<p>Emails that appear to be primarily between staff of the CIA's Office of the Inspector General, relating to the OIG's investigation of the CIA's interrogation program. The emails primarily concern the arrangment of interviews relevant to the investigation.</p>
006070193
(b)(3)
UNCLASSIFIED//_5e16r
To:
02/23/04 11:59 AM
cc: Subject:
legal briefings schedule for Wed. 7 April
Thanks again for briefing the new S —land Slast week. We received positive
feedback from them - they clearly felt that the briefings were relevant and interesting.
We are now preparing the schedule for the next round of on 7 April. I have already reserved theSroom for that day. We would like to start with they
-liegel brief at 1300followed by Sfrom 1400 to 1500. How does your schedule look for that day?
S1
UNCLASSIFIED//F
.CO 6070215
UNCLASSIFIED/LIU-56
OIG Investigations Staff To:
02108/04 08:18 AM
cc: Subject:
1 BecauseSdid not receive the last twol inessages jb_ased on the error/failure notices). I
left him a voicernail message on L Sto advise him that and I are going to
1
at the invitation of CID to do a joint interview. I left him your name and number in the event he wantsfurther information.
UNCLASSIFIED /pr-1110
CO 6070227
ET
3 February 2004
cc: Subject: 1FW: Case Number
CLASSIFICATION:
CRET
>
> From:
L
> Sent:
Tuesday, February 03, 2004 3:14:23 PM
> To:
]
I
>CC: , 1
> Subject: RE: Case Numberl
> Auto forwarded by a
I
1
>
I realize that in your note below you mention you have not had a
chance to write up your conversation with at any
J however, did
time provide you or anyone else with a statement or any other written
documentation? If so, can you send it to us ASAP? The version we are
hearin from I what
does not support told you aboutL land the] Ipersonnel. is here at our request for
r
the moment, but 1 am not certain how long he will remain in our area before
he goes back out overseas or returns to his home state.
Original Message
From:
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2004 7:17 AM
To:J j
Subject: Re: Case Numberl
CRET
CO6070227
CO6070227
•
C06070229
S
To:
5 February 2004
CC:
SubjectSOW: RE: Case Number
CLASSIFICATION.: S50-Rti'
>From:
> Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 7:22:03 AM
> To
>!
Subject: FW: RE: Case_Numberl
Auto forwarded by a
>
>
>From:
> Sent: Thursday, February 05._21MA__7122:03 AM
> To:
> Cc:
'>! Subject: RE: RE: Case Number
> Auto forwarded by a
] _]
We would like to take you up on your offer
to obtain a written statement
from 1ASAP. Could you send it to us on my
account and also
to [ j in the .event we are at
d
when you send it? We
ewed 1_ jand he denied witnessing or being a party to
i
CO6070229
Could you please send us copies of the statements rendered by 1
So far we have statements rendered by
and text
from ] but not his actual statement. Did
render a statement?
Tf so, we would like to get a copy of his statement as well.
When are
scheduled to return
We are in contact withi
and plan travel to[
on Monday, 9 February 2004, to interview Any chance r S
have returned to
Regards,
Original Message
From:
Sent: hursday, February 05,' 2004 2:57 AM
To:
Subject: Rd RE: Case Number
Importance: High
I took a verbal statement from him. I will attach a copy of the
report. It will. tell you what the other guys. from! shad to say
also. If you need a written statement let me know, and I will get it
ASAP.
From:
Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2004 11:14 pm
Subject: RE: Case Number)
CO 6070321
r
OIG Investigations Staff
To:03/22/04 10:57 AM
cc: Subject: Call fromL Army CID POC
called this morning. His main telephone number in S is
-
*aid that he will try to get a cellular telephone and provide that telephone number to us because it will be easier for us to reach him on his cell.
Ssaid he has been incommunicado because he was stuck in a tent in the desert. He returned to the iUS on 16 March 2004 and is just now trying to get back up to speed. He has read our: S messages, but said it is a lot to digest -- he will reread them and work through all of our questions. He will look into locating themeS-lpeople we want to interview, however, he said they are likely on 30 days of home leave.
J is willing to return toL_Sfor the interviews that OIG plans to conduct. He said he should 4e through with his home leave by 12 April 2004. I told:Swe would prefer to work with him in: S given his experience and involvement in this case; however, that is a decision for his management. He said he would talk to his management.
I toldLSthat we have tried to locate) but to date have been unsuccessful. said 7appears to be based out of S-- he is going to pursue that lead further.
I mentioned to SI that our[ -System is not working as well as we would like, but that we would check another terminal daily to ensure we are getting his messages. His r---laddress at
is the same as the one he used in
Follow-up telephone call from:SAfter his initial call called back and asked about our travel to
I did not get specific over the unsecure telepho , but sent him aS:message with
more info. He said his management supports his travel te
CO6070324
• ..- " -
OIG Investigations Staff
To:03/22/04 11:29 AM
cc: S Subject: L Search
your convenience, could you please run the name S land let me know what his status/clearances are? He may be a current FBI body with access to CIA facilities. Thank you,
•k X1
.006070325
-sec
To:03/22/04 02:03 PM cc . S
Subject: Request Submission
The request submittec has been successfully submitted. For more
information, please for ow this link -›
If the doclink provided above does not work properly, use the following link to access the database ->'
SECRET
006070325
-SECRE'rttXt
SUBMI ED
Requester Directorate Office DCI 01G Phone Date 03/22/2604
'11tz &"S-7INCLUDE ALL CLEARANCES ON FILE (ESPECIALLY TS SI TK GAMMA HCS) eessew.:4
-
wotoAW10
fRetrireclA
SiZTE
"'CT71-Yel-
CO6070325
—sEcitEr-44,tt
CO6070331
OIG Investigations Start To:
03/29/04 11:53 AM
cc: Subject: - clearances and status of Ft. Campbell personnel
called with the following today:
His cell isS1 He is going on leave tomorrow (Tuesday, 3/30), but we can call him anytime.
He will need our flight information if things work out for him to travel commercially with us.
Ssaid his management would like a CIA r lrequest justifying his.travel with us so that he can fly
commercial. He said this is best for a number of reasons, including the fact that if he travels on a military
flight through Germany he may get bumped and is likely to wait days for a flight
The should be addressed to
told
I toldwe would need his clearances, including SCI accesses he miaht have. nassed to r.14
11 calledSnumber and Sanswered. He said the request to pass any SCI accesses begins with-hirriT—H-e will get back to me to let me know if Seven has SCI. If he does, I asked---10 have the military fax the following to CIA: Name, SSN, Clearances including SCI, POC name and number (me), and dates of visit, which he said is normally one year.)
S,said that the military personnel that returned to Ft Campbell are going on leave for a month as of 19
April. He said they return 11 June (he probably meant 11 May, but I did not catch the discre anc at the
time). I told him we would work through him after we return fromS said that
Jis the Battalion Adjatant (phonetic) and POC--nevertheless, I said we work through LSj since he would likely travel to Campbell with us.
S
C06070336
u-S(b)(3)
(b)(6)
UNCLASSIFIED/IV-056
r
OIG investigations Staff
To
03/30/04 10:16 AM
cc Subject Re: Changes to Flight Arrangemen sin
I called this morning and here's the scoop:
•
I gave him our current flight itinerary (as documented in your note below).
•
I asked Ito reserve his flights, but hold off on paying for them until we have a green light on our end that he can fly in/out with us.
•
I told hint_ _had called and 1 i had said he would make sure lean fly commercial by working through the bureaucracy on hiiand.
