The author of a 53-page US Army report critical of the "sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuse" of some Iraqi prisoners told a Senate committee Tuesday that "a failure of leadership" led to the the situation.
"Failure in leadership, sir, from the brigade commander on down" was behind the abuse, Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba told Sen. John Warner, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"Lack of discipline, no training whatsoever and no supervision. Supervisory omission was rampant."
Senators including John McCain, Edward Kennedy and Carl Levin questioned Taguba.
"A few soldiers and civilians conspired to abuse and conduct egregious acts of violence against detainees and other civilians outside the bounds of international laws and the Geneva Convention," Taguba told the Senate Armed Services Committee. (Albawaba.com)
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