Lawyer: Top U.S. Officer Knew of Prison Abuse (!!!! Bush going DOWN!)

Lawyer: Top U.S. Officer Knew of Prison Abuse
Post Exclusive
Lawyer: Top U.S. Officer Knew of Prison Abuse

By Scott Higham, Joe Stephens and Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, May 22, 2004; 7:05 PM


A military lawyer for a soldier charged in the Abu Ghraib abuse case testified that a captain at the Baghdad prison said the highest-ranking U.S. military officer in Iraq was present during some "interrogations and/or allegations of the prisoner abuse," according to a recording of a military hearing obtained by The Washington Post.

The lawyer said he was told that Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez and other senior military officers were aware of what was taking place on Tier 1A of Abu Ghraib. The lawyer, Capt. Robert Shuck, also said a sergeant at the prison was prepared to testify that intelligence officers told him the abuse of detainees on the cellblock was "the right thing to do."

Shuck is assigned to defend Staff Sgt. Ivan L. "Chip" Frederick II of the 372nd Military Police Company. During an April 2 hearing that was open to the public, Shuck said the company commander, Capt. Donald J. Reese, was prepared to testify in exchange for immunity. The military prosecutor questioned Shuck about what Reese would say under oath.

"Are you saying that Captain Reese is going to testify that General Sanchez was there and saw this going on?" asked Capt. John McCabe, the military prosecutor.

"That's what he told me," Shuck said. "I am an officer of the court, sir, and I would not lie. I have got two children at home. I'm not going to risk my career."


<snip>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48229-2004May22.html

"We intend to seek immunity for a myriad of officers who are unwilling to participate in the search for the truth without protecting themselves," Myers said today.


THE ROTTEN HOUSE OF CARDS IS CRASHING DOWN!

drip...drip...drip...

Torturegate continues to widen!!!

Gettin closer and closer to the 'top', too!!!

:bounce::kick::bounce:

This was just reported on NBC Nightly News, as well!

This just keeps growing. :hi:

How many straws ya think this camel can take???

:shrug:

:hi:

Sanchez reports to Abuzaid who reports to Rumsfeld. That's 3 steps to DimSon. Remember, Rumsfeld visited Abu Ghraib in September 2003!

You know how these VIP's are when they show up...

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

Who's yer daddy?

didn't he also make an appearance at AG?

Jesus! You have got to read the ENTIRE article!

===

<snip>

The documents obtained by The Times included transcripts of sworn statements from military intelligence, the military police, civilian contractors and others who were interviewed by Army investigators last January as they began to look into allegations of abuse.

The statements include several accounts from officers, including Capt. Donald J. Reese of the 372nd Military Police Company, who acknowledged having seen Iraqi prisoners stripped naked while in American detention. Captain Reese, among others, said they had been told that nudity was part of "an interrogation procedure used by M.I." or military intelligence.

One intelligence officer, Specialist Luciana Spencer, said interrogations had been staged "in the showers, stairwell or property room" of the cellblock, as well as in two interrogation centers that were formally in control of the Joint Information and Debriefing Center. The officer in charge was Capt. Carolyn A. Wood of the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, who other Army officers have said brought to Iraq the aggressive procedures the unit had developed during her previous service in Afghanistan, from July 2002 to January 2003. She served in Afghanistan as the operations officer in charge of the Bagram Collection Point.

<snip>

At least two noncommissioned officers, Sgts. Michael J. Smith and Santos A. Cardona, said they had used unmuzzled military dogs to intimidate prisoners under interrogation. They said they were acting under instructions from Colonel Pappas, the commander of the intelligence brigade.

Both sergeants said Colonel Pappas had assured them that the use of dogs in interrogation was permitted and did not require written authorization or approval from senior officers. The memorandum for the record issued by the interrogation center on Oct. 9 also listed the "presence of working dogs" as "approved" on the basis of authorization from the interrogation officer in charge.

