WASHINGTON, Sept 8 (AFP) - A group of retired generals and admirals called Wednesday for an independent investigation into detention and interrogation practices at Abu Ghraib and other US-run detention facilities.
In a letter to President George W. Bush, the officers said none of the official investigations to date have been sufficiently broad or independent to address the underlying causes of the abuse.
It said an independent investigation was needed "to ensure that the effectiveness of the U.S. military and intelligence operations is not compromised by an atmosphere of permissiveness, ambiguity, or confusion."
Signing the letter were eight retired generals and admirals, including a former commander of the US Central Command and former top military lawyers.
Investigations by the military have led to charges against seven military police and implicated 27 military intelligence personnel in the physical and sexual abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib.
While the actions of senior leaders has been faulted for contributing to the situation, no one above the rank of colonel has been recommended for disciplinary action.
"Investigations that are purely internal to the military, however competent, cannot examine the whole picture," the retired officers letter said. "Internal investigations by their nature also suffer from a critical lack of independence.