•
I asked if he planned to fly with a weapon. He said they normally do and they simply get
country approvals. He said, however, that he does not have to fly with a weapon. I suggested he
should look into getting a weapon from his folks at our destination. I told him that carrying a weapon
on commercial flights would raise our profile, and that I could not guarantee that he could get
transportation on the aircraft'on the last leg of our trip.
•
[ lasked that, if possible, we could have our folks make his hotel reservations in and at our destination. Worst case, we need to give him the name of the hotel in ]so he can make his own reservations. He does not want to stay across town if he can stay at the same hotel. He also said that, worst case, he can find somewhere to bunk at if our folks won't accommodate him.
•
said this case is very high profile for his organization and he thinks that can help in terms of
transportation ati He said he believes there are three suburbans at which we can use in (not outside).
• He asked about body armor. I told him our folks would likely give us (Agency officers) body armor. Guess we will cross that bridge when we get there.
S
•
He asked if we would be staying/restricted inside and I told him we did not yet know the answer to that question.
•
will fly from
on 12A ril. He will see if he can work it out to meet with us at our
S that day. If not, we will hook up a n plenty of time before the flight to discuss
anything that needs to get discussed before we board the plane.
• L. asked if his clearances were going to be an issue. I said I had spoken to someone at
who planned to fax his clearances to our organization at the Secret Level, minimum. I asked[ Jto do whatever he can to expedite that as we had not yet received that fax.
Original Text of
UNCLASSIFIED/i-FIMI.
C06070336
UNCLASSIFIED//
Investigations Staff/Office of the Inspector General To:
03/30/04 09:37 AM
cc: S Subject: Changes to Flight Arrangements
Hello,
I'd like to let you know about some changes in some of our flight arrangements, in case you want to change yours as well.
! booked';[ on a different flight than mine departing j, so she had a 2 hours 40 minuteslayover in
]instead of a seven hour layover. That seemed more reasonable, so I changed my
0610 vice 0805. iThe flight number also chap ed. As a result of arriving earlier in
flight reservation from to match hers.
The riflight from remains unchanged.
For some reason, ichanged the flight from] on 19 April, and it departs at
we were able
to get an earlierI I flight departing
All of this means that we are traveling as follows:
flight departs date time arrives date time
UNCLASS IFIEDI7FOUG-
CO
, 6070337
CONFIDENTIAL// X1
r
OIG Investigations Staff .
To:03/30/04 10:28 AM
cc: S Subject: LSjclearances -- status per Army
FYI:
I just spoke to,
Sj explained to him whiat_l_ S1 hadtold me about Sclearances (see note below). Ssaid thatSlismistaken and thatS
should have TS. He will talk to Sdirectly and see if they can get this mattercleared up. I asked him to impress upon L the need to fax[ Sclearances over today, ifpossible, so that we can get a cable out to the field ASAP.
Forwarded by n 03/30/04 10:26 AM -----
OfG Investigations Staff
To: I03/29/04 11:56 AM
cc: S Subject: clearances -- status per Army
I spoke to
saidL Shad TS granted in 1998, which was good for five years. His clearances lapsed in 2003. He is cleared only to the Secret level and he has no SCI clearances. I asked S
ito pass that information official to OS via fax
S
I also told him what information he needs to include (Name, SSN, dates of visit, clearances, my info as POC, etc.) He said he would likely get that done today.
"
AL//X1
CO6070344
TIA
To:
03/31/04 09:35 AM
cc:
W4-4,--
Subject; )9equest Submission
The request submitted for
has been successfully submitted. For more
information, please follow tWink ->
If the doclink provided above does not work properly, use the following link to access the database
CONFIDENTIAL
CO 6070344
TONFIDEltrtAti-/-X1-
Requester
Phone
L
Directorate DCI
Date 03/30/2004
Office DCl/IG
G.LNgS/ INCLUDE ALL
ON FILE (ESPECIALLY TS SI TK GAMMA HCS). INCLUDING TOP
Aceesses SECRET FOR
tNIC: I SEE NOTE. BELOW.
equiriell ' THE ARMY INITIALLY CERTIFIED!
k, . 1CLEARANCES AT THE SECRET LEVEL
-._• '' '
..„ HOWEVER
:1-: , • I. ,-
, .., -c , FT. BELVOIR PI ADVISED OIG THAT THE ARMY WOULD CERTIFY HIM AT TOP SECRET ON 30 MARCH 2004.
PLEASE CONTACT
ON L____ ]BEFORE SENDING A CLEARANCE CABLE IF THE ARMY HAS NOT PASSED HIS TS CLEARANCES.
'"hoge 74
Accompanying CIA/OIG to
for consultations/interviews. Please reference they sent autwithL
and ]clearances
.71" F
•
Comrfiknti Special Agent Jand Agency Staff employer
are working/supporting . CIA/01G. Please send a Visit Certification containing clearances for
•
' these two travelers
inamed in this request. Please info OIG on the cable. Thank you.
CO
. 6070344
CO 6070351
UNCLASSIFIED AIUO
Investigations Staff/OIG
Tor
04/02/04 12:04 PM
Subject. Re: CID documents re death of generalB
Thank you. Should we come get them?
Original Text or-
• L S
To cc
04/02/04 10:18 AM
Subject Re: CID documents re death of general
received the documents this morning. They will be hand-delivered to , you today.
Original Text of
Investigations StaffIOIG
To
03/29/04 03:16 PM
cc
Subject: Re: CID documents re death of general
Thank you.
Original Text of
To!
03/29/04 02:58 PM
cc
Subject CID documents re death of general
!located what may/may be the documents CID provided to S
several monthsLa_go reTating to the death of the fomer Iraqi general last November. Swill send copies back to Hqs,
then forward them to the 01G.
UNCLASSIFIED/ IU0
CO 6070358
UNCLASSIFIED//A 0
0 IG Investigations Staff
04/05/04 02:08 PM To: cc: S
Subject: Cancellation of Flights
J
and I have flights reserved for travel to Son 12 April (next Monday)
and return flights fromSon 19 April. Our trip has been postponed. Would you please cancel our reservations. Thank you very much,
UNCLASSIFIED!! U0
C06070361S
(b)(3)
UNCLASSIFIED//F 0
To:
04/07/04 08:07 AM
cc: Subject: legal briefings schedule for Wed. 7 April}
Good morning,
I just confirmed that the
!Conference room is reserved for your presentations this afternoon. This morning, I will test the overhead computer projector to make sure it is functioning for your powerpoint.
Original Text off
DO/
To:
02/24/04 12:43 PM
cc: Subject: Re: legal briefings schedule for Wed. 7 April
Works for me. thanks for being so accommodating.
Original Text of —
02/24/04 12:05 PM
New/improved proposed schedule:
J1200-1. 300. break for lunch 1300-1400 : 1400-1500 Is this convenient for both of you?
Original Text of
To:
cc: Subject: legal briefings schedule for Wed. 7 April
UNCLASSIFIED//F0 0
CO 6070361
UNCLASSIFIED//
• To
02/24/04 08:11 AM
cc Subject Re: IC class #14 : legal briefings schedule for Wed. 7 April
hmm. Wednesday afternoons are REALLY bad for me--I skipped an r-!last week to be there at
1300. Any chance I
can present at noon, then take the lunch break at 1300? then I could sqush it in. If not possible,Sjust send a ologies again to the Original Text of
00i
1
02/23/04 03:05 PM To: cc: S
Subject: Re: IC class #14 legal briefings schedule for Wed. 7 Apra
I have put it on my calendar. Would you rather go first or second?
Original Text of
To:
02/23/04 11:59 AM
cc: Subject: IC class #14 : legal briefings schedule for Wed. 7 April
Thanks again for briefinc last week. We received positive feedback from them - they clearly felt that the briefings were relevant and interesting.
