I think it took a lot of courage for her to report what she did. Though I do not support the terrorist plans to destroy our country I don't think we are showing them we are better by beating the crap out of them after we have caught them.

The interrogation was conducted over drinks? Good way to get credible information.

I wonder if she's working under cover for Al-Quadia? They're prisioners of war! You know what happens to our kids over in Iraq? They're video taped as they're beheaded. God forbid the us to punch one.

Very depressing. More so because the vast majority of detainees are innocent. In the past year the U.S. has released hundreds of people after discovering them to be ordinary civilians. That shouldn't be too much of a surprise, since the U.S. offered bounties in the thousands of dollars for any Al Qaida members; it was only a matter of time before criminals began salem-witch-pointing at anything with two legs, simply to collect an illicit paycheck. Close Guantanamo now!

This is abhorrent, shameful and represents a systematic degradation of our nation's values. Or does it? We, as a people, need to ask ourselves that hard question. It should be addressed publicly and boldly put before the American people. Is this the way we want the world to see us? As torturers and sadistic psychopaths? Let the chips fall for all to see. Have we become a nation that is morally bankrupt to the point that this barbarism can be tolerated or excused? The responsibility for this needs to be placed squarely and finally where it belongs; at the feet of the president, his secretary of defense and we who allow these atrocities to continue.

This is ridiculous. It's reasonable to believe that some prisoners had their privilages revoked without reason, or that they've been punched in the face. However, I don't believe that these guards smash the heads of prisoners with their cell doors.

If these statements were made, it's plausible that these claims are distasteful tall tails that were told with the sole purpose of impressing a woman. It's a simple fact of life that men lie to impress women. Furthermore, I am interested to know what statements this young woman made prior to hearing these statements. She's a soldier, and I think all soldiers hold a very low opinion of these prisoners. I'm sure she expressed some amount of hatred toward these prisoners... otherwise, WHY WOULD THEY EVEN MAKE SUCH STATEMENTS?

Assuming the allegations are true, I don't imagine these soldiers would openly admit to such actions. That would serve no purpose. The only people that would hear about it are the people who would like to hear about it... and I think this young woman is one of those people.

How can anyone actually be surprised by this? I am continually amazed that this is "breaking news".

Shocked??? Not at all!!!
I've asumed since day 1 this
sort have of abuse/torture has been
going on at Gitmo. Rumsfeld
has alot to answer for,
the venue should be at an International War Crimes
Tribunal at the Hague.
Our reputation for moral leadership in the world is in the
proverbial toilet.

This is simply what happens when you take GIs in an all-volunteer army and turn them into prison guards or policemen. People do not sign up to be army grunts - soldiers without specialized technical training guarantees - because they prefer that to a university scholarship or even to a job selling Toyotas: I would bet that many of these people were already marginalized and they saw the military as better than unemployment, perpetual "McJobs", or drifting into drugs or petty crime. I would also bet that none of these abusers has ever had more than a three-week course in criminal or penal justice, and that many have themselves had repeated run-ins with the law while growing up.

In my law enforcement experience, both military and civilian, this is "hear-say". Where is that used in court? I wonder what they would do to her if the situation were reversed. Her a prisoner in their jail. I guess I would need to see some more evidence before I came out with those remarks.

Gee, another Gitmo story three weeks before the election, how convenient.

We have seen our enemy, and we have now become our enemy. When will we learn that taking a "cowbo approach" only leads to more of what we do not want. Our constitution and laws are what we are. If we loose these, we become the terrorists. Sounds like some of out brave men and women in the Army are lost and have become terrorists!

A bunch of male marines trying to impress a woman over drinks - yeah - they would never lie or make things up in that kind of situation.

Seems pretty stupid to me that she brought this sitaution public. She does not seem to have any information that could be used to prosecute anyone. Basically, she just threw some gasoline on a forest fire...genius.

I am impressed at the courage and integrity of this young woman. I am all for punishing the bad guys, but it has become increasingly clear that not all of the prisoners in US custody fit that description. Those who do should be charged with their crimes and tried, not held in indefinite detention. I have always been proud of being a law-abiding, patriotic, tax-paying US citizen, and it is unspeakably abhorrent to me that my government now forces me to subsidize torture as a condition of that citizenship. Nothing could be further from my values and ideals. I will never, never vote for a Republican again.