Colonel Pappas has declined requests for interviews, but other Army officials have said the use of dogs in interrogations could have been approved only by General Sanchez, as outlined in a policy he issued on Oct. 10. An unclassified Dec. 12 situation update sent by Colonel Pappas's unit describes interrogation techniques permitted for use in Iraq, including "sleep management, sensory deprivation, isolation longer than 30 days, dogs," as among the "harsh approaches" that could be introduced only with prior approval from General Sanchez.

<snip>

http://www.occupationwatch.org/article.php?id=4940
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/22/politics/22ABUS.html?hp=&pagewanted=print&position=
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040522/ZNYT03/405220441

:dunce:

See for yourself:

http://www.vcorps.army.mil/www/staff/LTGS.htm

Google cache:

http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:zIQHXGytWIYJ:www.vcorps.army.mil/www/staff/LTGS.htm+ricardo+sanchez&hl=en

(It was last updated April 14, 2004.)

THAT was quick!!!

:shrug:

at http://www.cjtf7.com/command-info/senior-leaders. I found the link off

http://www.vcorps.army.mil

JM

It's now at the following URL:

http://www.vcorps.army.mil/Leaders/LTGS.htm

By that I mean...

We can assume they have lied but we can't swear to their lies so now the lies will all start unraveling. Remember what they swore to when they testified. AND LET'S HOPE THAT SOME CONGRESSPEOPLE WILL HAVE THE GUTS TO note what they said in their closed sessions. That's all we can do. Sort their lies. The right wing media supporters now have the opportunity to save themselves - let's see if they are lie- supporters or lie-exposers.

"Nobody put it in writing; no one's going to be stupid enough for that. My client went to Sergeant Frederick and questioned him: 'Should we be following these orders?' And Sergeant Frederick said, 'Absolutely. We're saving American lives. That's what we wear the uniform for.' "

The reports of torture are probably what ensured nearly 100% of Iraqis would turn against the U.S. presence, and thus cause more American deaths.

"Sgt. Samuel Provance, a military intelligence soldier who worked at Abu Ghraib, told The Post that enormous resources began to pour into the interrogation operation in October and November. Provance said new personnel -- including some from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba -- came in suddenly to beef up interrogations."

Guess who visited Iraq in November, Thanksgiving day.

"The list shows two sets of procedures -- those approved for all detainees and those requiring special authorization by Sanchez. Among the items requiring approval from Sanchez were techniques such as "sensory deprivation," "stress positions," "dietary manipulation," forced changes in sleep patterns, isolated confinement and the use of dogs."

sensory deprivation - being hooded for days on end (at the minimum).

force changes in sleep patterns - also known as sleep deprivation, known to cause (at least temporary) insanity.

stress positions - forced to stand on a box, arms spread, for hours, with electrical wires attached to fingers and penis?

dietary manipulation - forcing prisoners to eat food thrown in a toilet? forcing Moslems to eat pork, or drink alcohol?

isolated confinement - days or weeks in solitary (at the minimum).

use of dogs - up to and including biting testicles.

Sanchez had to OK all of this. From Sanchez, to Myers, to Rummy, to Bush.

"Nobody put it in writing; no one's going to be stupid enough for that. My client went to Sergeant Frederick and questioned him: 'Should we be following these orders?' And Sergeant Frederick said, 'Absolutely. We're saving American lives. That's what we wear the uniform for.' "

The reports of torture are probably what ensured nearly 100% of Iraqis would turn against the U.S. presence, and thus cause more American deaths.

"Sgt. Samuel Provance, a military intelligence soldier who worked at Abu Ghraib, told The Post that enormous resources began to pour into the interrogation operation in October and November. Provance said new personnel -- including some from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba -- came in suddenly to beef up interrogations."

Guess who visited Iraq in November, Thanksgiving day.

"The list shows two sets of procedures -- those approved for all detainees and those requiring special authorization by Sanchez. Among the items requiring approval from Sanchez were techniques such as "sensory deprivation," "stress positions," "dietary manipulation," forced changes in sleep patterns, isolated confinement and the use of dogs."

sensory deprivation - being hooded for days on end (at the minimum).

force changes in sleep patterns - also known as sleep deprivation, known to cause (at least temporary) insanity.

stress positions - forced to stand on a box, arms spread, for hours, with electrical wires attached to fingers and penis?

dietary manipulation - forcing prisoners to eat food thrown in a toilet? forcing Moslems to eat pork, or drink alcohol?

isolated confinement - days or weeks in solitary (at the minimum).

use of dogs - up to and including biting testicles.

