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Commander revered by her troops
Evening Standard Last updated at 00:00am on 30.04.04Brigadier General Janis Karpinski knew she wanted to be a soldier even at the age of five. Like other young girls she would play with dolls - but Karpinski would line hers up in neat rows and write "A-ok US Army" on them.
Those childhood dreams were fulfilled when Karpinski joined the forces, and she became a popular soldier with a distinguished service record.
She is the only female US commander in Iraq, after being put in charge of the country's prison system last June. She is responsible for 15 jails. Her operations centre is based in a former love-nest used by one of Saddam's sons.
Today, though, Karpinski is suspended from the job she so evidently loves, and is facing disciplinary action and a possible court-martial after the publication of the shocking photographs showing the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
Pentagon chiefs are understood to be ready to bring charges against her and the military police officers under her command.
Karpinski's suspension will come as a shock to the 3,400 troops under her command, who describe her as a compassionate boss. "She's really caring," said one. "She doesn't just talk the talk, she walks the walk."
Not only is Karpinski married to the job, she is married to a military man; her husband George, a lieutenant colonel, is based at the US embassy in Oman.
The couple have been married for nearly 30 years but have no children. They are said to see each other rarely, although he presented her with flowers when she assumed command in Iraq.
AFTER serving in Saudi Arabia in the first Gulf war, Karpinski, who keeps her blonde, braided hair coiled in a tight bun, won a Bronze Star and has made more than 100 parachute jumps.
As a reservist, she runs gruelling corporate executive training programmes in civilian life.
She is fiercely protective of her troops. So far 15 have been lost in combat under her command, including a father who was killed before he could see his twomonthold baby.
In an interview last year, Karpinski said: "I love my soldiers. When I ask if there's a problem or I hear of a problem, I make every effort to resolve it."
Before the photographs emerged, Karpinski boasted that the Iraqis liked conditions in the prisons so much since the Americans took over that they did not want to leave.
"These are international standards," she said. "It's the best care available in a prison facility. For many, the living conditions are now better in prison than at home. At one point we were concerned they wouldn't want to leave."
