Replies

Chambliss: Tear down Abu Graib. One thing leaders sometimes do is hide behind underlings. But Rumsfeld came in and admitted mistake was made and he will correct mistake shows what kind of leader he is. I commend you. I commend you on selection of General Miller. Observed interrogations on Gitmo; Miller did correct problems there.

General Rider made report based on October visit. That's when alleged atrocities took place. Rider said he wasn't told. Atrocities occured on night shift? Failure in chain of command. Hope you will address.

Re guards trained to guard and in GC provisions. But these guards were not trained. Hope you're improving training, esp. for reservists. Reserve brigade - poor leadership and poor training. Failure in chain of command. Must assure that there's no good ol' boy system in the U.S. Army. Must get to the bottom, corrective action, criminal action. Failure in keeping info from Rumsfeld.

Rumsfeld: Investigations must go forward, respecting rights but reflecting gravity. Does not matter one whit where it falls.

Smith: Reserve unit must be on same standard as regular.

Chamblis: Tagabu report says reserve unit did not receive the same training.

Hillary: Clear from number of investigations ongoing, not just this particular batallion but other did not receive training re detention and GC. Atrocities depicted very graphically and verbally described in Taguba report. One's stomach turns in disgust. Focus on pictures misses the point. Report was well known and discussed on numerous occasions. Release of pictures devastating, but underlying conduct and failure of command to act with appropriate quick response at heart of most serious problems.

Atrocities linked to Camp Booka (sp?). Taguba's report calls for establishing resources to prevent further occurrences. Don't have time in this round, wants a report on how corrections are being made. Are rules being posted in English and Arabic? Adequacy of punishment? Clear distinction between enlisted and higher-ups in Taguba report.

Re Chaplain Yee, arrested and put in solitary. Obviously info came from gov't sources. How did baseless case get such publicity and these atrocities did not?

Rumsfeld: I can't conceive of anyone looking at the pictures and suggesting that anyone could have condoned, etc. those things. Decision made by President was announced, and in announcement said that Al Qaeda captured would be treated consistent with GC.

You say report was well known. All I know is that when it made the public -- someone took secret document and released it to press. I do not believe it was anywhere in the Pentagon. Certainly I did not see it. Correct that it's much worse than Jan press release, but that was not something moved past CENTCOM or DoD as far as he knows.