We are now preparing the schedule for the next round of on 7 April. I have already reserved the conf. room for that day. We would like to start with the' legal brief at 1300 followed by (from 1.400 to 1500. How does your, schedule loOk for that day?
UNCLASSIFIED//70
CO 6070389
flight that lands around 1730 hours.
I requested a non-smoking room for you at Government rate ($55/night). They
did not ask which government agency we are affiliated w h so I did not
provide that information. Safe travels and see you in
006070392
CONF ID I • 0421
DCJ/OIG/INV
To:
7 04/21/04 06:35 AM
cc:
Subject: OIG Interviews
By now I am sure that!Shas briefed you on discussions held with concerning our need to interviewL prior to, departure from CONUS on or about 7 May. Given rS'concerns, the suggestion was made to OIG that it might be prudent fort -S1
be move to the DC area for interviews, with taking the lead on arrangements. Do we need to meet to further discuss specifics/arrangements/timing? Please advise and thanks for your assistance,
CONFIDE 90421
1006070397
SEC '4 • 1 A.4
OCl/OIG/INV
To:
---------- 04/26/04 06:20 AM
cc: S Subject: Re: Request for Official Personnel Files
Super...thanks. S
Original Text oil
Investigations Staff/Office of the Inspector General
To:04/23/04 04:18 PM
cc: Subject: Re: Request for Official Personnel File
as of COB on 23 April, the OPF fort had not arrived yet, but you might find it on my chairnext week, assuming thatSreceives it from HR did not find any show-stoppers in his security filethis morning.
Forwarded byrS
ion 04/23/04 04:15 PM -----
DCI/OIG
L._
To: [I
04/21/04 08:06 AM
cc: Subject: Re: Request for Official Personnel Filen
File has been ordered.
Original Text of r
Investigations Staff/Office of the Inspector General
To: 1
04/20/04 02:28 PM
cc: Subject: Request for Official Personnel File
Son an urgent basis, please obtain for me the Official Personnel File of the following CIA
employee:
CO6070397
Name: SSN: AIN: EOD:
I would like to review this file as part of our preparations for interviews related to INV case [
Many thanks,
006070401
F
UNCLASSIFIED
OIG Investigations Staff To:
04/05/04 12:17 PM
CC:
Subject: Hotel Reservatioins
Hotel:
Confirmation number:
__Confirmation number: S
We are confirmed to stay at the Sfrom 12 April through at least 16
April. We have to check in before 6 pm on the 12th of April or. else guarantee our arrival with a credit card to hold our rooms. These are standard rooms vice "suites." I took from the reservationist that the rooms have no refrigerators, but are non-smoking.
UNCLASSIFIED
CO 6070446
(b)(3)-(b)(6)
UNCLASSIFIED//$1-U46
OIG Investigations Staff
05/04/04 08:28 AM To: cc:
Subject: interpreter
I left L Sa message asking him to try and set up an interview withL jor Tueday afternoon, May
11th.
If we are able to get; __Ion the calendar for an interview we would likely fly out Monday night or Tuesday
morning and catch a flight back to VA on Wednesday morning.
UNCLASSIFIED//,A-1-11
00 6070447
01 a 1"
(b)(1) (b)(3) (b)(6) (b)(7)(d)
OIG Investigations Staff
To:05/04/04 09:01 AM
cc: Subject:
I just got off the phone withSJ. He returns from his leave on Monday night (5/10) so he is good to travel Tuesday/Wednesday to interview L assuming! is available. He'll work the Sissue
ssue today,
including trying to get a hold of ! S(to get!'Inumber andSI also passed along the Sinformation Sj brought back fromlSafterStold me he had had no luck reaching Sthrough his contact.
I toldS1 you, [ 1 had sent a message to the field exploring the possibility of going to Sthe week of the 17th of May. That works for him; he will not take any action pending a response from the field.
CONF I 0 ..0 4
CO 6070449
UNCLASSIFIED/1)W°
OIG Investigations Staff
To:
05/04/04 11:17 AM
L
cc: S Subject:1
called and said he spoke to someone atSwho is in the US and they told him they needfull name orSIto find him.S7_palledS-land left a message askin hirn to check his records; no fuck with L ! His next step is to call the woman who works forSj Staytuned....
UNCLASSIFIED/ L7
CO 6070450
UNCLASSIFI ED / U0
To: Scott W. Muiler/STF/AGENCY@DC1
05/04/04 01:09 PM
CC:
Subject: FYI -- Human Rights Watch Letter to Dr. Rice, May 3, 2004
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
United States: End Abuse of
Detainees in U.S. Custody
Human Rights Watch Letter to National
Security Advisor
(Washington D.C., May 3, 2004) -- Human Rights Watch sent a letter today to
U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice, urging the United States to
take nine specific steps to address the systemic problem of detainee abuse by
the U.S. military and intelligence personnel operating in Iraq, Afghanistan,
and other locations around the world. See letter below.
May 3, 2004
Dr. Condoleezza Rice
Asst. to the President for National Security Affairs
The White House
Washington, DC 20504
Dear Dr. Rice:
It is becoming clear that the ill treatment and torture of prisoners by the
U.S. military in Iraq were not limited to isolated incidents, but reflected,
in the words of the U.S. army's own inquiry, "systemic and illegal abuse of
detainees." The brazenness with which the U.S. soldiers involved conducted
themselves suggests they thought they had nothing to hide from their
superiors. The reported role of U.S. intelligence officers in encouraging such
treatment to "soften up" detainees for interrogations, combined with earlier
reports of similar abuses in Afghanistan, suggests a much wider problem that
must be addressed.
The acts described in the investigative report written by Maj. Gen. Antonio
Taguba, including beatings, repeated sexual abuse and humiliation, and threats
and simulation of rape and of torture by electric shock, violate the Geneva
Conventions and could constitute war crimes. They clearly contradict President
Bush's ,pledge on June 26, 2003 that the United States will neither "torture"
terrorist suspects, nor use "cruel and unusual" treatment to interrogate them,
UNCLMSIFIMa.pisqlg-
CO6070450
UNCLASSIFIED/aeU0
as well as the more detailed policy on interrogations outlined that day by
Defense Department General Counsel. William Haynes. It should also now be
beyond doubt, as we have repeatedly argued, that such conduct damages the
reputation of the United States and its ability to advance the rule of law
around the world.
We welcome reports that the Defense Department is now examining the
interrogation practices of military intelligence officers at all U.S.-run
prisons in Iraq, not just Abu Ghraib. But this does not go nearly far enough
to reverse the extraordinary harm these abuses have caused. We strongly urge
the administration to take the following steps:
1.
Launch an investigation into interrogation, practices wherever detainees are
held around the world, whether the facilities are run by the U.S. military or
the Central Intelligence Agency - and make the results public. The reports
from Iraq suggest a systemic problem involving the intelligence community, not
just the military police officers on the scene. Any inquiry that focuses
solely on Iraq and exclusively on the practices of the U.S. military, without
also encompassing the U.S. intelligence community as a whole, will be woefully
incomplete.
2.
Prosecute any military or intelligence personnel found to have engaged in
or encouraged any acts amounting to torture or inhuman treatment. Some of the
abuses described in Gen. Taguba's report clearly rise to this level. In such
cases, administrative penalties are not enough to ensure accountability for
serious mistreatment and to send a clear signal that such abuse will not be
tolerated.
3.
