Iraq abuse: 7 more US troops told off; other may be involved

By: Hamoud Kufi

BAGHDAD, Iraq: AS seven more American soldiers were reprimanded in the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski the US officer who oversaw Baghdad's Abu Gharib prison suggested Monday that more may be involved.

Speaking on ABC's “Good Morning America”, Karpinski said: “They were despicable acts... Had I known anything about it, I certainly would have reacted very quickly.”

Karpinski, commander of the 800th Military Police Brigade, said that in one photograph from the prison, there appeared to be more Americans involved in the alleged abuse than the six MPs who have already been charged.

A military official while speaking on condition of anonymity said that on the orders of commander of US forces in Iraq Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez six of the soldiers — all officers and noncommissioned officers — have received the most severe level of administrative reprimand in the US military. The reprimands, the most serious written punishment the US army hands down, are private and no details would be released on the names or ranks of those punished. A seventh officer was given a more lenient admonishment.

The official said he believed investigations of the officers were complete and they would not face further action or court martial. However, the reprimands could spell the end of their careers.

Another six US military police already are facing criminal charges.

Meanwhile, the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council terming the abuse a violation of international law and the Geneva Conventions, demanded Monday that US authorities allow Iraqi judges to take part in the interrogation of prisoners and open the detention centers to inspection by Iraqi officials.

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