Rummy tries to pass question to Smith. McCain insists Rummy answer. "goes to the heart of this matter."
Rummy: Two contractor orgs supplied interrogators and linguists.
Myers: 37 contracts. Brigade Commander in charge, with technical control over guards.
McCain: Can't you (Rummy) answer?
Rummy says he turned it over to the expert. Responsibility shifted over a period of time. Myers could tell him.
McCain: What were the instructions to the guards? A simple straightforward question.
Rummy: The guards are not interrogators. They are trained in Geneva Convention. interrogators handled under a different provision of GC.
Ted Kennedy (I may need a smoke break for this, if not a drink LOL): Issue of serious complaints 10/03 and other times. Someone appealed to Rummy to stop mistreatment. Powell appealed. Rummy's dept failed to act. Cites Levin's ref to mental and phys prep for interrogation. (Teddy must be on uppers; I never heard him talk so fast.) No one in military has been held responsible for homicides. Says Rummy said Gitmo prisoners were not protected by GC, but had no doubt about their treatment. Says Rummy has been preparing PR plan. When did president know and why did months and months pass?