Soldier's Family Set in Motion Chain of Events on Disclosure [Hackworth involved in CBS photos]

NY Times ^ | 5/8/04 | James Dao and Eric Lichtblau

[saquin]

CUMBERLAND, Md., May 7 — Ivan Frederick was distraught. His son, an Army reservist turned prison guard in Iraq, was under investigation earlier this year for mistreating prisoners, and photographs of the abuse were beginning to circulate among soldiers and military investigators.

So the father went to his brother-in-law, William Lawson, who was afraid that reservists like his nephew would end up taking the fall for what he considered command lapses, Mr. Lawson recounted in an interview on Friday. He knew whom to turn to: David Hackworth, a retired colonel and a muckraker who was always willing to take on the military establishment. Mr. Lawson sent an e-mail message in March to Mr. Hackworth's Web site and got a call back from an associate there in minutes, he said.

That e-mail message would put Mr. Lawson in touch with the CBS News program "60 Minutes II" and help set in motion events that led to the public disclosure of the graphic photographs and an international crisis for the Bush administration.

It is still not entirely clear who leaked the photos and how they got into the hands of a "60 Minutes II" producer. What is clear, however, is that the furor over the photos is unlikely to dissipate any time soon.

And it may only get worse.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld disclosed Friday that there were "many more photos" and videos of abuse that have not yet become public. And he acknowledged in Senate testimony that the military might have mishandled the affair by not alerting members of Congress and the public to the growing seriousness of the military's investigation into the abuses before the images became public on "60 Minutes II."

"I wish I had been able to convey to them the gravity of this before we saw it in the media," Mr. Rumsfeld said.

The irony, Mr. Lawson said, is that the public spectacle might have been avoided if the military and the federal government had been responsive to his claims that his nephew was simply following orders. Mr. Lawson said he sent letters to 17 members of Congress about the case earlier this year, with virtually no response, and that he ultimately contacted Mr. Hackworth's Web site out of frustration, leading him to cooperate with a consultant for "60 Minutes II."

"The Army had the opportunity for this not to come out, not to be on 60 Minutes," he said. "But the Army decided to prosecute those six G.I.'s because they thought me and my family were a bunch of poor, dirt people who could not do anything about it. But unfortunately, that was not the case."

Many of the incriminating photographs appear to have been taken on a digital camera by a soldier in the 372nd Military Police Company who is now facing a court-martial. From there, they appear to have circulated among military personnel in Iraq via e-mail and computer disks, and some may have found their way to family members in the United States.

But there are still numerous unresolved questions about the photographs. One is why they were taken. Some officials suggest that soldiers wanted the photographs as souvenirs, but some relatives said they believed that the photographs were going to be shown to other prisoners to pressure their cooperation.

Then there is the question of how the photographs became public.

Lt. Gen. Lance Smith, deputy commander of forces in the region, testifying Friday before Congress, said he was still unclear how that happened. "It was a surprise that it got out," General Smith said.

Military officials were aware of two disks with photographs on them that were part of continuing investigations, one in Iraq and another in Washington, he said.

"That was the limit of the pictures, and we thought we had them all," General Smith said.

Producers at "60 Minutes II" are not saying exactly how they got the photographs. But Jeff Fager, the executive producer, said, "We heard about someone who was outraged about it and thought that the public should know about it."

Digital cameras have become so ubiquitous in the military that many relatives of personnel in the 372nd and other units in Iraq said they routinely received photographs by e-mail. But the photographs were usually tourist-type photographs of smiling sons and daughters, relatives said.

Officials said that the photographs showing psychological or physical abuse numbered in the hundreds, perhaps more than 1,000, with Mr. Rumsfeld hinting Friday that more may come out.

Among some prison personnel in Iraq, the photographs were apparently an open secret. "Some soldiers in Iraq had them — I'm hearing that soldiers were showing them to everybody," Mr. Lawson said. He said he did not have the original photos and did not turn them over to anyone.

The photographs have now turned soldiers like Mr. Lawson's nephew, Staff Sgt. Ivan Frederick, and Pfc. Lynndie R. England into graphic symbols of military abuse. But for Mr. Lawson, they are evidence of a complete breakdown in training and authority in the Iraqi prison system.

He shared his frustration in his March 23 e-mail message to Mr. Hackworth's Web site, writing: "We have contacted the Red Cross, Congress both parties, Bill O'Reilly and many others. Nobody wants to touch this."

Less than five weeks later, images of his nephew — interviewed on "60 Minutes II" with Mr. Lawson's help — would be shown around the world. Far from untouchable, the story would become unavoidable.

[Diddle E. Squat]

See post #636

[World'sGoneInsane]

I wonder where he got his contract from...

[monkeywrench]

"It was a caller into C-Span Washington Journal that was complaining about the decision to hire contractors to do interrogation work, but the callers complaint was that these people are not properly screened and could possibly belong to a terrorist group."

Like the dnc.

[TexKat]

Take a look at the 3 Centcom briefing excerpts that I posted at post #508, and see if you come to the conclusion that detainee abuse is being discussed.

[McGavin999]

The leaders of our troops who lost control of MI procedures will pay the political price. Why the big deal?

And just who would those leaders be TP?