Are you kidding me? Our country has become a bunch of wimps. These guys are trying to kill our guys!!! Don't you understand that? What planet are you from? For better or worse, we are in Iraq. Will the country let us win? Let's kick some ass like we did in WW2, and we would be out of there in a year, but because weve got so many wimps in this country we will lode the war.

One big yawn.

Sounds like any prison in the USA, guards talking, embellishing or not. Anyone who doesn't know that has the good fortune or wealth not have had a family member in the Crim. Justice system.

Miss Prissy probably came from a privileged background, the indignation from ABC is hollow.

Sgt. Cerveny says, in the end, she felt a duty to report what she heard, even if she might be accused of betraying the ranks. "What it comes down to for me, morals and simple rights and wrongs. And I don't think a uniform changes that."

What a well spoken thought. How sad the upper ranks of the military and the pentagon leadership don't feel the same.

I guess its time to send this Marine to face reality in Al-Quida prison. She will see what toture really is!!! Semper Pi means always faithfull/loyal. I believe her loyalty is on the enemies of America. I love this country of ours and if she don't like it like Barbra she can take the plane and leave and join the terrorist. This is a war not a movie, soldiers always face death on their mission. If this Marine is for real send her at the front line in Iraq and Afganistan. There at least she will earn of what she is paid for. If America will stop the fight against terror who will do it? Hollywood humanist? No wonder the enemies are getting stronger, because people of USA are not united like they are. Who ever are for the terrorist leave this country and join them. At least we know who are the enemies. You Marine if you want personal glory, then don't do it at the expense of others who is serving their country. You are a disgrace on that uniform.

So, Brian Ross, where are the medical records? What are the names of the guards? What other proof do you have other than hearsay?

You call this hard edge reporting?

BS

Yeah Right and tomorrow they'll be saying that the guards at Gitmo flushed a koran down the toilet. O they already accused them of that Come on It's election season - you know-DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP. DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP

Let's see. A young woman and young men are drinking. Young men try to be macho and impress young woman? Nah. There's enough evidence. Hang 'em. Good scoop ABC.

Attention previous Pundits:

If you watch the interview, you will see that Sergeant Cerveny was demanded by her superior to file the affadavit. What part of superior do you not understand?

Guys, it happened. Now we can expect our people to beaten and abused because after all, it's what we did to them.

Somebody up the ladder should pay. I forgot. We just did in the our bill of rights no one has to be accountable except the next soldier captured by the opposition. Don't you feel like your head is being slammed into a wall.

So here we find a young lady who actually has the heart to stand up for, what we all generally believe in (humnan rights.) And of course we criticize her for standing up in the face of hate from her peers. Everyone has everything backwards these days there are a few things people are entitled to no matter what the crime, and abuse is not one of them, unless they are sentenced to a punishment. We have our own problems here in the states lets stop with the different standards for everyone punish these people responsible accordingly they're not better then me in any way; are they better than you?

We need to remember that these prison guards will be "let loose" in 1 to 4 years. If we allow this mistreatment to continue in Guantanamo or Abu Ghraib, when these men/women guards get out of the military, they will probably beat the crap out of anyone who looks at them "in the wrong way." The sad thing is these guards are probably Christians, what does that say for Christianity; smash your neighbor's head in the door when he/she makes you upset.

Hello??? Is anybody paying attention??? Where are all the comments on how stupid these sailors are for running their mouths, true or not????

I hate what this has done to this country. It's disgusting. No wonder the rest of the world finds us so hypocritical.....because we are.

This should be discouraging to everyone. Beyond reflecting poorly on the U.S. military, it is a symptom of a decay in the leadership. Military members are supposed to be disciplined in the face of challenges. This abuse indicates a lack of leadership. That was what was found at Abu Garib and now we are seeing it in Gitmo. I'm disappointed in my fellow military members and concerned that this will metastasize into someting worse.

This woman is exceptionally courageous to to come out with this. These are not tall tales about torture ... remember the Abu Graib pictures. How many would believe that our soldiers were doing that?
Sickening , what we have come to .
Torture, indefinite detention with no charges filed and not even a right to a trial. Is this the democrazy we want to export?