Ensure that all interrogators working for the. United States, whether
employees of the military, intelligence agencies, or private contractors,
understand and abide by specific guidelines consistent with the policy
outlined by DOD General Counsel Haynes last year, which prohibited
interrogation methods abroad that would be barred in the United States by the
5th, 8th, and/or 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as the
Geneva Conventions. Such guidelines should be publicly available. They should
prohibit some of the techniques of stress now apparently permitted by a
reported "72-point matrix" used by U.S. interrogators, including extended
sleep and sensory deprivation and forcing detainees to assume painful
positions, in addition to the other forms of humiliating and degrading
treatment that have been reported in Iraq, such as holding detainees nude.
U.S. Army field manuals do contain prohibitions against cruel and inhuman
treatment in interrogations, but it is unclear if CIA interrogators operate
under any similar guidelines, or how the more specific policy outlined by DOD
last year was communicated to personnel in the field. It is also unclear
whether adherence to such policies is the subject of routine, frequent
monitoring by supervisory officials. Whatever such practices may he, events in
Iraq make clear that ongoing monitoring of interrogation and detention
practices is inadequate.
4.
Grant the International Committee of the Red Cross access to all detainees
held by the United States in the campaign against terrorism throughout the
world, whether held in facilities run by the U.S. military or intelligence
services, or nominally held by other governments at the behest of the United
States. The United States should not be operating undisclosed detention
facilities to which no independent monitors have access.
5.
Make public information about who is detained by occupation forces in Iraq
and Afghanistan, and why, and enable families of detainees to visit their
relatives. Even with internal safeguards, incommunicado detention is an
invitation to abuse.
UNCLAS S IFIED/ I...F-01r-)
CO6070450
UNCLASSIFIEDLAPC63--
6.
Videotape all interrogations and other interaction with detainees so
responsible personnel understand that there will be a record of any abuses.
These videotapes should be regularly reviewed by supervisory personnel to
ensure full compliance with interrogation and detention standards in U.S. and
international law.
7.
Release the results of the investigation the Defense Department conducted
into deaths in custody of two detainees held at Bagram Air Base in
Afghanistan. Reports we've received that criminal prosecutions have been
foregone in lieu of quiet disciplinary action.
8.
Pay restitution to detainees found to be victims of torture or inhumane
treatment:
9.
Ensure that private contractors working for the United States in military
or intelligence roles operate under a clear legal regime so that they can be
held criminally responsible for complicity in illegal acts.
We hope you will agree that the revelations from Iraq call for dramatic, and
systematic, changes in the treatment of prisoners held by the United States
around the world, both to ensure compliance with U.S. legal obligations, and
to repair the damage these abuses have caused to the credibility of the United
States.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Roth
Executive Director
Tom Malinowski
Washington Advocacy Director
cc: Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense
George Tenet, Director, Central Intelligence
Related Material
Iraq: U.S. Prisoner Abuse Sparks Concerns Over War Crimes
Press Release, April 30, 2004
Prisoner abuse: What about the other secret U.S. prisons?
Commentary, May 4, 2004
From: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/05/03/usint8523.htm
Copyright 2003, Human Rights Watch 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor New York, NY
10118-3299 USA
UNCLASSIFIED /ems
. --
CO6070451 bp). (b)(6).
UNCLASSIFIED//A70
mspectorbliered
To
05/04/04 02:13 PM
cc
Subject CID Contact Names and Numbers
Per your request 'Commanding General, U.S. Army Criminal investigations Division
Major General S Command (USACIDC), S Mr.SAssistant Chief of Operations, USACIDC,L CW5 SChief of Current Operations, USACIDC CW5L SChief of Intelligence Division, USACIDC
is aware that Mr. Helgerson will be going to the SSCI tomorrow afternoon. He is also aware that Mr. Helgerson might be calling him,
UNCLASSIFIED// U0
006070455
CONFIDEN I
Investigations Staff/Office of the Inspector General
To:05/05/04 10:57 AM
cc: Subject: Phone Conversation with 15 May 2004
) I just spoke with[ Sand gave him the flight reservations for the!S'trip. He proposed coming up here the week before the trip in order to discuss trip details, the interviewees, and the interviews. He will try to fly to Dulles on Wednesday, 12 May, so that he can visit our office on the 13th and at least part of the 14th. He will fly home on the 14th.
CONFIDE ; I 1
C06070487
ISI-
SECR 24
To:
04/30/04 04:22 PM
• cc:
Subject: Re: OIG Support to Army CIDI2
The litigation team is and
Original Text of
coyote/my
To:
--------- 04/16/04 01:01 PM
cc:
Subject: 01G Support to Army CID
Greetings.
(g) INV continues to support Army Criminal Investigation Division in investigating the death of Iraqi detainee Abid Hamad Mahawish Al-Mahalawi on 26 November 2003. An Army pathologist has ruled the death a homicide and Army CID's investigation has implicated U.S. military personnel as being_ likely
res onsible.r
Anticipating a likely future military legal proceeding that could draw in Agency! information, would you like to assign an attorney who we can bring up to speed on particulars?
SECRE e
CO 6070858
OIG investigations Staff
To:
05/17/04 11:52 AM
cc: Subject: Request to review a security file
I would like to review a security file on J if one exists. I understand that this individual may be in process for employment as a staff employee, IC, or as a contact employeel SI do not have his SSN or an AIN. He was born Thank you,
Reference
CO6070944
UNCLASSIFIED
OIG Investigations Staff To:
05/07/04 07:39 AM
cc: Subject:
I submitted a request to get S
into the HOS compound from 5/12-5/14 with a no escort" badge and general parking on the parking deck. Although he is not scheduled to come in until 5/13, I added an extra day just in case.
UNCLASSIFIED
CO6070952
••S•
Investigations Staff/Office of the Inspector General
To: r
05/10/04 08:34 AM
cc: S Subject: and Case
(2) FYI, Called this morning to check on the status of arrangements for the imminent TDY related to
this case. He asked if. any problems had arisen, and I said no. He asked about responses to.our cable
last week, for example concerning hotel arrangements, and I told him that we had received a response
affirming that we have hotel rooms. I told him that[ could come into our office as soon as
Wednesday afternoon, and asked fi . i ,ow much we could give r to read.i—lresponded that we (Iyou, and me) could sit down with
"investigator to investigator" and discuss his needs and preferences.}toted that
is cleared and can read throughthe case file, butPiadded that[
may not want to be exposed to everything in the file because' I could be called to testify about whathe learned from the file. If jdoes not want to read the entire file, he instead could ask us r---1 youme) questions that we would answer. anticipated being able to meet with us and Thursday
morning (13 May), but he also said i
could come into the office Wednesday afternoon if you and I wanted to meet with 'sooner than Thursday to discuss how wants to proceed with getting oriented on the case. I also told b hatr
thinks she can visit us on Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday afternoon to learn more about the case.
CO6078237
CO 1.i.• ti.401
DC1/010 I I
06/08/04 11:00 AM To: cc:
Subject: Re: Request for Training Records
raining_repoitdo training_report.do
CONF
CO 6078280
(b)(3) (b)(6)
•
FO NLY
REQUEST FOR VISITOR - NO ESCORT REQUIRED
Status: Sent to VAC VISIT Information
First Day of Visit in 07/29/2004 MWDD/YY format :
Last Day of Visit if more 08/06/2004 than one day:
-S-Parking Needed general Parkingng-P09
SPONSOR/ORIGINATOR Information
:Name of=S^ionsor orison's AIN:
Lastinitial). ,
S139hsoF on secure Phone` (n
:DiribtOrate Or --•
Offide:
VISITOR(S) Information
NLY
006078280
Do you want to limit the viewing of this document to you,
your ASO, CIC, and the VAC?: No
Is this an URGENT Request that must be processed
within four working hours?:
Acceptable identification is: 1) US Passport; 2) US state or federal issued driver's license; 3) US military ID.
