4 soldiers charged with maltreatment of subordinates in Iraq

A Page out of the Bush Administrations Reign

Source: CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Four U.S. soldiers have been charged with cruelty and maltreatment of four subordinates in Iraq after a suicide investigation brought to light alleged wrongdoing, the military said Friday.
There is no confirmed evidence that the suicide — involving a fifth subordinate in the unit — was a result of any mistreatment, said Lt. Col. Kevin Olson, a spokesman for Multi-National Division-South, who added the military is still looking into that possibility.
Charges were preferred Wednesday against three sergeants and a specialist with the 13th Cavalry Regiment out of Fort Bliss, Texas, accusing them of engaging in “verbal abuse, physical punishment and ridicule of subordinates,” according to Olson. He described the physical punishment as falling into the category of “undue calisthenics.”
“Accusations of cruelty and maltreatment are taken very seriously, and we will investigate this isolated incident thoroughly,” said Brig. Gen. David Elicerio, deputy commanding general for Multi-National Division-South.
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Mass Therapy for Depressed Soldiers

Worried about the high rates of depression and suicide, the Army is planning therapy for its 1.1 million soldiers. For many years I have been developing an approach for teaching college students (and my own therapy as well) that may fit the Army's problem exactly. I propose two basic causes of depression: Hidden emotions, and no secure bond with another person. These ideas lead to a practical self/other therapy for depression that might be effective for the Army. LinkHere

US Army Reduces Soldiers' Sentences For Iraqi Murders

FRANKFURT — The U.S. Army said Friday it had reduced the sentences of three soldiers convicted of murder in the execution-style slayings of four bound and blindfolded Iraqi detainees.
Master Sgt. John Hatley, sentenced to life in prison in April, will instead receive 40 years, the military told the Associated Press.
He will still receive a dishonorable discharge and be reduced to the rank of private.
Sgt. Michael Leahy and Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Mayo – sentenced respectively to life in prison in February and 35 years in March – had their sentences reduced to 20 years, the military said. They will also receive bad conduct discharges instead of dishonorable discharges.
The sentence reductions came after a standard review of the cases, the Army said.
The soldiers were all with the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division while in Iraq. The unit is now part of the Germany-based 172nd Infantry Brigade.
According to court proceedings over the last year, the four Iraqis were taken into custody in spring 2007 after an exchange of fire with Hatley's unit.
The Iraqis were taken to the unit's base although there wasn't enough evidence to hold them for attacking the unit. Later that night patrol members took the Iraqis to a remote area and shot them, dumping the bodies in a canal.
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As vets await checks, VA workers get $24M bonuses

Source: Associated Press
WASHINGTON – Outside the Veterans Affairs Department, severely wounded veterans have faced financial hardship waiting for their first disability payment. Inside, money has been flowing in the form of $24 million in bonuses.
In scathing reports this week, the VA's inspector general said thousands of technology office employees at the VA received the bonuses over a two-year period, some under questionable circumstances. It also detailed abuses ranging from nepotism to an inappropriate relationship between two VA employees.
The inspector general accused one recently retired VA official of acting "as if she was given a blank checkbook" as awards and bonuses were distributed to employees of the Office of Information and Technology in 2007 and 2008. In some cases the justification for the bonuses was inadequate or questionable, the IG said.
The official, Jennifer S. Duncan, also engaged in nepotism and got $60,000 in bonuses herself, the IG said. In addition, managers improperly authorized college tuition payments for VA employees, some of whom were Duncan's family members and friends. That cost taxpayers nearly $140,000.
Separately, a technology office employee became involved in an "inappropriate personal relationship" with a high-level VA official. The technology office employee flew 22 times from Florida to Washington, where the VA official lived. That travel cost $37,000.
The details on the alleged improprieties were in two IG reports issued this week. VA spokeswoman Katie Roberts said the agency was extremely concerned about the IG's findings and would pursue a thorough review.
"VA does not condone misconduct by its employees and will take the appropriate correction action for those who violate VA policy," Roberts said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
On Friday, Joe Davis, a spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said if the allegations are found to be true, individuals involved should lose their jobs, and legal action should be taken. LinkHere