Torture report may have broken classification rules: report

[WilliamPitt]

http://truthout.org/docs_04/050604A.shtml

Torture report may have broken classification rules

Federation of American Scientists
Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2004, Issue No. 42

Wednesday 05 May 2004

By classifying an explosive report on the torture of Iraqi prisoners as "Secret," the Pentagon may have violated official secrecy policies, which prohibit the use of classification to conceal illegal activities.

The report, authored by Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, found that "between October and December 2003, at the Abu Ghraib Confinement Facility, numerous incidents of sadistic, blatant, and wanton criminal abuses were inflicted on several detainees."

"The allegations of abuse were substantiated by detailed witness statements and the discovery of extremely graphic photographic evidence," Gen. Taguba wrote.

These specific observations, and the report as a whole, were classified "Secret / No Foreign Dissemination."

Why the secrecy?

"There's clearly nothing in there that's inherently secret, such as intelligence sources and methods or troop movements," an astute reporter noted at a Pentagon press briefing on May 4. "Was this kept secret because it would be embarrassing to the world, particularly the Arab world?"

"I do not know specifically why it was labeled Secret," replied Gen. Peter Pace.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he did not know why it was classified, either. "You'd have to ask the classifier," he said.

But the classification may have been more than simply unnecessary. It might have been a violation of official policy, which forbids the use of secrecy to cover up crimes:

"In no case shall information be classified in order to ... conceal violations of law, inefficiency, or administrative error prevent embarrassment to a person, organization, or agency...," according to Section 1.7 of Executive Order 12958, as amended by President Bush (EO 13292).

...more...

[Mistress Quickly]

1. Classification and secrecy

only matter when it looks bad for the administration.

[KittyWampus]

2. Tangent: Isn't It Illegal For Our Troops To Take Commands From Civilians?

cause from what I understand... it sounds like they were.

Anyone?

[Coventina]

3. Crikey! Every time I think things can't get worse

or more bizarre.....this administration (and those under their influence) delves deeper into human depravity.

[GOPisEvil]

4. Is there a rule or law these criminals HAVEN'T violated or broken?

:grr:

13. the law of gravity

:evilgrin:

[Sparkly]

5. So secret, Rummy didn't see the pictures

early enough to prepare for their publication -- because, as he explained, when he asked to see them he was told there weren't any copies...

(Sorry if I'm repeating that to the point of being annoying, but it just boggles my mind no end.)

[Postman]

6. Here is what Sy Hersh said about the Military...

he said they are extremely upset with the civilian leadership such as one Donald Rumsfeld. The Taguba Report was leaked to Hersh with the inference that I understood to mean that the Army is not happy with the war in Iraq. They follow orders because that is part of the oath they take, but they are extremely unhappy about the situation they have been put in in Iraq by this group in Washington.

[riverwalker]

7. Rummy better have better answers Friday

I hope on Friday when he is before the committee, they don't let him get away with this smart ass non-answer answer.

"Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he did not know why it was classified, either. "You'd have to ask the classifier," he said."

Suddenly Rumsfeld doesn't know ANYTHING. But before the war, heck, he knew ALL about the WMD's piled all over Iraq, didn't he? He even knew that we don't know what we don't know we know.

"Why is the window broken?" "I dunno, ask the window-breaker Ma."

[proud patriot]

8. woa , I hadn't thought of that

interesting . they do say it's the cover-up
where people make mistakes .

[JohnOneillsMemory]

9. Imagine if CBS hadn't delayed the news when asked. During Fallujah.

If CBS had released this when they were going to before the Pentagon asked them to wait, Congress might now be discussing withdrawal plans because of the even larger uprising of Iraqi freedom fighters and world outcry.

[DinahMoeHum]

11. As it is, it aired just before the 1-year anniversay of that

stupid "Top-Gun" stunt of *'s on the aircraft carrier.

"Mission Accomplished" my ass.

"...torture chambers are no more..." my ass.


Tee hee, what exquisite timing!! I'd call it Karmic Justice.


:evilgrin:

[JohnOneillsMemory]

15. By the way, FZ, I got my heads up on the US/Nazi/God scam from Zappa

when I found a record of his (Absolutely Free) in my town library when I was 12 in 1973. It was the wildest thing I'd ever seen and I was looking for records to tape at home for absolutely free, appropriately enough. I got to see him in concert from 1977-1988.
I'm a concert audio engineer and I use the orchestral material on 'The Yellow Shark' to tune pa systems. That recording always amazes the technicians I'm working with and they want it for themselves.

The performance piece 'Welcome to the United States' which has as a punchline welcoming a proclaimed Nazi at US customs resonated with the German audiences who heard it because they recognize fascism living on in the US when they see it.
A musical genius and a political prophet.

Frank Zappa taught me much I needed to know about Fascism parading as Virtue in the good ole USA.

'Brown Shoes Don't Make It'
'Status Back Baby'
'Who Are the Brain Police'
'Concentration Moon'
'When the Lie's So Big'
'Dumb all Over'
'Heavenly Bank Account'
'Jesus Thinks Your a Jerk'

[WilliamPitt]

10. Kick

[supernova]

12. Curiouser and Curiouser

Illegalities upon illegalities. They're coming so fast and furious now, it's hard to keep up.

If it's true that someone leaked the photos and the report as the military's plea for help, that person ought to win medals.

And it also means there is still some sanity left in the military.

[WilliamPitt]

14. Kick