General Comments:
k
Atipiciired By:
ApPthiriaOn; 07/28/2004-04:28:2900
Authority to Solicit SSN
To request a visitor without supplying a social security number you must submit a hard copy request to your Visitor Access Unit (VAU). Call` for more information. The authority for soliciting the Social Security Account Number (SSN) is Executve t? rc or 9397. Disclosure of the SSN is voluntary, but failure to disclose it may result in delay or denial of visitor's access to Agency facilities. The SSN will be used to identify the visitor precisely within the Agency's access approval system.
Obsolete Previous Editions
rorz OFFICIAL USE ONLY
CO 6078284
--SEC-RET-
Investigations Staff/Office of the Inspector General
To05/11/04 07:55 AM
cc Subject FYI 9equest Submission
Forwarded b iDn 05/11/04 07:55 AM
To05/11/04 07:53 AM
cc.S Subject Request Submission
The request submitted for' has been successfully submitted. For more information, please follow this link -> Smm
If the doclink provided above does not work properly, use the following link to access the database ->0
SECRS
of I 5/11/04 11:22 AM
CO 6078298
UNCLASSIFIED
To:r
05/11/04 07:02 PM
CC. Subject: AP: CIA Role in Abuses Not Fully Clarified' at Hearing
Forwarded byl on 05/11/04 07:02 PM ----
To:
05/11/04 06:51 PM
cc:
Subject: AP: CIA Role in Abuses Not Fully Clarified' at Hearing
"Senior officials disagree over key questions about Iraqi prisoner
abuse<
"Eft: SUBS 7th graf pvs, The Defense ..., to CORRECT to Fox News
Radio's "Tony Snow Show," sted Fox Newsom
With BC-Prisoner Abuse-Excerpts, BC-Abuse-Taguba-Scenes
"AP Photos GB102-103, 107, 112, NY123‹
"By ROBERT BURNS=
"AP Military Writer=
WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Army general who investigated prisoner
abuse in Iraq disagreed sharply Tuesday with a top Pentagon
civilian about who was in charge of the Abu Ghraib complex where
the mistreatment occurred. In a daylong hearing jolted by news of
the beheading of an American in Iraq, the two also differed on the
key issue of responsibility by higher-ups.
Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba told the Senate Armed Services
Committee that military police who acted improperly did so of
their own volition." Several senators, however, questioned whether
those low-ranking soldiers would have created the sexually
humiliating scenarios by themselves.
Indeed, the committee's chairman, John Warner, R-Va., said it
was his understanding that some of the photos, such as one showing
an Iraqi prisoner with women's underwear covering his-head, were to
be shown to prisoners' families --by way of threat unless he came
forward with some valuable information."
The hearing unfolded less than two weeks after photos circulated
around the world showing Iraqi prisoners forced by their American
captors to assume sexually humiliating positions.
It also took place on a day when an Islamic militant Web site
showed pictures of the apparent beheading of an American civilian
in Iraq in retaliation for the prison abuse.
Vice President Dick Cheney questioned whether additional photos
of prisoner abuse ought to be released to the public, declaring,
"It's not just a matter of, sort of whetting people's appetites to
see sensational stuff here."
The Defense Department is going to make the material accessible
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UNCLASSIFIED
to Congress, "but then there will have to be a decision made what
and at what point any additional photos are released to the
public," Cheney told Fox News Radio's "Tony Snow Show."
Taguba said that when control of the prison was turned over to
military intelligence officials, they had authority over the
military police who were guarding prisoners.
But Stephen Cambone, the Pentagon's undersecretary for
intelligence, said that was incorrect, that authority for the
handling of detainees had remained with the MPs.
That difference underscored the confusion that surrounds the
abuse controversy as military investigators attempt to determine if
blame should be assigned to more than the 13 soldiers now
reprimanded or charged with criminal violations.
It also highlighted an unresolved question linked to Maj. Gen.
Geoffrey Miller, who visited Iraqi prisons in early September,
shortly before the reported abuses took place. The question is what
Miller meant when he recommended, at the time, that military police
become actively involved in "setting the conditions" for
successful prisoner interrogations.
Some of the seven MPs who have been charged with abusing Iraqi
prisoners at Abu Ghraib have said they believed they were acting on
orders from military intelligence personnel who wanted prisoners
' -softened up" to make them more compliant in interrogations.
Cambone told the committee that Miller meant the MPs should be
"collaborating" with the military intelligence soldiers
responsible for the interrogations. For example, Cambone said, the
MPs could help by telling the interrogators what the prisoners were
saying in their cells.
The idea, he said, was to build teamwork between the
interrogators and the prison guards. Miller and others made it
clear, he said, that all prisoners were to be treated humanely.
But Taguba said involving MPs in "setting the conditions'' for
interrogations not only violated Army regulations, but also opened
the door for possible misunderstanding on the part of MPs who are
trained to keep prisoners safe and secure.
"Senators ... are in a virtual state of shock about the
beheading," said Warner, recalling earlier concerns that the
prisoner abuse could lead to retaliation.
Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Burgess, chief of intelligence for the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, told Warner "there has been an increase" in
threats in the days since the publication of photographs.
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., asked Taguba whether he agreed with
the conclusion of the International Committee of the Red Cross that
coercive practices such as holding prisoners naked for extended
periods had been used in a systematic way.
"Yes, sir," Taguba replied. "Based on the evidence that was
presented to us and what we gathered and what we reviewed, yes;
sir."
He said that investigations, which are not yet complete, have
identified seven MPs and as many as 17 of their supervisors
directly or indirectly involved.
The question of CIA involvement arose but was not fully
clarified.
Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander, the Army's intelligence chief,
testified that CIA officers -"visited the facility and talked to
prisoners" at Abu Ghraib. He added that he knew of "no wrongdoing
on their behalf."
In his testimony, Taguba said the decision last November to.take
tactical control of Abu Ghraib prison away from the 800th Military
Police Brigade and give it to the 205th Military Intelligence
Brigade meant the MPs believed they were taking orders from
military intelligence.
Cambone, however, said that move did not give military
intelligence authority over the MPs, nor did it change the rules
governing the activities of either the MPs or the interrogators.
Either way, Cambone told the panel that troops in Iraq were
UNCLASSIFIED
CO 607 .8298
UNCLASSIFIED
under orders to abide by the Geneva Conventions, which dictate
terms for humane treatment of wartime prisoners.
An order to soften up a detainee would not be a legal order,
would it?" asked Sen. Pat Roberts,. R-Kan.
"No sir," replied Lt. Gen. Lance F. Smith, deputy director of
the U.S. Central Command.
Taguba stressed that his investigation produced no evidence that
an MP was ordered to use inappropriate means in handling detainees.
"I would say they were probably influenced by others but not
necessarily directed specifically by others,“' he said. He
suggested the MPs were in some way led to believe they could use
more coercive methods, either by military, CIA or civilian
contractor interrogators.
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CO6078299
UNCLASSIFIED
Sen. Susan Collins, P-Maine. ''That military intelligence were
involved or people further up the chain of command in suggesting to
these guards specific types of abuse that were designed to break
these prisoners."
Lt. Gen. Keith B. Alexander, the top intelligence officer in the
Army, said her logic was sound, but he added, --The difficult part
is to find out who told whom what to do."
A few moments later, Warner interrupted to say that he agreed
with Collins, particularly that the poses seemed designed offend
Muslims.
"These youngsters didn't understand the nuances of Muslim
culture. ... They staged those photographs, which I understand were
going to be shown to the prisoners' families by way of threats
unless he came forward with some valuable information," Warner
said. -•
Earlier, Taguba testified'that the photographs were taken by the
personal digital cameras of U.S. personnel:
Stephen Cambone, undersecretary of defense for intelligence,
told the panel that personal --photographing, filming and
videotaping" of prisoners of war was strictly prohibited.
