You've very likely heard of Army Reserve Specialist Charles Graner. He's in jail for his role of torturing prisoners at Abu Ghraib.
You've probably not heard of his former Direct Supervisor - Captain Christopher Brinson. (pictured here quite possibly celebrating his carried out orders)
Not only is he not in jail, but he is Deputy Chief of Staff for Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers (AL-03) whose duties include - Oversight of all legislative and Appropriations operations and Homeland Security
Just another example of Mike Rogers lack of judgment and utter incompetence as a Congressman. What Graner did was wrong, but what is even more troubling that nobody higher up has been prosecuted. Especially Brinson
Brinson was in direct supervision of some of the officers charged and prosecuted
A senior staffer to a Republican congressman revealed Thursday that he has been formally reprimanded by the Army for his role in the Abu Ghraib detainee abuse scandal -- and that he is fighting the disciplinary move. He says that higher-ups were responsible for the treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib.
U.S. Army Reserve Capt. Christopher R. Brinson, who in civilian life works as the deputy chief of staff for Alabama Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, was directly in charge of some of the military police later prosecuted for abuse at Abu Ghraib during the notorious autumn of 2003. Brinson received the reprimand in January 2006, but it had not been revealed publicly until his attorney, David P. Sheldon, confirmed it to Salon Thursday, noting that Brinson has since submitted a rebuttal to the Army. The attorney would not reveal the exact reason for Brinson's punishment.
Graner claims that Brinson instructed him
In the April interview with CID, Graner said Brinson instructed him to follow the orders of military intelligence, even though Graner claims to have complained about the harsh tactics.
Graner said he told Brinson, "MI wants us to do this. That's not our job." According to Graner, Brinson replied, "Hey, our mission is to support MI. Do what they tell you to do."
We've learned just recently did Brinson not reprimand Graner, but he essentially issued a slap on the back attaboy note
When his company commander, Captain Christopher Brinson, and one of Brinson’s deputies, Master Sergeant Brian Lipinski, stopped by, Graner said, he made the other prisoners crawl to their cells while Brinson and Lipinski watched. Graner also said that, in addition to medics and his superior officers, lawyers from the Judge Advocate General’s Corps frequently visited the cellblock and saw the abuse that went on there. Graner interpreted their presence to be "implied consent that this was all O.K.," he said. In fact, two days later, Brinson, who in civilian life is a top aide to Representative Mike Rogers, Republican of Alabama, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued a Developmental Counselling Form to Graner. Such a form is normally used for reprimands, but what Brinson wrote sounded more like a commendation: "CPL Graner, you are doing a fine job. . . . You have received many accolades. . . . Continue to perform at this level and it will help us succeed at our overall mission."
Of course we would like to see Brinson and others who were in direct supervision of the torturing be prosecuted. And of course we could still correct the injustices of whom was prosecuted.
However, what we also should take from this diary is that should get rid of Mike Rogers who thinks nothing is wrong with having someone who ordered torture in his Congressional Office. Luckily we have a great candidate, Josh Segall, who is running against Mike Rogers in 2010.
We've got to elect good progressive candidates and Josh certainly is a great one. Most of you know Josh as he almost defeated Rogers in 2008.
I've added Josh to our Progressive Electorate 2010 Page and I'm asking you to help support him.
* Hat tip to several for their help in encouraging and providing leads for this diary including
Mooncat at Left in Alabama and
CornSyrupAwareness who posts here