Email between Army officers re: Abu Ghraib Assessment Report

I • tt_ A rs.. .•kle` 'I From: actor Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 9:55 AM To: — C CFLCC/3A-ATL-PAO Subject: Abu unruyab 01.111el I epui t Kathy, Here is the bulletized version of the Abu Ghruyab assesment for MG Miller. I am working the more lengthy report for those who need more background and explanation. I will attach what I have written to this point. ABU GHRUYAB ABU GHRUYAB ullets.doc (27 KB... SESMENT.doc (42 . 4 0 3 I 6 ABU GHRUYAB ASSESMENT The Biometric Automated Toolset (BAT) is mission capable at Abu Ghruyab in that it is functioning and employed at about the 75% level. The Abu Ghruyab BAT server produces the bulk of the BAT data for Iraq and has four major BAT user groups. The four major user groups are MP In- processing, MI Screeners, JDIC and the Local Employee Hire (LEP) section. This report will focus on the four major BAT users groups on Abu Ghruyab and address deficiencies found, and recommended courses of action. MP DETAINEE IN-PROCESSING PROCEDURES -The MP In Processing area is the e .point for detainees at Abu Ghruyab. The. ems wit. yrGevv ¦ t, A . -co r They have a third BAT computer used for adminis a iv-.oses. e processing computers are hooked to the Abu Ghru ab server via fiber. When a detainee is processed, the BAT compares or t s i. en i ca ion process o a e p a -, e commumca ion co the MP in processing and the JDIC must be operational to prevent duplicate records on individuals as well as identifying individuals in processing under an alias. If a match occurs, it means the individual was previously enrolled through either previous detention or employment by Coalition forces. Detainees arrive at Abu Ghruyab with a packet containing background information on the detainee. At a minimum, the packet should include the following a. Individuals complete name b. Tribe c. DOB d. Date of Capture e. Capture Unit f. Capture Tag/MP number g. Location of Capture h. Circumstances of Capture i. Documents, weapons or equipment found on individual j. Nationality k. Related captured persons (same place, same circumstances) This information is entered into the BAT system along with the detainees' biometrics, and detention information such assigned camp and compound. A-0 The BAT application is also capable of . (6-r-PTC_DevN Sror ckkerr":1 P`"-k" C 0 8 1 6 n Some of the Divisions have either BAT or CHIMS (CI- HUMINT Information Management System). These units can create the initial BAT record upon capture and transfer the records to Abu Ghruyab along with the detainee. To date, record transfer is accomplished via CD or Memory stick. I do not know why these units use this method of data transfer instead of transferring the data via the SIPR. I will determine the reason for this method of data transfer as a part of future assessments of the divisions. *NOTE - CHIMS contains older versions of BAT software and only portions of the BAT was integrated. I do not know if a CHIMS BAT is capable of SIPR update to the database. This would not be due to database incompatibility but due to non-integration of the online update software. This would explain why some units are only capable of manually transferring detainee records via CD or Memory stick to in processing. r e4e...r• The BAT system is also used durin the release or tran#e f detainees. -sro Co r was used to assist in the identific4tion of the rocket casualties in Abu e- clar442.Prb:•—• PROBLEMS -The problems at Abu Ghruyab can be broken into three separate and distinct areas: Human, Software/System, and Communication/Network. HUMAN -The major problem with the data in the BAT system t•latr. c-C.ejrc-o-YN c-o (41,4erp.. dditionally, when a detainee is moved from one compoun to anot er, the do not update the BAT to reflect the change of location of the detainee. Transfer data is often incomplete with no destination noted. SOFTWARE/SYSTEM -Currently the BAT application cannot create the same reports created by the NDRS, which is why the MP's are maintaining data in both systems. Often times information related to detainee tracking is only entered into the NDRS thus the discrepancy between the two systems. COMMUNICATION/NETWORK -If the fiber connection is down between the server and the in processing, you run the risk of duplicating records on individuals. This occurred in May, which resulted in approximately 1000 duplicate records. ROMMENDATIONS/COURSES OF ACTION 008170 HUMAN — Establish and enforce policies and procedures for packet information on incoming detainees. One question that should be added to the detainee information packet is "Do you have any relatives currently detained at Abu Ghruyab". In processing NCOIC should perform quality control checks on data entered by in- processing section to ensure accuracy and completeness of entered data. Sufficient computers and time is available for this process. I have already discussed this procedure with SFC.NCOIC In-Processing Section. If a detainee packet is not available or incomplete, the information must be obtained through a prescreening process. This would require a linguist at in processing to complete the data form or all individuals to go through the MI screening. Additional computers with BAT application should be distributed to the 4erations section responsible for the actual relocation of detainees within the compound so that the appropriate section may enter changes to BAT. This would alleviate some of the burden from the in-processing section. It would also allow the various sections to input other relevant detainee reports such as offenses, self-harm, etc. re.50?