[World'sGoneInsane]

Ping...See post 636.

[Quix]

McGavin999

Please see my post 625.

Seems I miss directed my comment. Sorry.

Thanks mass55th

[EternalVigilance]

It's posts like your #636 that make FR invaluable.

[World'sGoneInsane]

Bump

[cyncooper]

Thank you...over 600 replies here and I want to read this whole thread soon. Thanks for directing my attention to a very interesting point I wouldn't have gotten to for awhile if I'd just decided to slog through.

Very interesting.

[McGavin999]

Yes, I noticed. The funny thing is, the law of unintended consequences is bouncing back at them so fast they don't even see it coming.

The people are beginning to rally around Rumsfeld, I think he's actually going to come out of this stronger than he was before. Funny how these things work out.

Oh yes, and the photos of the perps have been spread around the world. That assures a death sentence for them, not from our military courts, but from the Muslim fanatics who will make it their lifes work to hunt these people down and get revenge.

[TexKat]

A journalist was on the Washington Journal this morning and stated that some of the other photos, etc. that have not been revealed to us are already being shown over in some Arab countries.

[Mo1]

Are they supposed to be property of the military, since they were apparently confiscated? Shouldn't they be used as evidence again those involved?

I'm not sure about the orginal owner of them

But they are part of a criminal investigation .. so for now .. that is the owner of them

[Oztrich Boy]

OK You've posted a faked picture

That woman... Ms Lewinsky hasn't been that thin since junior high.

[jellybean]

Playing old films of Jennine Garafolo's, replaying Shirillary's screaming rants over and over again, playing Barbra Streisand records, making them watch reruns of Rosie O'Donnell's show.

You're one sick b@st@rd for even suggesting such inhumane treatment of POW's!!!! Next you'll be recommending they be forced to attend a JF'nK rally...sheeeesh...have some compassion for these poor, innocent Iraqis who were guilty of nothing more than failure to pay parking tickets.

[Mo1]

If we here at FR can reveal the what we have, just imagine how easy it will be for those in the know to get to the bottom of this

I'm still reading .. but has anyone asked why the NYT decided to out Hack for this???

Something doesn't smell right

[TexKat]

Iraq is an American National Guard/Reservist wake up call - uniforms with no balls and no gut.

And civilian prison interrogator contractors with no name tags.

[subedei]

"1. a. To give aid or information to an enemy of; commit treason against: betray one's country. b. To deliver into the hands of an enemy in violation of a trust or allegiance 2. To be false or disloyal to: betrayed their cause; betray one's better nature. 3. To divulge in a breach of confidence: betray a secret.

Oh, looks like we have a DOUBLE winner"


Again you come with the illogical position. "1. a. To give aid or information to an enemy of; commit treason against: betray one's country.". So this would apply to ANYONE or ANY organization who reports ANYTHING that could possibly be used against us? What a ridiculous implied assertion.. And how exactly did Hackworth commit treason against or betray his country? Nothing in this definition even remotely describes what Hackworth did. You still fail to respond to my previous points and questions, how about responding to them instead of making illogical and unfounded one line assertions of guilt?

"2. To be false or disloyal to: betrayed their cause; betray one's better nature.". Again, where did Hackworth do any of this? If you actually believe that Hackworth is guilty of betraying his country for merely releasing photos showing illegal and inhumane abuse to try to bring attention to it, THEN WHY HAVEN'T YOU BOTHERED TO CALL THE ALLEGED ACTIONS OF THE GUARDS AND OTHERS INVOLVED WHO BEAT, RAPED, ABUSED, TORTURED AND MURDERED PRISONERS BETRAYALS??????? Why haven't you compared them to benedict arnold, why haven't you stated that they were "going to be responsible for the death and injury of thousands", WHY HAVEN'T YOU CALLED THEM TRAITORS?!?

As I said before and to which you had no response:

"Since when is our soldiers moral preferrable to doing what is LEGAL, and what is RIGHT??? And why exactly would this have a bad affect on moral? Maybe because this puts their lives, their sacrifice, their honor, and that of everyone who gave their lives over there in a bad light? Why should such shame be hidden or glossed over? Are you implying that they should feel shame for dishonorable actions they themselves had no hand in? If I were them I imagine I would, even though I should not. Sorry, rule of law, basic fundamental human rights and our very freedoms which they fight for DEMAND that this subject be displayed openly and honestly, and that it be dealt with in the same manner.

Your previous uncivil and fallacious comments still call for a decent response..."

If you sidestep or ignore my comments again I can only assume that it is due to intellectual cowardice or just plain laziness on your part.

[EternalVigilance]

Just as a tiny flaw in a diamond is what gives it its beauty, this episode, in my opinion, merely serves to highlight the honorable, courageous, stellar job that has been done by 99.9999999999999999% of our wonderful troops.

It also highlights the difference between us and the Islamo-nazis. Their atrocities are encouraged by their religious and political leaders, and are the rule, not the exception. The contrary is true with our forces.

Our whole culture condemns these acts. They are the exception that proves the rule: Americans are decent and honorable, in peace and in war.

[World'sGoneInsane]

Here's a picture of some relatives looking at a picture.

Whoever orchestrated this should be hung out to dry, at the very least.