Pentagon Briefing Senior Leaders on same page?

[Futile Talisman]

At today's Pentagon briefing in response to a question about US forces policies when working with Iraqi Government units, General Pace and Secretary Rumsfeld seemed to have a difference of opinion as to what is the standard for US commanders in reference to Iraqi Forces actions.

Answering the question from UPI's Pam Hess, General Pace advised that US troops were obligated to prevent abuses from happening if committed by Iraqi troops or police. Rumsfeld then asked Pace for clarification, indicating that he believed that US troops were only obligated to report it to the chain of command. Pace repeated that if in their presence that US troops must "try" to prevent abuse.

Do US troops get clear guidlines on this subject? It seemed that the senior leadership was not sure. This divergance of thought at the senior level was surprising. And maybe they guys on the ground are left to make the call and could be left holding the bag.

[Lanton]

In light of the Abu Grab (is that how you spell it?) scandal, plus the public perception of alleged abuse of detainees elsewhere in Iraq and Afghanistan by US and Coalition forces, perhaps there's a view at the Pentagon that they're no longer gonna take the heat over policies handed down from the civilians at the Pentagon and White House regarding prisoner-handling procedures.

Perhaps the Generals are just making certain that they're on record as saying that their boys in Iraq and Afghanistan are being proactive in preventing prisoner abuse from happening and doing something about any abuse of prisoners by the Iraqi authorities.

[Futile Talisman]

Proactive is good. It is just that a few years back I saw a documentary on SF training that had excerpts from Robin Sage. A leader of the indigenous forces that the training ODA was working with " killed " a suspected informer during the exercise.

My recollection is that the team Captain and the rest of the detachment were attempting to intervene verbally but she was brought out to the rear of the camp and "executed" anyway. I do not recollect if they showed the instructor's critique of the training evolution.

It just seems like a real tough position to be in while working with indigs. I guess the news conference today just made me think about it a little more.