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| Head of U.S. prisons is off active duty and loses her command |
| By Reuters |
| Published: 05/25/2004 |
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An American general in charge of U.S.-run prisons in Iraq when the abuse of prisoners took place has been suspended as commander of the military police brigade at the heart of the scandal and removed from active duty, the Army said yesterday. Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski, a Rahway, N.J., native who had commanded the 800th Military Police Brigade, was suspended from her duties, said Lt. Col Pamela Hart, an Army spokeswoman at the Pentagon. Karpinski previously was formally admonished on Jan. 17 by Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top U.S. commander in Iraq. The Army returned Karpinski yesterday to the Army Reserve from active-duty status, said Al Schilf, an Army Reserve spokesman. In addition, Karpinski no longer serves as commander of her Uniondale, N.Y.-based brigade, and was "temporarily attached" to the U.S. Army Readiness Command at Fort Jackson, S.C., Schilf said. The Army was seeking an "acting commander" of the brigade, Schilf said. Karpinski currently lives in Hilton Head, S.C. Karpinski told the Washington Post she was notified in an e-mail yesterday of her suspension but has not yet been given a formal explanation. Seven U.S. soldiers have been charged with abusing Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib on the outskirts of Baghdad. Army Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba's report on the abuse faulted Karpinski's "poor leadership." Photographs show U.S. soldiers physically and sexually abusing and humiliating prisoners. Asked whether Karpinski could face criminal charges, Schilf did not answer directly, but said, "This action doesn't close any doors." |
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