On Advice of Counsel

Although this story began its life in the New York Times, I confess I missed it, but its a sweetie.

Maj. General Geoffrey Miller, the architect of the interrogation system at Guantanamo Bay who also was responsible for transferring that system to Iraq and specifically to Abu Ghraib, has taken shelter behind Article 31 of the Code of Military Justice, the military equivalent of the Fifth Amendment. Oh, yes, and he is retiring from the military.

The good General (aren't they all ?) had been scheduled to testify at the trial of a soldier who was a dog handler at Abu Ghraib. Despite having made many statements on these issues in the past, the good General decided this time, the answers might "tend to incriminate him".

Is it a coincidence that Col. Thomas M. Pappas, commander of the Abu Ghraib interrogators, had just been granted immunity for his testimony in the same court martial? Miller's lawyer says yes, they were unaware of Pappas's immunity when they decided Miller should clam up.

Are these developments likely to result in some much needed light being shed on the connection between senior officers and abuse of prisoners? Almost certainly.

Will Miller get the Medal of Freedom ? Stay tuned.

We will keep you posted, but only if you

Stay Naked.