The Abu Ghraib Scandal Cover-Up? (Newsweek June 7)

[huckleberry]

By Michael Hirsh and John Barry

Newsweek June 7 issue - The meeting was small and unpublicized. In a room on the third floor of the Old Executive Office Building last week, Condoleezza Rice grittily endured an hour's worth of pleading from leading human-rights activists who want to see a 9/11-style commission created to investigate the abuse of detainees in the war on terror. According to participants, the president's national-security adviser didn't repeat the line that George W. Bush had delivered to the American people in a speech two days before: that the scandal was the work of "a few American troops who dishonored our country." Nor did Rice try to make the case that by razing Iraq's Abu Ghraib Prison—a Bush proposal that took even his Defense secretary by surprise—administration officials would put the scandal behind them. "I recognize we have a very grave problem," Rice said, according to Scott Horton, a New York lawyer at the meeting whose account was corroborated by another participant. "There are major investigations going on right now to fully understand the scope and nature of it."

snip

....Some critics say Donald Rumsfeld's Defense Department is doing its best to stop potentially incriminating information from coming out, that it's deflecting Congress's inquiries and shielding higher-ups from investigation. Documents obtained by NEWSWEEK also suggest that Rumsfeld's aides are trying hard to contain the scandal, even within the Pentagon. Defense Under Secretary Douglas Feith, who is in charge of setting policy on prisoners and detainees in occupied Iraq, has banned any discussion of the still-classified report on Abu Ghraib written by Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, which has circulated around the world. Shortly after the Taguba report leaked in early May, Feith subordinates sent an "urgent" e-mail around the Pentagon warning officials not to read the report, even though it was on Fox News. In the e-mail, a copy of which was obtained by NEWSWEEK, officials in Feith's office warn that the leak is being investigated for "criminal prosecution" and that no one should mention the Taguba report to anybody, even to family members. Feith has turned his office into a "ministry of fear," says one military lawyer. A spokesman for Feith, Maj. Paul Swiergosz, says the e-mail warning was intended to prevent employees from downloading a classified report onto unclassified computers.

more at
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5092776/site/newsweek/

[spotbird]

1. What is worse than the scandal is that the public just doesn't care.

What would it take for people to care about what has been lost to them?

[robbedvoter]

5. The words "Cover up" usually command attention. And you're wrong

people DO care. Numbers really changed after those pics appeared.

[Alerter_]

11. what makes you think the public doesn't care?

Everyone that I know who knows anything about the situation is disgusted. Most people don't have any idea. Most people have NOT seen any pictures.

[molly]

2. Too little - too late

they should go f themselves.

[9215]

3. What in the hell is wrong with these dipshit reporters????

Nothing like going around the fucking elephant in the living room in concert. Why do they not simply ask Rice why they are going to destroy the place where evidence of the abuse and even the death of Berg may be found.

I mean Rice almost invites the question

Rice: "There are major investigations going on right now to fully understand the scope and nature of it."



But nobody says a fucking thing!!!

[Spazito]

4. I keep waiting for the document that will scorch bush....

the "presidential finding" he signed authorizing the contravention of the Geneva Conventions as a result of Gonzales' advice. There is no doubt in my mind that there is such a document and I only hope it, too, will be leaked as have the other documents.

[PaDUer]

7. If we had any idea

on WHO is leaking the info, we'd be able to contact them and urge them to put everything out for the public to see NOW..We are NOT freepers who want to hide the truth..the public is entitled to the truth.

[Spazito]

8. I see the leaks as very strategic...

a document is leaked, the bush admin responds or, if the panel investigating the tortures is in session, someone is asked, under oath, about what's in the leaked document then another document is leaked that proves that the bush admin or the person testifying lied. Each time the bush admin has come out with something, shortly after, a document is leaked that contradicts them. This is a coordinated strategy involving more than one. Different leaks are going to two different papers primarily, The NYT and the Washington Post. I love the coordination, it HAS to be giving all in the White House massive ulcers!

[PaDUer]

13. To the hague

with these criminals!

[DEMVET-USMC]

16. You may be right and if you are I love It. Perhaps Dems. have finally

learned a few tricks of thier own. The Bushcos seem like a boxer taking one blow after another with a M.Ali dancing around playing with them before delivering the knockout punch in November. ...Oscar

[Media_Lies_Daily]

18. Good observation...and the leaks are coming from a wide...

...variety of sources.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

10. Who is leaking the stuff?

That's easy. Career CIA pros, White Anglo-Saxon Protestants one and all.

They have had quite enought of being the maladministration's spooge rags.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

17. "White Anglo-Saxon Protestants one and all"?? Not hardly....

...otherwise, it would be very difficult to operate in some countries.

On top of that, the CIA is NOT the only group leaking information to the mainsream media. In addition to the CIA, the following groups have also dropped dimes on the NeoCon Junta:

1. The DIA dropped the "Chalabi bomb" just recently;

2. Senior military officers have been quoted stating that Rummy had to go;

3. The FBI has recently been investigating a number of instances of what appears to be violations of National Security by members of Rummy's civilian staff;

4. A large faction of conservative judges have begun to make rulings in opposition to the Patriot Act and other issues being pushed by the NeoCons.

[dbt]

6. Condi The Unsticker is ON THE JOB!

Good luck, you worthless fucking sellout. You traitor to your gender, your race, your country and your planet.

Let's see you unstick this shit.

:evilgrin:
:hellishlaugh:
dbt

[grytpype]

9. Fugging Feith again...

from the article

Defense Under Secretary Douglas Feith, who is in charge of setting policy on prisoners and detainees in occupied Iraq, has banned any discussion of the still-classified report on Abu Ghraib written by Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, which has circulated around the world. Shortly after the Taguba report leaked in early May, Feith subordinates sent an "urgent" e-mail around the Pentagon warning officials not to read the report, even though it was on Fox News. In the e-mail, a copy of which was obtained by NEWSWEEK, officials in Feith's office warn that the leak is being investigated for "criminal prosecution" and that no one should mention the Taguba report to anybody, even to family members. Feith has turned his office into a "ministry of fear," says one military lawyer.

Feith is at the center of just about every Bushist screwup.

[MasonJar]

12. I saw Senator Graham (not Bob) but rather the Pug one say that

the other tapes, videos and pictures should all be put out for the public. Of course that was before any of the committee had actually seen the worst of the pictures. We should all innundate him with reminders of his own statement; we should ask him when the citizen taxpayers get to see the full truth.

[PaDUer]

14. Yes indeed..

everyone on DU should contact Sen Graham either by phone, email (do they read emails?), or faxes. Does anyone have the phone #, fax, or any other on how to reach him because there's no doubt the freepers are contacting him to stop.

[DEMVET-USMC]

15. Ashcroft picked documented prisoner abuser:Lane McCotter to head up

Prison Affairs in Iraq.For this story go to: < http://www.november.org/stayinfo/breaking2/exporting.html >. ...Oscar

[NNN0LHI]

19. The "ministry of fear". n/t