This woman is exceptionally courageous to to come out with this. These are not tall tales about torture ... remember the Abu Graib pictures. How many would believe that our soldiers were doing that?
Sickening , what we have come to .
Torture, indefinite detention with no charges filed and not even a right to a trial. Is this the democracy we want to export?

I am utterly repulsed with the blame the troops nonsense going on here left and right.

This is frigging al Qaeda, you know the guys beheading civilians and flying planes into building. What the heck is with all the phony concern about their well being?

First 99 percent sure what she is saying is baloney.

Thank you all the ones who have bashed the marines here. Al Queada loves your support.

REMEMBER TO VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT IS A VOTE FOR BIN LADEN!

Brian Ross is only pursuing reports by people accusing republicans of abusing pages by the way.

I am always amazed at the low opinion some people have of our unformed service members. The same people who believe that service members are the scum of the earth are usually the first believe that the people in gitmo are innocents caught up in some criminal CIA sweep. I would also bet that none of the people who believe this story have ever served this country, they are parasites who can only justify their existence by trying to belittle the people who serve this country with honor as I did. Have you no shame?

On everyone at Gitmo being a terrorist: Rubbish. There is no evidence of that. If there was, these people would have been tried by now. So, these sailors are beating up innocent people. [Note: innocent until proven guilty is a cornerstone of our country, even for conservatives (I hope)]
On the "Hearsay evidence" comment: Many at Gitmo are there because of yet-to-be-proven hearsay. also, the new Military tribunal rules allow for hearsay against the prisoners. Why can we not have the same against the sailors?
On "impressing the woman." I don't know what kind of women you hang out with, but who would be impressed by stories of smashing innocent people's heads into doors. Great pick up line.
On "Semper Fi" It is semper fi to the country and to the marine corps, both of which stand for much more than criminal behaviour.
Finally: How can anyone think that this does not happen, when we all saw the pictures from Abu Ghraib, know of our soldiers raping and executing innocent people in Iraq, etc?

Everything that is potentially bad for the country and the adminstration but not one word about Harry Reid's thievery.

As a Marine myself I support Sgt Cerveny. I am thankful that I am serving with such a courageous person who would be willing to risk everything to come forward with this. She did the right thing and I hope that I would have done the same thing if put in her position. I think we should all be standing in support of her. The military members of this country are and should be held to a higher standard than those of other countries. We have rules and laws for a reason. Stop bad mouthing her and be proud that you have some one with such strong morals defending your country.

What is this concern for prisoners of war about? What we should have done is dropping a few A-bombs or, better yet, smashing a few fighter jets into their mountain top hideouts. Maybe those ex-Marines or kill-them-all patriots will volunteer for these glorious jobs?

SELL OUT. keep your mouth shut!!!

I really have a hard time understanding the people that think torture is ever alright. I refuse to believe that American citizens do not support our troops. I believe that the majority of Americans understand our troops do not make the policies and procedures that they are required to follow. It is neither right nor fair to blame our troops for following the orders handed down to them.

I (like the majority of Americans) fully support our troops. However, I do not support the leaders of this country that have set up our troops to be viewed (and possibly tried) as war criminals in the eyes of the world. They set the tone, our troops simply do what they are told to do.

Now... to those of you that think mistreatment of war criminals is alright because Al Queada does the same thing or worse... You prove my point for me. How can we hold ourselves to be better than the enemy when we behave the same way? Do any of you have parents? Has no one ever told you that two wrongs do not make a right? Has no one ever told you not to sink to their level? There is right and there is wrong... Torture is always wrong. No matter who is doing the torturing.

This is news? Hearsay is not admissible in a court of law for good reason--It's unreliable. Any good journalist would tell you that hearsay is useless unless backed up by a second separate source. Hmmmm...

God bless our troops,
tmblweed

Take this at face value. Why would she lie? A woman is as credible as a man. I believe her.

Touche Lisa. If I was in the military today at gitmo it doesn't matter how drunk I was, I certainly would not shoot my mouth off about mistreating prisoners. Esp. to a stranger. No wonder we can't win the war.

sorry...that was for brian!

I hope this story is not coming as a real surprise to anyone. You may or may not believe the individual, but we have heard the story many times before.

Sure , agreed terrorism is a heinous crime, lets lock all the 'suspected' terrorists up and abuse them.
But then do the same for all the 'suspected' child molesters, esp. one Republican Congressman .
Why is he being protected for five years?

Poor knowledge of Geography & History has convinced many Americans that Afghanistan & Iraq belong to same league and deserve similar treatment. Many have raised the issue of Iraq while discussing the ill treatment of Gitmo prisoners, who are from differnt region of the world i.e. Afghanistan.

I am a Sgt in the U.S. Marine Corps. I have been in for 5 years. I personal am proud to serve with a marine who is brave enough to have some of you people bad mouth her without knowing any of the facts. Easy to talk trash when you are looking in from the outside of things. Maybe more people need to stand up for the rights others have died to give us. As the saying goes: Freedom isn't free, but the Marine Corps will pay YOUR share. Looks like Sgt Cerveny is taking on alot of that purden. Ohh Rah Sgt C.

This is the lunacy that happens when you deal with women in the military and I'm a 54 year old woman with a 19 year old daughter. My son is a Marine.

Having been both a police officer and a US Marine, I can tell you that soldiers and police are trained to be aggressive. They are brain-washed (for lack of a better term)into optimizing their chances of survival on the battle field and on the streets. It is is very hard to have it both ways. Attack dogs don't usually make good pets.

This is a crock. Women aren't Marines and never will be. I'm a strong Texas Woman who has three Marines in family. Uncle, Husband, Son. This chick is a disgrace to the Corps and our Country.

I doubt if anyone out there would brag about beating their spouse at a bar or a person down the street. Police who beat a criminal do not try to use the incident to “pick up chicks”. The Gitmo guards’ sense of society clearly has become warped, whether the facts are true or not. I am saddened that our military has a bastardized version of right and wrong. This is not a battle field, it is a prison. There are rules. Clearly the rules there are morally wrong or not enforced and out of control. The future will list this with interment camps and failure to act during the Holocaust, American moral blindness during a crisis.

The more comments I read on this site, the more I realize what the US is turning into. America has lost its heart, and the thugs have taken over.

I won't even get into whether this kind of "kill all the brown people" attitude is moral or Christian. Just think about this - is it okay for other countries to randomly brutalize US soldiers? Because that's the precedence we're establishing at Gitmo, right here, right now. Your attitude about prisoners at Gitmo puts American soldiers at risk. Period. And you're an idiot if you don't realize that.

I wonder how many of you are in the military right now that are posting these comments. The media distorts information all the time so you civilians never get to hear the whole story, if you want fair treatment for the detainees in GITMO go sign up for the military and go to Iraq and Afghanistan and see how they treat us. Until that day comes don't open your mouth and comment on things that you aren't involved with. It's people like you that are running this country into the ground, we are at war!!!!!!! WAKE UP!!!!!!

I neither agree with the young lady or dis-agree. I just feel it's a sad day when the America I grew up in, use to be known as the country known as the "Land of the Free", the "Home of the Brave", "Innocent until proven guilty", "The right to a fair trial", both for the detainee and the men who may be falsely accused are no longer values we hold near and dear. I truly beleive the founding fathers of this country who sacraficed thier blood and soul would be agree that these are sad times. I am not angry, but cry for America.

So What....this is not an issue for the enemy and thats what they are. There should be a 911 channel just playing the attacks over and over to remind us what was done here in our homeland..if some are mistakes and not involved release them..but to the ones who are part of the enemy and are in GB they are reaping what they sowed..to hell with them and to the Sgt.put her in the Kitchen...

This isn't about blaming the troops, it's about blaming the torturers. If anyone is breaking ranks, they are. They are dishonoring the military and the country with their criminal brutality.

This is a sad article that uses drunken boasting as the "source" and reports "abuse".This behavior is common in our own jails. I wish people would grow up and realize that some abuse is always going to occur in a prison situation.Let's get real and face the reality that we are not perfect. I fear that many of you live in a total dreamworld , this may only be talk ,it may be true or untrue but the fact is that even those "abused" inmates are treated with more dignity and respect than they would ever give our prisoners.Yes, it's very sad that all of our troops aren't perfect but these isolated cases are the exception to the rule , if they are in fact actual reports of abuse. This reporting without confirmed facts is yellow journalism , and it is like punching our own troops in the face , shocking that the media might use it's power to "shed light on abuse" without investigating these reports to see if they are credible. In my humble opinion the reporters are the abusers here.