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., challenged Taguba on his statement that
Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski of the 800th Military Police Brigade
bore responsibility for a breakdown in discipline that led to
abuse.
Taguba testified that tactical control of the Abu Ghraib
facility had been taken away from Karpinski and turned over to a
military intelligence colonel. Karpinski retained control over
other Iraqi prisons in her command, and Taguba conceded that they
remained largely, free of abuse.
Karpinski, a general in the Reserve, has been suspended and
issued an official letter of admonishment in connection with the
abuse. She has not been charged.
Questions about ultimate responsibility for control of the
prison also produced a disagreement between Taguba and Cambone . .
Taguba said that control had been turned over to military
intelligence officials.
Cambone said that was incorrect, and it resided with the
military police.
In a further disagreement, Taguba said it was against Army rules
for intelligence troops to involve MPs in setting conditions for
interrogations. Cambone said he believed it was appropriate for the
two groups to collaborate.
Taguba also told the committee his 'investigation had not found
"any order whatsoever, written or otherwise," that directed the
military police to cooperate with intelligence forces at the
prison.
Left unresolved was the central question of what Maj. Gen. .
Geoffrey Miller meant in recommending, shortly before the abuses
occurred, -that military police become involved in --setting
conditions" for the successful interrogation of prisoners.
Cambone insisted it meant only that MPs tell the interrogators
what the prisoners had been saying in. confinement and otherwise
collaborating" with the interrogators. Taguba said he believed
it meant applying more coercive techniques to prisoners prior to
their interrogations.
Regardless of any disagreements, Cambone and others told the
panel that troops in Iraq were under orders to abide by the Geneva
Conventions, which dictate terms for, humane treatment of prisoners.
An order to soften up a detainee would not be a legal order,
would it?" asked Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas.
'No sir," replied Lt. Gen. Lance F. Smith, the deputy director
of the U.S. Central Command.
Taguba told the panel that his investigators had been told about
participation by "other government agencies or contractors , ' in
the abuse.
Other government agencies is a euphemisM for the CIA.
Cambone, too, was asked whether he had any knowledge of CIA
-
UNCLASSIFIED
CO6078299
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involvement in the abuse at Abu Ghraib.
—
There were people brought by agency personnel to that place.
... There may have been interrogations conducted by the agency
personnel while they were there," he said.
The hearing took place while Senate leaders, sought access to
photos and videos of abuse not yet made public. Officials said the
plan was for all senators to have access to the material.
In Geneva, the International CoMmittee of the Red Cross said
U.S.-led coalition intelligence officers had told it that up to 90
percent of Iraqi detainees were arrested by mistake.
A 24-page Red Cross report also cited abuses, some --tantamount
to torture," including brutality, forcing people to wear hoods,
humiliation and threats of imminent execution.
APTV 05-11-04 1701EDT‹
UNCLASSIFIED
CO 6078306
UNCLASSIFIED
Office of Inspector General To:
05/13/04 11:26 AM cc:
Subject: ISRAELI IRAQ PRISON TORTURE CONNECTION: WHO IS JOHN ISRAEL?
Forwarded by bn 05/13/04 11:26 AM
To:
05/13/04 08:57 AM cc:
Subject: ISRAELI IRAQ PRISON TORTURE CONNECTION: WHO IS JOHN ISRAEL?
Who is John Israel?
TEXT:
Who is John Israel?
He could be one'of the secret masterminds behind the Abu Ghraib outrage
The blithering, the blathering, the.Pontification, and the grandstanding b
that about describes the Senate ArMed Services Committee hearings on the Abu
Ghraib filth-fest. The Democrats were so hot to link Secretary of Defense
Donald Rumsfeld directly to the scandal, and the Republicans were so busy
defending their man and the war) that neither bothered much to mention the key
culprits, as identified in the Taguba report:
'I find that there is sufficient credible information to warrant an Inquiry UP
Procedure 15, AR 381-10, U.S. Army Intelligence Activities, be conducted to
determine the extent of culpability of M[ilitary) i[intelligence] personnel,
assigned to the 205th MI Brigade and the Joint Interrogation and Debriefing
Center IJIDC) at Abu Ghraib (BCCF). Specifically, I suspect that COL Thomas M.
Pappas, LTC steve L. Jordan, Mr. Steven Stephanowicz [sic), and Mr. John Israel
were either directly or indirectly responsible for the abuses at Abu Ghraib
(BCCF) and strongly recommend immediate disciplinary action as described in the
preceding paragraphs as well as the initiation of a Procedure 15 Inquiry to •
determine the full extent of their culpability.'
Even when General Taguba went up to Capitol Hill and testified, along with the
shifty-eyed undersecretary of defense for intelligence, Stephen A. Cambone, the
senators spent so much time listening to the sound of their own voices, and
scoring brownie points off one another, that the subject of the "private"
contractors and the intelligence community's involvement in all this only came
up briefly, like lightning illuminating a cloud-clogged sky.
It came up at the start of the hearing, but Senator John Warner, who even looks
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like a hawk b the beakish nose, the hooded eyes, the predatory glint in his
eye b approached the subject gingerly:
SEN. WARNER: "I ask-the same question to you. In simple laymen's language, so
it can be understood, what do you think went wrong, in terms of the failure of
discipline and the failure of this interrogation process to be consistent with
known regulations, national and international? And also, to what extent do you
have knowledge of any, participation by other than U.S. military, namely Central
Intelligence Agency and/or contractors, in the performance of , the
interrogations?"
GEN. TAGUBA: "Sir, as far as your last question, I'll answer that first. The
comments about participation of other government agencies or contractors were
related to us through interviews that we conducted. It was related to our
examination of written statements and, of course, some other records. With
regards to your first question, sir, there was a failure of leadership..."
The media has focused on thiS last phrase, probably because it not only seems
to indict Rumsfeld but also because it's a made-to-order headline. But the
first part of Taguba's answer is the most pertinent. Warner, obviously not
eager to have the general go into detail in public, then answered his own
question, referring to the over 1,000 pages of documentation submitted to the
committee. In short, the answer to the senator's question was clearly yes, and
the details were to be found in the classified documents that only members of
the committee and other privileged characters would read.
So they blithered, and they blathered, and struck poses, and not until it came
Senator Daniel K. Akaka's turn was any further light shed on the dark corners
of this investigation. The Hawaii Democrat looked affable enough, and he was
smiling, but his questions, when they came, cut straight to the heart of the
matter:
SENATOR AKAKA: "General Taguba, in your report you reference the lack of
supervision over U.S. civilian contractor personnel, third country nationals
and local contractors within the detention facility at Abu Ghraib. During your
investigation, did you determine how many civilian contract personnel were
working there? Who supervised these individuals? And can you describe what you
observed in terms of type of access these individuals had to the detainee
areas?'
GEN. TAGUBA: 'Sir, we did not make a determination bf how many civilian
contractors were assigned to the 205th MI Brigade and operating at Abu Ghraib.
I personally interviewed a translator and I also personally interviewed an
interrogator, both civilians, contractors. There was also a statement, and
substantiated by the witnesses that we. interviewed, of another translator, a
third-country national in fact, that was involved. And there was another third-
country national who was acting as a translator for the interrogators that was
involved in one of the interrogation incidents where dogs were used. Their
supervision, sir, from the best that we could determine or discern from the
information that we gathered, was they were under the supervision of the Joint
Interrogation and Debriefing Center, the JIDC, who is then under the
supervision of one, a lieutenant colonel, who was alio supervised by the
brigade commander, the MI brigade commander. That was the chain, sir.".
