Congressman: Prison oversight plan was rejected (R-IN)

[sjdnb]

Saturday, May 8, 2004 Posted: 5:29 PM EDT (2129 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A congressman with experience in military detention said Saturday that the Pentagon rejected an Army plan to send him to oversee Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison in the early months of the war in Iraq.

Rep. Steve Buyer said he was disappointed by the decision -- which came months before the Army first reported allegations that prisoners at Abu Ghraib were being abused.

"It was pretty dumbfounding to me," he told CNN, "and disappointing that the Army had this plan to send me and the said no."

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/05/08/iraq.abuse.main/index.html

He served the 800th Military Police Brigade -- the same brigade assigned to Abu Ghraib.

"Some of the lessons learned (during the gulf war) were about how important it was to have JAG officers at the facilities," Buyer said, referring to military legal advisers.

[leetrisck]

1. Is Buyer trying to say he was the only one qualified -

puleeeze! What an egomanic. Would he have resigned from the House? I don't think so. Did he want some "combat time" on his reserve resume or what? Don't tell me there were not many other people that could have filled this position. Other stories I've read have said it was Chu & Abell from Defense that said "no" One of the few times I would agree with Chu and Abell. They're always busy putting the screws to veterans.

[Moderator]

2. duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=540097