Captain Bjork's accusers former Iraqi police, intel officer
Friday, December 18, 2009 at 2:09PM Commentary by Kay B. Day
I'm posting this as we travel, and my connection isn't the best. But I spoke with Victor Kelley today. Kelley is the attorney for Capt. Carl Bjork, a decorated soldier serving in the U.S. Army. Bjork just went through an Article 32 after accusations were made by Iraqi detainees.
Kelley told me the accusers are former Iraqi police (3) and one former Iraqi intel officer. My phone connection was barely audible--it's raining frogs and fish right now so to speak. But one of the accusations relates to a brother of a local chief of police who was executed by an Iraqi tribe.
Bjork was not present at the execution. Bjork did not command the area.
What Bjork did--he trained Iraqi police.
The captain's accusers gave stories that were inconsistent. As we reported in a previous post, the accusers were allowed to converse and apparently attempted to come up with consistent versions. They've made multiple statements, and a thinking woman would perceive they're trying to save their own skins for whatever crimes they have committed. Accusing a U.S. officer could be a great method for distraction.
Somewhere in the mix of accusations, the Iraqi detainees are pointing fingers at Bjork over 2 dead insurgents.
Kelley said, "The investigation took more than 2 years. It was completed in 2008. I think this could have been resolved much more efficiently."
Kelley has more experience dealing with military law than most anyone else I can think of. Obviously he believes Bjork is getting a raw deal.
Judging by the more than 4,000 people who support Bjork and by the volume of email I'm getting, including dozens of testimonials to the captain's integrity, I think he's getting a raw deal too.
Why we are pandering to Iraqi detainees who can't even tell a straight story is beyond me. If you think the charges sound confusing, so do I. We could probably admit to ourselves that when someone is weaving fiction, the results can be confusing because the truth is nowhere to be found.
A commenter named Dan offered additional information in response to our column on Thursday: "I served with Carl during the time he was accused of these actions and it's a bogus charge. As for the Iraqis who are testifying against him, what a group of liars. The leader of them being a former 'interrogator' of the previous Iraqi regime. It's a sad day for the country when a hero, a leader and a citizen is charged for something he didn't do by the enemy."
More later when I have a better connection.
Photo of Capt. Carl Bjork, a decorated soldier facing inconsistent accusations from former Iraqi police and an intel officer. [Photo provided by Capt.Bjork's family]
Reader Comments (3)
God Bless you Carl, and thank you Kay for doing what you are doing!!
Kay, thank you for bringing detailed information to the American Public. Every tiny detail helps clarify this case. So little is on the mainstream news for the public to hear. The almost three years that Capt. Bjork has had to live under such allegations must have been an enormous strain (financially /physically/ emotionally) on himself and his family. It is horrendous that these accusers have been allowed "talk amongst" themselves and that our military investigators have allowed this. They should have taken the detainee's statements separately right away - looked at the evidence and seen that none of it was consistent and then THROWN IT OUT! and allowed Capt. Bjork to resume his life. If this method of investigation had happened in our country's criminal courts of law we would be hearing from every alphabet group that exists and then the investigators would have been sued for damages (lol)...
I know Carl Personally, and directed some of the religious activities at the Junior Military College he attended. there is no way in my mind that he could have done anything along the lines of what he is being charged with.
Some might think the picture attached to this article could be propaganda or things along those lines, but i assure you, that's the way Cpt. Bjork, is and was, a smiling, SMART, happy guy who would have NEVER killed a non-combatant. i have seen him in situations where anyone watching the situation would expect him to act mean or aggressive, and Carl ALWAYS took the higher path, did the unexpected right thing over the excusable wrong thing. no questions Carl didn't do this, it's just sad to see this is the way our government and our military continues to treat those willing to stand up for it.