Rumsfeld’s Senate Testimony Raises More Issues About Torture at Abu Ghraib

Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld’s testimony before the US Senate Armed Services Committee on May 7, 2004 raised new questions about the torture of Iraqi prisoners
at the Abu Gharib prison. The graphic photos that have appeared in the news of prisoners being sexually abused, tortured, and violently subjugated have become
widespread on the internet, and in print media worldwide.

Senator Levin mentioned the photos that have appeared on the internet, and in the news media of the torture of Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib. According to Senator
Levin: “General Taguba's finding that, quote, "Personnel assigned to the 372nd M.P. Company were directed to change facility procedures to set the conditions for military intelligence interrogations," is bolstered by pictures that suggest that the sadistic abuse was part of an organized and conscious process of intelligence gathering.
In other words, those abusive actions do not appear to be aberrant conduct by individuals, but part of a conscious method of extracting information.”

In his opening remarks to US Senate Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld appeared to acknowledge his own personal failure in regard to the torture of Iraqi prisoners that
took place at Abu Gharib, and he seemed to indicated that some DOD personnel were responsible. According to Rumsfeld: “Let me be clear: I failed to recognize how important it was to elevate a matter of such gravity to the highest levels, including the president and the members of Congress. Third, I'm seeking a way to provide appropriate compensation to those detainees who suffered such grievous and brutal abuse and cruelty at the hands of a few members of the United States armed forces.”

During the first part of the Senate hearing which I watched in its’ entirety live on CNN Rumsfeld appeared to be visibly shaken by the requests for his resignation by Senator
Kerry, House Minority Leader Pelosi, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and The Economist. Rumsfeld’s demeanor was nervous, and seemed to express that he
understands that the events at Abu Gharib not only undermine himself, but also serve
to reduce public confidence in the Bush Administration, and in the war in Iraq in general.

Senator McCain raised a serious question about the chain of command that lies at the heart of the culpability in regard to the Abu Gharib investigations. Senator McCain
said that: “Now, Mr. Secretary, I'd like to know -- I'd like you to give the committee the chain of command from the guards to you, all the way up the chain of command. I'd like to know.… I'd like to know who was in charge of the -- what agencies or private contractors were in charge of interrogations? Did they have authority over the guards? And what were their instructions to the guards?”

At this point Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld seemed to either not know the answer to question, or to be purposely dodging the question on the advice of his attorney. Secretary
of Defense Rumsfeld said that: “As I understand it, there were two contractor organizations. They supplied interrogators and linguists. And I was advised by General Smith that there were maybe a total of 40.” Rumsfeld’s response did not adequately
answer the question, and serious issues remain about exactly who was in control of the chain of command at Abu Gharib during the torture incidents.

There was an interesting observation made by Senator Kennedy as a preface to his questions at the hearing. Senator Kennedy said: “To the people in the Middle East, and too often today, the symbol of America is not the Statue of Liberty, it's the prisoner standing on a box wearing a dark cape and a dark hood on his head, wires attached to his body, afraid that he's going to be electrocuted. These incidents of torture and abuse resulted in a catastrophic crisis of credibility for our nation.”

There was another key point that was made by both Senator Clinton, and Senator Lieberman about violations of the Geneva convention under the Bush Administration.
Senator Clinton said that: “Mr. Secretary, in January 2002, when you publicly declared that hundreds of people detained by U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan do not have any rights under the Geneva Convention, that was taken as a signal. And it is clear in looking through the number of investigations that are currently ongoing, that it wasn't just this particular battalion but others that did not receive appropriate training and information about their responsibilities with respect to detention or the Geneva Convention. The atrocities that have been depicted in photographs were very graphically, verbally, described in the Taguba report. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to read those descriptions and have one's stomach just turn in disgust.” Senator Clinton suggested that Rumsfeld created an environment that appeared to condone some of the interrogation procedures that occurred at Abu Gharib, and other detention centers in Iraq.

In response to Senator Clinton, Secretary Rumsfeld said: “Second, the decision that was made by the president of the United States that you referred to was announced. And in the announcement it was said that the Al Qaida in Guantanamo that are captured in the world, mostly in Afghanistan, would be treated consistent with the Geneva Convention.”

There was another interesting point that was made by Senator Reed. Senator Reed said: “Let me begin by stating the obvious. For the next 50 years in the Islamic world and many other parts of the world, the image of the United States will be that of an American dragging a prostrate naked Iraqi across the floor on a leash. This is unfair to the honor and the courage of our soldiers, but unfortunately I think it's become a fact. This is a disaster.”

Another observation was salient in the hearing and it was brought up by Senator Collins. Senator Collins said that: “It's the disclosure of the abuse and the promise to take those actions -- that's where I feel the Pentagon fell short. And I think that rather than calling CBS and asking for a delay in the airing of the pictures, it would have been far better if you, Mr. Secretary, with all respect, had come forward and told the world about these pictures and of your personal determination -- a determination I know you have -- to set matters right and to hold those responsible accountable.”

Rumsfeld said in response: “Well, Senator Collins, I wish I had done that. I said that in my remarks.”

There was another point that was interesting at these hearings that was made by Senator
Bayh. Senator Bayh said: “Your resignation has been called for; that's a pretty serious thing for any of us. And you answered that if you ever concluded that you could not be effective in discharging your duties, you would step down. But that you would not do so as part of a political witch-hunt, so to speak.” In response Rumsfeld said: “That's possible.”

There was also one last interesting point made by Senator Graham who said: “The only reason I mention that, I want to prepare the public. Apparently, the worst is yet to come, potentially, in terms of disturbing events. We don't need to leave here thinking that we've seen the worst. There's more to come, is that correct?” In response Rumsfeld said that:
“I indicated in my remarks that there are a lot more pictures and many investigations under way.”

The US Senate hearings may have immediate short, and long term repercussions for DOD, and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld. The hearings did express that the US Senate
is universally tired of the Bush Administration leaving it out of the loop in terms of the Abu Ghraib photos, and DOD interrogation procedures. Another point, that seemed to be generally expressed is that the torture at Abu Ghraib is a serious issue, and that Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld should start to more closely monitor the human rights violations at the prisons in Iraq, so that these crimes can be prevented in the future.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9210-2004May7.html