Friday, May 15, 2004

General who led Iraqi prison probe a former PTC resident By JOHN MUNFORD jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com The U.S. Army general who investigated claims of abuse at Iraqi prisons is a former resident of Peachtree City, according to published accounts. Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba testified Tuesday to the Senate Armed Services Committee about his report, which outlined accounts of abuse at prisons containing detainees in the Iraqi war. According to media accounts, Taguba testified that guards at the Abu Ghraib prison engaged in “numerous incidents of sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuses.” He also testified that he found no evidence of a policy or specific order directing the abuse. According to AsianWeek, a national newsweekly aimed at the Asian Pacific American Community, Taguba and his family lived in Peachtree City in 1997. His Army biography also makes reference to him being stationed at Fort McPherson at one time, serving as chief of staff of the U.S. Army Reserve Command. Taguba was born in the Philippines but moved to Hawaii with his family when he was 11. He later embarked on a military career during which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. He is currently serving as the Deputy Commanding General (Support), Third U.S. Army, U. S. Army Forces Central Command and Coalition Forces Land Component Command. Prior to this assignment, he served as the acting Director of the Army Staff at the Pentagon. Taguba’s testimony came at a crucial time for the U.S. with recent claims of prisoner abuse backed up by graphic photographs that have been published worldwide.

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