Abu Ghraib another My Lai for the United States?

President George W Bush condemned the acts, stressed these were not consistent with the values of the American people and termed these un- American. He cited many good things done by the American men and women in uniform all over the world. The alleged crimes committed by a small number of soldiers were being duly investigated, he declared. Secretary of Defense and the Abu Ghraib prison commander apologized and assured that repetition of such incidents would not take place. But both the Democratic and Republican law-makers of America made Rumsfeld most uncomfortable, to say the least, during the Congressional hearings by asking searching questions in marathon sessions. Some of the Democrats, especially Senator Edward Kennedy, reiterated their demand for resignation of the Secretary of Defense, but several Republican colleagues, quite understandably so, were less rigorous in their critical interaction with Rumsfeld.

The Congressional Commission grilled Donald Rumsfeld, who was assisted by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Myers and his colleagues, and sought to assess possible lapses made by the Defense Secretary and the Pentagon in the war in Iraq in recent times, especially on the issue of alleged abuse and atrocities committed by American soldiers on Iraqi prisoners and detainees. Rumsfeld recalled vaguely it was in the middle of January when he came to know of the possibility of such abuses in Abu Ghraib prison, despite the source being the report of a General from the theatre of war. But Rumsfeld assigned no importance to such allegations and did not call for a full and urgent report, not to speak of asking for an investigation. He stated he had seen the photos for the first time only the evening before the Congressional hearings, that too through the media. But Rumsfeld was unable to explain why it took as long as several months for him and the top brasses in Pentagon to see the vivid pictographic evidences of such abuses and to take appropriate action. To some, it was incredible, suggesting an attempt to cover up, without saying so in so many words. That is why the demand for Rumsfeld's resignation came out again. He said he would resign from his office only when he would think he was not effective, but he would not resign due merely to political pressure. President Bush, on the other hand, dismissed the possibility of firing his trusted Defense Secretary.

While the whole world is deeply worried and dismayed by hearing the reports and seeing the pictures of the inhuman atrocities at Abu Ghraib, the impact on American people has been perceived to be less than it was expected by others. In an opinion poll run by the CNN a majority of US citizens approved the conduct of war in Iraq by Donald Rumsfeld, though President's popularity dwindled a little. The media and the people of the Arab and Muslim world were, indeed, aghast at seeing the pictures and horrified at the prospect of the existence of many more even worse pictures than those already published. They claimed that mere apologies would not suffice. The Americans, in bid to assuage the critics, pledged to consider payment of compensation to those, who had been the victims of abuse in Abu Ghraib. They assured that the detainees would be treated as per provisions of the Geneva Conventions. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair also apologized for the alleged atrocities committed by British soldiers on Iraqi prisoners and vowed to punish those found guilty.

Donald Rumsfeld, while revealing Pentagon's possession of more demeaning photographs and videos of the alleged abuses and atrocities, opined that publication of these photos and videos would only infuriate the people, indicating the Arabs, further. At the same time, there was a demand from the Congressional law-givers for the revelation of all available information on this issue for the people to comprehend the nature and degree of the crimes and for taking remedial measures. Any attempt to hide incriminating evidence by anyone for any purpose would tantamount to abating and encouraging crime. Evidently, these inhuman and degrading incidents can not be supported and must not be condoned by the people, who value human rights, dignity and respect for mankind. It is strange and ironic that the torture chamber of Saddam turned into the chamber of abuse by some American soldiers. But, the crimes can not and must not go unpunished. Accordingly, seven American soldiers have already been indicted and some more, including senior officers, may perhaps experience the same fate. On the other hand, it appears that Donald Rumsfeld, who accepted full responsibility for the incidents, will not resign. Nor President Bush, as declared already, would be agreeable to fire his trusted Secretary of Defense.

The Democratic Presidential hopeful, John Kerry, went a step farther. He declared that the responsibility (President Truman called it a "buck" in justifying dropping of atom bombs) did not stop mid-way, but went all the way to the Oval Office (of the President). He declared that America did not need a new Secretary of Defense, it needed a new President. Such a demand is not unexpected of the arch rival of the President, especially at the height of the election campaign. Yet, election is an uncertain phenomenon, both at home or abroad. But many of President's well-wishers would perhaps tend to advise him to get rid of his Secretary of Defense not merely to placate the latter's critics but, perhaps, to reduce a liability on Presidential re-election. Anyway, irrespective of the outcome of the election, as the massacre of My Lai in Vietnam has haunted the Americans since long, will the memories of the un-American acts of Abu Ghraib do the same?

M.M.Rezaul Karim, a former Ambassador, is a member of BNP's Advisory Council