Sen. Carl Levin's excellent opening Statement today on Iraq prison abuse

http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=221240

Sen. Levin did a beautiful job of putting the "scandal" into a broader perspective.

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General Taguba’s finding that “personnel assigned to the 372nd MP company...were directed to change facility procedures to ‘set the conditions’ for M(ilitary) I(ntelligence) interrogations” is bolstered by pictures that suggest the sadistic abuse is part of an organized and conscious process of intelligence gathering. In other words, these abusive actions do not appear to be aberrant conduct by individuals, but part of a conscious method of extracting information. If true, the planners of this process are at least as guilty as those who carried out the abuses.

The President’s Legal Counsel, Alberto Gonzales, reportedly wrote in a memorandum that the decision to avoid invoking the Geneva Conventions "preserves flexibility" in the war on terrorism. Belittling or ignoring the Geneva Conventions invites our enemies to do the same, and increases the danger to our military servicemen and women. It also sends a disturbing message to the world that America does not feel bound by internationally accepted standards of conduct.

The findings of General Taguba’s report as reported on a public website raise a number of disturbing issues. For example:


* How far up the chain of command was there implicit or explicit direction or approval or knowledge of this prisoner abuse?
* Why was a Joint Interrogation and Detention Facility at Abu Ghraib established in a way which led to the subordination of the military police brigade to the military intelligence unit conducting interrogation activities?
* What was the role played by military intelligence, the CIA, and any other intelligence units in requesting or suggesting abusive activities?
* How is it in our nation's interest to have civilian contractors, rather than military personnel, performing vital national security functions, such as prisoner interrogations, in a war zone? When soldiers break the law or fail to follow orders, commanders can hold them accountable for their misconduct. Military commanders don't have the same authority over civilian contractors.


Finally, Secretary Rumsfeld and General Myers, I must express my deep dismay that when you briefed Senators in a classified session last week on events in Iraq just hours before the story broke on television, you made no reference to the impending revelations. Executive Branch consultation with Congress is not supposed to be an option, but a long-standing and fundamental responsibility.

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To call his office: 202-224-6221

This got lost in all the exciting hearing threads. It's worth looking at if you didn't hear it (or even if you did).

... with phone calls, we should also ring up Senators Levin, Graham, Dayton and Clinton for their grilling of the Secretary.

Thanks for posting this!

Just a reminder... not everyone can afford to make a lot of long distance phone calls. Here are toll-free numbers to Capitol Hill:

1-800-839-5276
1-877-762-8762

Ask for the office you want.

Let's all make those calls today.... both to thank those who are speaking up, and to keep demanding impeachment!

Kanary

Right on the mark and I have yet to hear one reasonable answer.

:kick: