remembered that sometimes that "adult" communication, along with "clearly and reasonably"...means the communication is one way, top to bottom, not a discussion and not a consensus, a large part of the whole incident could have been avoided. And that catchprase of today's Army, "take care of Soldiers", needs to be stricken from the Army vocabulary. A true leader does not "take care of Soldiers", they train them to take care of themselves. Keep up the good work! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45909 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45909 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 13:29:15 -0600 inside cellblock 1A, which is not the MP chain of command, but the 205th MI Brigade.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45907 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45907 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 11:00:20 -0600 John -- My mistake... I neglected to check out the portion of the post "behind the cut." (Mental note to make sure to do that every time from now on). Mea culpa. Anyway, there is a UCMJ article (I'd have to look it up) that was used in the trial of Capt. Fulton, the commander of the basic training company here whose drill sergeants were accused of trainee abuse. He was eventually found guilty of the charge of negligent dereliction of duty. I do understand charging those whose hands were actually involved in the abuse at Abu Ghraib, but the sheer number of those indicted seems to indicate at the very least a failure on some command level. Anyway, sorry for skipping the meat of your post before posting. I read the first bit and got excited since I had an Army source fresh in memory. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45906 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45906 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 10:48:08 -0600 I should also point out, that for the most point, my intent with the post was to discuss Karpinski, and not all the peripheral players. I can entertain a notion that Sanchez should have paid a more visible price than he has, but the reality is as Lex termed it - Karpinski is the first flag in the chain. As such, she is the confluence of all the command responsibility therein contained - absent, as I mentioned, 'smoking gun' policy documents, statements, etc, on the part of more senior officers. Regardless of who else should possibly be whacked, one way or another, by the cudgel of justice, Karpinski earned her relief. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45905 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45905 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 10:45:25 -0600 She was the confluence of command responsibility. And she paid the commander's price for failure. Whether or not others should also pay is a story yet to be written. Colonel Thomas Pappas, who commanded the interrogators of the 205th MI Brigade, took an Article 15 proceeding vice a Courts Martial for dereliction. His career ended in a whimper and a fine. LTC Jordan, one of Pappas' officers, is facing a Court for his role in the events at Abu Ghraib. Several of the NCOs and other soldiers involved have gone to jail, as well as the two most infamous players in the drama, Charles Graner and Lynndie England. LTC Jerry Phillabaum, who commanded the 320th MP Battalion at Abu Ghraib was removed from the promotion list and thus had his career end badly over the issue. The reality is, the farther you ripple out from an event like this, the harder it is to pin *criminal* vice command, responsibility. And the farther away the command lies from the epicenter - absent smoking gun policy documents, orders, etc, the harder it is to justify outright relief, vice a quiet end to a career. In that regard it will be instructive to see if LTG Sanchez retires from V Corps, or moves on to a different job and an eventual fourth star, as his predecessor at V Corps, GEN Scott Wallace, who now has his 4th star and command of TRADOC. I'm not read in, but I'm guessing LTG Sanchez, widely considered competitive for a 4th star before Abu Ghraib, goes to Fort Livingroom as a 3 star. Pappas may still be serving, but that's because he hasn't chosen to retire. Karpinski and Phillabaum did so choose. As for the junior enlisted going to jail, they were found to be proximately involved in the events, vice holders of command responsibility, which doesn't necessarily translate to criminal culpability. As I discussed in the "expanding ripples" comment in the piece. And LTC Jordan *is* facing a court (follow the link provided).]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45904 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45904 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 10:40:46 -0600 I should add a couple relevant details. While Pappas wasn't court-martialed, he did recieve an Article 15, was fined $8,000, and was relieved of command. But he kept his rank and he's still serving. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45903 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45903 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 10:31:17 -0600 John - thanks so much for reading that for us. There, did that seems nice? My one nice thing of the day *crosses off list* http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45901 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45901 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 10:14:45 -0600 I'll probably still read it. Just to be able to say I did. However if I was a betting man I'd be willing to place them that its because of that chip, and that Blind Spot that she's running to the Moonbats with open arms. She needs someone who will give her solace and say she's correct. Even if she's wrong. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45900 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45900 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 10:00:34 -0600 Excellent review John. A very thorough and thoughtful reflection on the topic, and the officer in question. I believe your assessment of COL Karpinski, her leadership, and her specific responsibility for Abu Ghraib will ultimately be the most accurate, historically. And yes, thanks for reading it for us. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45899 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45899 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 09:54:00 -0600 She fails in the end to take any forthright blame for the events, by deflecting as you noted. That's not a good leadership trait, and to now embrace the moonbatty side of the anti-war movements is just a further peek at the iceberg of reality. I appreciate you taking on the task, and providing such a thoughtful review, John. Now I don't need to read it. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45898 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45898 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 09:06:58 -0600 Yeah, I just noticed that. I hit publish and left for the cube farm, and just checked in to see if it posted. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45897 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45897 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 09:06:22 -0600 Good review, John - thanks. Concur that as the first flag in the chain, the responsibility to fix those things left broken in the policies was hers. Too bad if they were only clear in retrospect, but that's a flag's job too. Why they get paid those big bucks. And you left off a stray /i tag in there, somewhere. By the way. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45896 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/06/janis_karpinski_unwrapped.html#comment-45896 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 08:54:58 -0600