Third country nationals, eh? So what third country are we talking about?
Britain? Canada, perhaps? I guess we can probably rule out Monaco.
The only translator identified in the Taguba report is John Israel, supposedly
a "contract translator' employed by the Titan Corp. Mr. Israel is furthermore
described as not having a security clearance, an unusual condition for someone
in his position b unless, of course, he's not an American, in which case it
would be perfectly understandable.
So far, very interesting. But then- it got even more interesting:
SEN. AKAKA: 'General Taguba, your report finds that two contractors were either
directly or indirectly responsible for the abuses at Abu Ghraib. Were either of
these contracted personnel supervising soldiers or in a position to direct
soldiers Co take specific actions?"
GEN. TAGUBA: "Sir, they were not in any way supervising any soldiers, MP or
otherwise. However, the guards, those who were involved, looked at them as
competent authority as in the manner by which they described them, as the MI or
by name or by function."
A reasonable interpretation of Taguba's somewhat garbled answer is that, yes,
the MPs and soldiers who committed sadistic outrages against detainees acted
under the influence and at the instigation of those they believed to be
intelligence officers, some of whom were "third country nationals.'
Senator Akaka follows up with a question for Secretary Cambone: "What kind of
training,' he wanted to know, 'did the U.S: civilian contractors have prior to
going to Iraq?'
The look on Cambone's face made the whole dreary procedure worth it, I thought
his eyebrows were going to fly right off.
It is no secret that the Israelis have been "advising' the Americans on how to
run the occupation: after all, they have so much experience in the matter, and
are more than eager to impart their hard-won expertise. The methods employed by
Israeli security forces are quite different from those utilized by the U.S.
military: the use of "limited' torture is okay by them, and the Palestinians
are no strangers to the sort of treatment meted out to the inmates at Abu
Ghraib. So when Senator Akaka asked Cambone what kind of training the
contractors had received, my first thought was: The very best!
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The Mossad is rightly feared throughout the Middle East, and the world, as the
most ruthless (and daring) intelligence agency of them all. Only the KGB ever
rivaled its reputation. That they would not hesitate to employ the sort of
interrogation methods used to "soften up" the prisoners of Abu Ghraib is beyond
dispute: just ask the Palestinians b and Human Rights watch. That we have
imported them, along with their methods, into Iraq seems. altogether likely.
But, hey, wait a minute, how is it that American soldiers were taking orders
from civilian contractors, never mind "third country nationals'? Senator
Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina} cleared that up when he put the question to
Taguba pointblank:
SEN. GRAHAM: 'Part of the defense that we're going to be hearing about in these
court martials is that the people that we're charging are going to say this
system that we see photographic evidence of, was at least encouraged if not
directed by others. Do you think that's an accurate statement?"
GEN. TAGUBA: "Sir, I would say that they were probably influenced by others
b"
SEN. GRAHAM: "Okay b "
GEN. TAGUBA: " b if not necessarily directed specifically by others."
As U.S. and, in all likelihood, Israeli intelligence officers looked on
approvingly, Trailer-Park Lynndie and her ex-prison guard boyfriend', with the
active collaboration of the other MPs, systematically abused and degraded the
inmates. So much of this nightmare scenario b the hooded prisoners forced to
engage in behavior looked on with utter horror in Muslim society b seems like
such a gift to Osama bin Laden that the revelation of Israeli involvement gives
the whole affair a surreal quality.
For the role of CIA overseer, I nominate Steven Stefanowicz, the 34-year-old ex-Navy reservist, now a civilian interrogator supposedly employed by CACI International, who emigrated to Australia, before 9/11, and worked in "information technology" in the city of Adelaide, where b he says b he became engaged to be married. As detailed in my last column, Stefanowicz alleges he underwent a transformation after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and returned to the U.S. determined to get in on the fight, though in what capacity was never quite clear. Now it turns out he had bragged to his friends that he had joined the CIA, according to a piece in the Philadelphia Daily News: "The Philadelphia-area native at the center of the Iraq torture scandal has reportedly told friends he wants to get out of there right away and return to Australia, where he claimed three years ago he was joining the CIA. 'It's safe to say I've seen enough for a lifetime here in Iraq, and it's definitely time to come home,' Steve Stefanowicz reportedly said in an e-mail to a friend in the southern Australian city of Adelaide. He apparently meant Adelaide and not Telford, the Montgomery County, Pa., suburb where he was reared. "Meanwhile, another Australian friend told the Daily News in an e-mail that in fall 2001 'Steve announced to all of his friends that he was leaving Adelaide to return to America to work for the Central Intelligence Agency.'" Alas, the Australians don't seem all that eager to have him. Justice Minister Chris Ellison said Stefanowicz "would not be welcome in Australia," according to the Herald Sun newspaper: "'We do not hold Australia out as a haven for anyone who has broken the law and is trying to evade it,' Senator Ellison said. He said he was not aware of the details of the case but Australia would be prepared to help the U.S. in any investigation'into Mr. Stefanowicz. 'We would receive any request for assistance sympathetically,' he said." Yeah, well if I were Senator Ellison I wouldn't hold my breath. This is one refugee from the law that many in Washington would just as soon see the back of. The same goes for the mysterious John Israel, about whom next to nothing is known b except that, according to the London Telegraph, "Mr. Israel has left Iraq while Mr. Stefanowicz is 'on leave' pending inquiries that could lead to criminal charges being brought against chem."
Mr. Israel has skipped town for parts unknown, and Stefanowicz is trying to get
to Australia, where he supposedly is going to marry a woman he describes as his
fiancC)e. Except that she isn't. This news story describes Joanna Buttfield as
an "former girlfriend" coming to Stefanowicz's defense. Another Australian
account also refers to their relationship in the past tense, and cites this
very interesting tidbit from Ms. Buttfield:
"Mr. Stefanowicz had refused to discuss details of his life as a U.S. Army
reservist, she said. 'We both made a conscious decision not to talk about it
because there was so much he couldn't talk about,' she said. 'It was the
source
of some.frustration. He'd say, 'I can't talk about that'.'
For a CIA guy, however, he sure sounds like a bit of a loser, and not exactly
low-profile. His Australian friends are coming out of the woodwork, and talking
to the newspapers;
"'The events of 9/11 had nothing to do with his motivation to return to the
U.S. ,' South Philadelphia native Sam Krupsky, now an executive with the Australian Rail Track Corp., wrote [to the Philadelphia Daily News). "He was out of work and out of luck, and left because he had no prospects here.' "b&Krupsky, the Australian rail-track worker who was born in Philadelphia and who moved to Adelaide in the mid-1970s to play semi-pro basketball, cast doubt on Stefanowicz's•skills. 'Steve tried hard for a couple of months to find a job
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here, but was always unsuccessful because he kept freaking out all of his
potential employers,' Krupsky wrote. He said Stefanowicz had boasted to friends
on his arrival in Australia that he'd turned down a job offer from the CIA."
After 9/11, did he take them up on their offer b and proceed to "freak out"
his new employers to a degree that not even the catty Krupsky could have
imagined?
If Stefanowicz is employed by the CIA, then he certainly didn't try to keep it
very secret. He was very visible, even prior to his notoriety, due to the
efforts of his mother who founded a chapter of the Blue Star Mothers in their
home town, and was featured on the Don's 'Defend America" website,
invoking her
son as a kind of patriotic model. In the wake of the scandal, a number of
accounts have been published of his early history and the course of his career,
both here and in Australia. We know he graduated from Souderton Area High
School in 1988, and that, in 1998, he joined a Naval Reserve program. We also
know that, for whatever reason, after 9/11 he quit his job in Australia as an
"information technology recruiter" and went back to the U.S., where he
volunteered for active duty. The Washington Post reports that 'he served in
Muscat, Oman, for most of 2002, and his rank is listed as intelligence
specialist 3rd class. Stefanowicz, who received a number of military awards,
including a medal for meritorious service, left his last post, at Willow Grove,
Pa., last September." Friends of the family say he became a civilian to take a
job with CACI. Of the key role Stefanowicz played in the torture chambers of
Abu Ghraib, the Taguba report is unequivocal. According to General Taguba,
Stefanowicz: .