Sanchez had to OK all of this. From Sanchez, to Myers, to Rummy, to Bush.

http://news.google.com/news?q=lawyer+sanchez+present+interrogation&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&tab=nn&scoring=d

Top US General 'Saw Prison Abuse', Lawyer Told
The Scotsman, UK - 25 minutes ago
... the top US general in Iraq was present during some ... released on its website, said a military lawyer stated at an ... told him that Lt Gen Ricardo Sanchez and other ...


Lawyer: US General Knew of Iraqi Abuse
phillyburbs.com, PA - 31 minutes ago
... testify that the top US general in Iraq was present during some ... Ricardo S. Sanchez and other senior military officers were aware of ... The military lawyer, Capt. ...


Lawyer: US General Knew of Iraqi Abuse
Guardian, UK - 38 minutes ago
... testify that the top US general in Iraq was present during some ... Ricardo S. Sanchez and other senior military officers were aware of ... The military lawyer, Capt. ...


Lawyer: US General Knew of Iraqi Abuse
In-Forum (subscription), ND - 41 minutes ago
... testify that the top US general in Iraq was present during some ... Ricardo S. Sanchez and other senior military officers were aware of ... The military lawyer, Capt. ...


PRISON VISITS BY GENERAL REPORTED
MSNBC - 42 minutes ago
... The lawyer, Capt ... reservist from South Carolina, said she was not present during Sanchez's ... Karpinski added that Sanchez might have visited without her knowledge ...


Lawyer: US General Knew of Iraqi Abuse
Newsday, NY - 42 minutes ago
... testify that the top US general in Iraq was present during some ... Ricardo S. Sanchez and other senior military officers were aware of ... The military lawyer, Capt. ...


Prison Visits By General Reported In Hearing
Washington Post, DC - 45 minutes ago
... the highest-ranking US military officer in Iraq was present during some ... The lawyer, Capt. ... Ricardo S. Sanchez and other senior military officers were aware of ...


Lawyer says he was told top US general in Iraq knew of prison ...
USA Today - 47 minutes ago
... testify that the top US general in Iraq was present during some ... Ricardo S. Sanchez and other senior military officers were aware of ... The military lawyer, Capt. ...


Gen. Sanchez alleged to be at Abu Ghraib prison
Atlanta Journal Constitution (subscription), GA - 1 hour ago
... ranking US military officer in Iraq was present during some ... The lawyer said he was told that Lt ... Ricardo Sanchez and other senior military officers were aware of ...


Prison Visits By General Reported in Hearing
Washington Post - 25 minutes ago
The lawyer, Capt ... reservist from South Carolina, said she was not present during Sanchez's ... Karpinski added that Sanchez might have visited without her knowledge ...

Michael told us a week ago on email that
1. the prisoners are now getting air conditioning
2. His unit is being moved to the south of Iraq, we dont know where, and he cant email us anymore (we havent heard from him in a week)
3. When Rummy came to visit Abu Ghraib, Michael and many of the other soldiers just went into the Internet room and silently protested his appearance.


We have no idea where they are sending his unit. The military said that they are replacing US forces at Abu Ghraib with Iraqi police.

My husband and I have to believe that Michael will be safe, and out of harms way, and come home intact.

Its long overdue that justice be done about this fraudulent, illegal, immoral war that the Bush administration started.
Its long, long overdue.
Everyone who supported it should be held accountable, everyone who voted for Bush should hang their heads in shame, imo. I
The House of Cards needed to fall down a long long time ago.
I am disgusted. Hundreds of young men and women dead, thousands of people dead and wounded.
For nothing.
"Bush will go down in flames." Gore Vidal.

on this board

:dunce:

Duplicate, please continue discussion in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x575416