Kerry points to White House over Abu Ghraib abuses

PHILADELPHIA – American Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said civilian leaders in the White House and the Pentagon should be held accountable for abuse at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison.

“Harry Truman had that sign on the desk and it said, ‘The buck stops here,”‘ Kerry said Wednesday. “The buck doesn’t stop at the Pentagon.”Responding to an independent report that faulted all levels of the military for prisoner abuse, Kerry repeated his call for defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign and for president George W Bush to appoint an independent commission.Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt responded: “Today’s political attack is just the latest example of John Kerry’s willingness to say whatever he believes will benefit him politically.”A report released Tuesday by an independent panel led by former defence secretary James R Schlesinger concluded that senior US military leaders in Iraq and the Pentagon can be faulted for inattention to prisoner abuses, but it did not recommend that Rumsfeld step down.Details of a second Army investigation that focused on the military intelligence unit at Abu Ghraib prison during the abuses were released Wednesday.That investigation, initially headed by Maj Gen George Fay, blamed the abuses on misconduct by a group of “morally corrupt soldiers and civilians,” a lack of discipline on the part of leaders and soldiers, and a “failure or lack of leadership” by higher command in Iraq.Kerry said both Rumsfeld and Bush should take responsibility.Minutes after he spoke at the town hall meeting, his campaign issued a statement from Kerry that said, “The time has come for our commander in chief to take charge.”- Nampa-AP”The buck doesn’t stop at the Pentagon.”Responding to an independent report that faulted all levels of the military for prisoner abuse, Kerry repeated his call for defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign and for president George W Bush to appoint an independent commission.Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt responded: “Today’s political attack is just the latest example of John Kerry’s willingness to say whatever he believes will benefit him politically.”A report released Tuesday by an independent panel led by former defence secretary James R Schlesinger concluded that senior US military leaders in Iraq and the Pentagon can be faulted for inattention to prisoner abuses, but it did not recommend that Rumsfeld step down.Details of a second Army investigation that focused on the military intelligence unit at Abu Ghraib prison during the abuses were released Wednesday.That investigation, initially headed by Maj Gen George Fay, blamed the abuses on misconduct by a group of “morally corrupt soldiers and civilians,” a lack of discipline on the part of leaders and soldiers, and a “failure or lack of leadership” by higher command in Iraq.Kerry said both Rumsfeld and Bush should take responsibility.Minutes after he spoke at the town hall meeting, his campaign issued a statement from Kerry that said, “The time has come for our commander in chief to take charge.”- Nampa-AP