'Allowed and/or instructed MPs, who were not trained in interrogation
techniques, to facilitate interrogations by 'setting conditions' which were
neither authorized and in accordance with applicable regulations/policy. He
clearly knew his instructions equated to physical abuse."
However, the General gets a bit murky when it comes to detailing the specifics
against John Israel, who, in addition to-not having a security clearance, is
found to have
'Denied ever having seen interrogation processes in violation of. the IROE,
which is contrary to several witness statements."
And that is it.
While we know plenty about Stefanowicz, what's extremely odd is that nothing
comparable has come out about the other civilian contractor named by General
Taguba as having 'direct or indirect' responsibility for the Abu Ghraib house
of horrors. We don't know how old "John Israel" is, where he lives, where
he
was born, or what he looks like b nothing.
We don't even know where he is. All we know is that, according to the
Telegraph, he's flown the coop. Gee, I'll bet Army Specialist Jeremy Sivits,
who faces court martial, a stiff jail sentence, and worldwide calumny as the
"torturer of Abu Ghraib," wishes he could do the same.
If the Israelis are involved in this maelstrom of evil to some extent, then the
U.S. is taking the fall for them. Just as Sivits and the others are taking the
fall for the intelligence officers who directed the Abu Ghraib horror show b
and are so far getting away with reprimands, and relative anonymity.
b Justin Raimondo
Looks like the Israeli association to the intelligence/torture is completely
being white- washed for Israel (read former Republican Congressman Paul
Findley's 'They Dare to Speak Out' book to see why) as the following
article
(ORLI also conveys how closely tied the US is to Israeli 'anti-terror' tactics:
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.aspeedition_idelOecateg_id=2&article...
3446
Israeli link possible in US torture techniques
By Ali Abunimah
Special to The Daily Star
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
In exchange for interrogation training, did Washington award security
contracts?
NEOCON PENTAGON OFFICIAL CLASHES WITH GENERAL TAGGBA:
http://www.itszone.co.Uk/zone0/viewtopic.php?t=15305
Is Israel behind the orders for the tortures in Iraq?:
UNCLASSIFIED
CO 6078306
UNCLASSIFIED
http://www.itszone.co.uk/zoneWviewtopic-php?t=15215
Israeli lessons for the US in Iraq:
http://english-aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C18233988-2SE3-41)48-ADFC-F1SD6509BOEC.htm
'UNCLASSIFIED
CO 6078315
To:
01/29/04 02:14 PM
cc: Subject: Interview Report for your Review
ease review for accuracy. Make all changes in bold print. Thanks
-
28Jan04.do
CO6078395
- -------- (b)(1) (b)(3)
i •
DC I/01G(
To:06/18/04 08:57 AM
cc: Subject: Check Out Notice For File
Please see below.
SForwarded by
SJon 06/18/04 08:54 AM
To:06/17/64 07:02 AM
cc. S Subject: Check Out Notice For File
C017PH3E-1411AL.
is being processed for checkout. The file is due back: 07/08/2004 It must be ordered from the Records Center. You will be notified when it has been received. It will take a few days.
CONFI ENTIAL
¦
. :
CO6078417
UNCLASSIFIEDGe0
Investigations Staff/Office of the inspector General
To: 11
06/22/04 03:34 PM
cc: S Subject: Tentative interviewirravel lans, as of 21 June 2004
(Li .Fel:10j FYI, I spoke yesterday with CID Special Agent said he
was in the process of thinking about when to conduct additional interviews
was interested in
knowing ifJ lhad been successful in reaching someone
I told him that had discovered tha be out of the United States until May 2005. also discussed other potential interviewees. He said the most significant news he had was that personnel will not return
until circa 14 July 2004; he expects that thbir first day back in their offices will be 19 July. also said that thei eople will in theory wi e available to be re-interviewed.
On the basis of all the information available to him and his own schedule, 1 foresees the following:
•
an interview Slas early la the week of 12 July as_possible, ifSIcan set one up;
.
interviews of during the week of 12 July;
[
• interviews lduring the week of 26 July.
F—lolfered to have OIG personnel take part in some or all of these interviews. I told him that I am available but not toward the end of the week of 12 July.
UNCLASSIFIED/7'70116
CO 6078420
(b)(3)
UNCLASSIFIED/I23.1-Wer
DoL_
S1
To:06/23/04 04:07 PM
cc: Subject: Re: OIG's Tasking Memo re: Detainee Abuse AllegationsE)
I believe that my previously provided response, included (I believe) in the General Counsel's responseL lwas complete.
if you believe otherwise, please provide me with some indication of what you believe I have overlooked.
UNCLASSIFIED/
CO 6078431 -S (b)(1) (b)(3) SEC 30
DCl/01G/INV
vtitvvrowyrrin•
To:
06/30/04 10:35 AM
cc:
A
Subject: Alleged Abuse ease
•
In case you want to update theSn caseS•IG,[ Slwas briefed on the case in his office
this morning by the undersigned.S__also attended. An MFR regarding the briefing will be placed in the
case file.
SECRES•0630
CO 6078452
UNCLASSIFIED/TFOUCL
Inv'estigations Staff/Office of the Inspector General I SI To:J
07/01/04 11:16 AM
cc: Subject: CID SAL Evolving Plans
(U/LEOld0) FYI, today I spoke with CID Special Agent ' "nterviewing and travel
jtold me that he had received a phone call from of the 1 1
According to said thaiL
personnel will return from block leave on 6 July vice 14 July. Given this change, -inow intends to visitL Sjcirca 11-14 July; he will talk with inext week (hopefully as early as the 6th)' to
discuss the availability and willingness ofI s ersonnel to be (re)interviewed.j _ isaid he also will
ask if the two soldiers L. an who refused to speak with us" land
me) during our earlier trip will now make themselves available to be interviewed, either by and me,
or by.me without 1(This raises the question of having a second CIA/01G investigator travel with me
should any of the military personnel decide to talk CIA but not to CID, so that there wouklbh two
investigators in the room during any interviews.) r Sthought that some members of !might be
willing to be (re)interviewed now, given how develo ments turned out on another matter, although he also
said he could spin a scenario in which nobody in would want to be interviewed by anyone at all,
given all the press attention and the looming charb apnst Army personnel at rSsaid
that he is planning tentatively to travel during the period 25-28 July to .1 to interview 1 _end tq 1, to interview777andr *nd meet with the military
prosecutor.
UNCLASSIFIED/ TI
006078508
----- --(
bp)
(b)(6)
UNCLASSIFIED/LPata
Investigations Staff/Office of the inspector General
To:07/06/04 03:18 PM
cc: Subject: FYIF SlndP )Interviews
(u/iFetto) CID Special Agent Sjust called.to say that he heard from)
officer) SJ Ssaid thatSiold him that Spersonnel indeed are back
atj Sthis week, but they main yed elsewhere (i.e. overseas as early as next week.
may try to travel toStherefore this week to talk with S
yry personnel before they
mart CONUS. LSsaid he would let me know what Stells him in a follow-up phone call
his planning 15 make tor )concerning the availability of Spersonnel.
UNCLASSIFIED/tEWO-