Torture begins at the top (Rumsfeld implicated)

[Nancy Waterman]

http://salon.com/opinion/conason/2004/12/17/memo/index.html

Renewed exposure of prisoner abuse, torture and even murder by American military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan is widening already deep divisions between the Pentagon and the intelligence community -- and creating an untenable situation for Donald Rumsfeld, the beleaguered secretary of defense. A recently disclosed FBI memo indicates that "marching orders" to abandon traditional interrogation methods came from the defense secretary himself.

In recent days, a coalition of human rights groups led by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights has brought new cases of abuse to public attention. Using the Freedom of Information Act, they have pried thousands of pages of previously secret documents from the Defense Department and other agencies.

snip

That revealing memo is dated May 10, 2004, a time when the Abu Ghraib revelations were humiliating the United States before the entire world. An e-mail, it is addressed to FBI counterterrorism officer Thomas J. Harrington from an agent whose name is redacted (along with much else), and its subject is captioned "Instructions to GTMO Interrogators." The memo's obvious purpose is to set down, for the record, the FBI's opposition to the Pentagon's use of coercive and abusive methods when questioning the Guantánamo detainees. It describes the FBI's fundamental disagreement over interrogation tactics with Gen. Geoffrey Miller and Gen. Michael Dunlavey, then the military commanders at Guantánamo Bay.

"I will have to do some digging into old files," the unnamed author begins. "We did advise each supervisor that went to GTMO to stay in line with Bureau policy and not deviate from that ... I went to GTMO ... We had also met with Generals Dunlevy & Miller explaining our position (Law Enforcement Techniques) vs. DoD . Both agreed the Bureau has their way of doing business and DoD has their marching orders from the SecDef . Although the two techniques differed drastically, both Generals believed they had a job to accomplish."

[Mari333]

1. So who will go after the slimey bastard?

the WH, media, House and Senate are all owned by the GOP. He will skate, as all GOP thugs do.

[otohara]

2. Does Torture Happen in War?

yes & no! Did it take place in Iraq and Afghanistan? Probably! Am I responsible? Possibly! Will I get fired because of it? No way!

[annabanana]

4. HA!

Yup.. if he ever gets the question.

[annabanana]

3. Will this get press, do you think?....eom

[parkenyc]

9. I think it will not

get press, and that is how this administration gets away with everything.

[saigon68]

5. Here's THE SCUMBAG'S Handiwork.

[nashville_brook]

6. someone so callous to his own troops

is there any question he would use whatever means *necessary* on the *enemy*

when are people going to wake up!

[tk2kewl]

7. And remember where The Buck is *supposed to* stop.

Rummy is juniors man. junior and all of buschCo are the ones who should be held accountable.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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[rodeodance]

10. Rummy has been implicated since day one--but Bush likes Rummy!!