The Bastard Actually Takes The Fith. Not Surprising Yet Still Offensive.

Ex-Gitmo chief takes military 5th on abuse

By LOLITA C. BALDOR
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
Link Here

WASHINGTON -- The former commander of the Guantanamo Bay detention center, who has been tied to the prisoner abuse scandal, is declining to answer questions in two courts-martial cases involving the use of dogs during interrogations.

Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller invoked the military's version of the Fifth Amendment right to not incriminate himself, a move that was defended Thursday by the military's top commander.

Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Pentagon reporters that while he expects military leaders to do the right thing, that does not mean they should lose their constitutional rights.

Pace said officers should "tell the truth as they know it." He added, "We expect our leaders to lead by example. But we do not expect them to give up their individual rights as people."

Miller's lawyer, Michelle Crawford, said Thursday that her client repeatedly has answered questions about the matter in various investigations, interviews and congressional testimony. In May 2004, for example, he told the Senate Armed Services Committee there "was no systemic abuse at Guantanamo at any time."

"From our perspective, nothing has changed since he began answering these questions. In fact, not a single new question has been posed," Crawford said in an e-mail.

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