To those with the notion that marines are some sort of out of control machines. You have been watching too many movies. This seargent represents what a marine should be. A marine has a job of acting professionally at all times if a marine hears of criminal behavior he or she reports it to a superior officer. Failure to do so disrespects the Corps and the Country. It will be investigated, I hope. Marines serve the country Semper Fi is not a gang symbol. Those who want to punish a marine for doing her duty are not worthy to be marines. Marines do not enable criminals. Semper Fi used to say marines cover for criminal behavior have tarnished the proud marines who have served with honor. Marines are faithful to the ideals and hopes of America. Sgt. Cerveny seems an excellent example, she reported possible criminal behavior up the chain of command to the inspector generals office.
I served from 1943 when I was 17 to 1974. I was in WW2, the Korean War, and in Vietnam. If I had heard of behaviour like this I would have done exactly as the Sgt has done. Semper Fi.

Margy, you are one sick person. You are definitely a consesrvative without a conscience..

While what the soldiers is doing is disgusting, currupt and immoral - the thought that they will someday be back among us Americans is downright frightening. The GOP leadership is not only creating a generation of foreign terrorists - but a generation of domestic ones as well.

I cant believe anyone wants the US to abuse detainees. But from some of the posting here I can see that some people don’t believe in our constitution nor the laws we have that separates us from the animals. Would you want to be treated this way if you were detained? I don’t think so. If this is really going on then those doing it should pay the price and sent to prison themselves. Abuse is NOT the American way. Punishment is up the courts, not the guards!

Who cares? In the very, very least, they deserve a good smack. Shame on the desk jockey for snitching about something she'll never understand. Legal Marines are not field Marines. They're very nearly civilians. She doesn't kwow what she's talking about, and drunken Marine talk isn't known for its accuracy or truthfulness. Semper Fi.

What would the kneejerk torture-defenders be saying if their sons or daughters were P.O.W.s overseas? Something tells me they wouldn't be saying the stupid things they are on this blog. And why can't any of them spell? It's spelled "Al-Qaida"

Next week US Citizens too, can disappear, be detained, rendered and interrogated for life with no legal recourse under the "Military Commissions Act" Bush will sign next week.

That scenario became possible under the language changes made by the white house 3 days before passage:
If the military mistakenly designates you, a US Citizen, as an "Alien Enemy Combatant" and decides *not* to put you on trial. Then you *never* get any review or chance to prove you are a US citizen. Even if you had your passport in your pocket.
If this bill stands the "Existential Battle" is lost with a completeness that the most terrible weapon of Bin Ladin's perverse imagination could not match.

Graham Poor

We ask a lot of our young men and women in uniform. We ask them to be warriors, ambassadors and caretakers all at the same time. So it is not fair to judge them as outsiders. This type of occurrance has happened in every war America has been involved in. The only difference is that in past wars we didn't have the 24-hour news cycle.

In regard to detainee abuse, we have become morally bankrupt when we begin to say, "well the enemy does worse, so that makes it OK."

I overheard guards at a local pub ripping off noses, poking out eyes and cutting limbs for souvenirs. They say they have the parts in their homes.
WOW, I believe there stories.

It is particularly remarkable that so many responders turn to personal assaults on this woman. We've now heard that she: can't be a proper marine because she is a woman, supports al qaeda, is lying, and was first making hatefull comments herself.

The second irony is that in stead of addressing the substance, a lot of people dismiss the account of this woman because this would be hearsay. A commenter mentioned that it can't be used is court. While that is true hearsay is a proper start for an investigation. Furthermore the military tribunals will be able to convict based on hearsay. Will everyon condemning hearsay do the same for the tribunals?

As one commenter mentioned: regardless wether the statements made by the male marines were true, they were bragging about mistreatment of prisoners. That is a total disregard for the Navy. They weaken the US. Were is your moral outrage on that? The US is fighting an insurgency in Iraq and the very least the US needs is marines either mistreating prisoners or lying about doing so.

