The military at first said Baker's medical discharge was not related to the beating at Guantanamo. Last week, the military reversed itself, saying the incident was partly responsible for his discharge.
Lt. Col. Jim Marshall, a spokesman for the U.S. Southern Command, said that an internal investigation in February 2003 concluded that no one was liable for Baker's injuries and there was no need for a criminal inquiry. Another spokeswoman, Maj. Laurie Arellano, said the investigation concluded that Baker's injuries were a "foreseeable consequence" of the drill.
Marshall said procedures had been reviewed to prevent future injuries. "While it is unfortunate that Spc. Baker was injured, the standards of professionalism we expect of our soldiers mandate that our training be as a realistic as possible," he said.
Members of immediate response forces are "handpicked based on maturity, common sense and judgment," Marshall said, adding that they were trained to use the minimum force necessary.
According to Simpson, the military has suggested that Baker was beaten because he resisted attempts to extract him. Simpson said Baker simply followed orders to pose as an uncooperative detainee.
"They're blaming him for resisting, as if it was his fault for provoking a beating," he said.
Simpson said the Pentagon had not responded to his requests for Baker's military and medical records. But after the lawyer and Rep. Ben Chandler (D-Ky.) complained about Baker not receiving disability payments, they were told by the military Monday that he qualified for 100% disability and would receive his first check within 10 days.
Baker said someone should be held responsible.
"I never thought my military career would end as a result of a beating which I sustained at the hands of my fellow troops," he wrote. "Someone in charge should have known better."
Simpson said Baker and other National Guard MPs at Guantanamo were summoned from their posts at 2 a.m. and asked to volunteer for a training exercise involving MPs from the 303rd Military Police Company of Michigan. Baker assumed it was another "quarter time" walk-through drill, in which soldiers had previously acted out the roles of detainees while wearing U.S. military uniforms.
But this was the first time Baker had heard of soldiers being asked to wear a prison jumpsuit. Even so, when no one volunteered, he raised his hand.