This lady needs to realize that as Americans- "if we do not hang together then we shall surely hang seperately. This kind of non sense is killing the USA. Most of the public doesnt understand these type of issues so stop bringing this stuff out. I am sick of hearing about how terrible we treat our enemies. It is clear that they would slaughter us. Let miss Cerveny spend time in our enemies prison and see if she still feels the same way about snitching on her own people. She also clearly doesnt understand men releasing frustration over a drink. She is absolute trouble to herself and her people.

This story is strange. It diddn't start hear as i read about t a few days ago over on Raw story, who got it from somewhere else. Basically, I'm confused about the "Navy guards" both pieces mentioned. First:Naval Brigs normally have Marine guards and, second,All the pictures i have seen of guards, the guards look like Army soldiers, not Marines OR Navy. Also, the first article I read mentioned she talked to these guys on the Camp Pendleton Marine Base outside Oceanside California--that's confusing. this Article says she talked to them on Gitmo. I'm against prisoner abuse, but i'm also against shoddy journalism. these facts should be checked before a big expose is launched by ABC or anyone else.

True warriors treat their adversaries with respect. Punching a detainee in the face just because you can is not conduct becoming of a warrior. Leave the battle on the battlefield and let the grunts use their M-16's to do the fighting. These guards are cowards taking cheap shots at defeated enemy prisoners. Very lame

First let me start with saying I am a 25 year military retiree. I am amazed by the number of people who are upset with the military.
We would have a different flag flying if it were not for the men and women who serve.

I have no doubt that what this Marine is saying is true. The is no question that she should have up channeled the information. But, anyone who has been in the military knows that young men what to impress young women.

What she has done is proper and correct. She is a military NCO and has a certain obligation. Let's investigate the alligations and get to the bottom of this.

Oh, and let's suppost OUR troops.

What a bunch of neive Journalists and Un-American posters you people are. Sounds to me like the guys at the NCO club were yanking her chain to get a laugh at her expense. They supposedly didn't know who whe was? BS! She just shows up one week, and I'm sure they knew exactly who she was. As a former NCO in the USAF, I know we all found out quickly what the WAFS did and where they worked. She didn't pull the wool over anyone's eyes but yours!

the basic moral difference between an enemy on the battlefield and one who is your prisoner is simple - on the battlefield s/he is still a threat - as your prisoner s/he is not.

if the only difference between us and them are the excuses given for torture we and they do, how are we better than islamic terrorists?

torture yields buckets of info - almost all unreliable so you can't act on it ...

.. there are better ways to gain vengence than torturing prisoners we hold .. and we alienate people across the planet whom we need to help us defeat islamic terrorists ... so sad, so foolish, so short-sighted

Very interesting to read the various comments. When will someone write a book on the extreme difference people view an article such as this one?

I don't know what were they thinking every person has a soul and a fillings , how they can respect anything better for out army back in Afg. Kuwait and Iraq if we are taking steps like this with them .Why they didn't show their's good sides of faces .
I came from country that was in war in 1994 belive me not pretty at all

What if she had been a man and they told her this info? So it's immoral to get info over drinks, but perfectly lawful to get it through torture?! What kind of screwed up logic is that? First of all...we have no idea what goes on over in "their" prisons, but what we do know is that our military personel are not being held there, at least in the large numbers that we are holding detainees. But our civilians are, and civilians from other countries. You don't fight a war by treating prisoners like animals, or worse. There are rules of engagement, a prison is NOT a battlefield, it should be a controlled environment, if it isn't, it's the fault of those in charge. It shows weakness when one has to resort to force. Those detained haven't even had a fair trial, and while some may be guilty, some are innocent. No wonder our country can't fully get out of racism, classism, homophobia, and the like...we can't seem to evolve as PEOPLE!

First, bashing in the head of some prisoner doesn't take a lot of courage and surely does nothing to win the war on terrorism.

From the ABC news interview, it's clear that the U.S. Marine Corps cooperated with ABC, giving them access to do interviews in her office.

Being loyal does not mean covering up illegal crimes.

For the guards, if they were, in fact, just boasting (boys being boys), they need to recceive, at least, an Article 15 for being stupid.

I have 30 years active duty and am now retired. She did right

Sounds like "the fish was this big" over drinks. I don't care what anyone says. I would much rather the prisoners be there than in the sandbox killing our soldiers or planning another attack. There are "innocent" people in our prison system as well. Go help them!