-r SOOWARE/SYSTEM — The inability of the BAT application tb Ca v.VT oes no a o.ese repo s ou he coe" ,42,4er ser inter ace o t e NDRS application. These reports are created from backend table views on the _N.for more robust _ ue ca abilit e This would require funding an additional contractor from the stat s. ould take approximately one week to develop and put in place. Another ould be to use in place assets, military or civilian, to accomplish this task. COMMUNICATION/NETWORK — The fiber line put in place between the MP In-processing and the JDIC has greatly increased the reliability of the network. We have had no major incidents of duplicate records since the fiber was laid. The fiber is scheduled to be re-laid from the MP In-processing facility directly to the JDIC BAT server, by passing the SEN. This will eliminate the occasional problems experienced at the SEN. The end state is to ensure connectivity between the BAT systems at the in-processing to the BAT computer, independent of the SIPR. *NOTE.is currentl in use at Abu Ghru ab. (\.p ( -1.(E ec mg to comp e e ec ca portion of this procedure soon. urren t e Abu Ghruyab .is not on C08171 the NIPR net. None of the fingerprint files have1111111. (6)(n)(a) 111111111111111111 MI SCREENERS PROCEDURES — Detainees are brought to Abu Ghruyab with a packet containing the individuals name4pffense, and circumstances of capture. The supervisor of the Screening cell reviews these packets. Based on the offense listed and the circumstance contained in the packet, a certain percentage of detainees are selected for screening to determine possible Intel value. If there is no indication of Intel value in the supporting documentation, the detainee is processed into General Population. During the screening process, additional background information on the person is obtained. The detainee, based on the screening will either be recommend for MI Hold (further interrogation) or returned to general population, no MI value. The MI screeners enter the additional information into the BAT system. Screened detainee records are, by far, the most complete records of general population detainees and these record are used as examples of what the command would like to see in ALL detainee records. The screening supervisor does an excellent job of quality control on all records input by the screeners. PROBLEMS - HUMAN — How do we get all the general population detainee records as complete as those that have been screened? SOFTWARE/SYSTEM — The only problems from a software systeinvidtroior the screeners is the number of computers they have, three, vise the number of screeners and the applications inability perform more complex queries and store them. COMMUNICATIONS/NETWORK-Since the fiber has been laid from In-Processing to the server, communications/network problems have been minimal. RECOMMENDATIONS/COURSES OF ACTION HUMAN — Provide the same screening process for all detainees. This may not be realistic at Abu Ghruyab given the number of detainees processed at this facility. In lieu of 100% screening by the MI screeners at Abu, capturing units with linguist should attempt to obtain the same information at their level and forward the information in the detainee packet. SOFTWARE/SYSTEM-The screening cell needs thtee more SIPR computers. If a contractor is funded to create reports for the MP's off the baft1t side of the BAT tables, his task should include creating a web ;interface for the common queries used bythe screening supervisor. COMMUNICATIONS/NETWORK — NONE, C 08172 JDIC PROCEDURES-The JDIC is composed of multiple sections with varying areas of responsibility. The bulk of the people in the JDIC organization are responsible for the interrogation of the detainees and all reporting of information obtained. Other sections include DOCEX, CMD, and the FAC. There are in excess of 50 systems throughout the JDIC loaded with BAT. All these systems work off the main server. Detainees recommended for MI hold are reviewed at the JDIC by the ICE NCOIC and assigned to various sections and teams for further interrogation. The teams and sections are assigned in BAT and the different teams and sections query the system for their assigned detainee. All preparation reports, interrogation reports and follow on reports are entered, tracked and edited in the BAT by the various JDIC sections responsible for each step of the reporting process. PROBLEMS - HUMAN — The JIDC currently lacks a dedicated person to manage the database and perform overall quality control of the data such as cleaning out duplicate records or blank records entered accidentally. This is a common job/task assigned to analyst within the intelligence field, as intelligence database tend to be large. It requires a person with a working knowledge in that field to perform quality control over this type of database. If two records appear to be on the same person, the analyst reviews the content of both records for different entries made in the records by different analysts. The Quality control analyst would have to ensure all unique data was transferred from one record to the second before deleting the duplicate record. SOFTWARE/SYSTEM -BAT would work more efficiently for the JDIC analysts if the following areas were addressed. 1. Add the ability to database ASP, IIR, KB and SPOT reports 2. Incorporate the ability to detach attached documents. 3. Display attached documents from most recent to oldest. 4. Incorporate the ability to save queries 5. Improve the query tool to include the "Not Equal" Value 6. Enable User to edit reports generated from BAT queries, example: modify column width. 7. Incorporate the ability to edit Microsoft Office Document attachments. 8. Add three additional fields to the application 9. Enable CMD to associate reports to Requirements 1. Recommendations (6)(t)-.‘ C 08173 1. Local Employee Program LEP Procedures ( (c) — 2. LEP a. C08174 ABU GHRUYAB ASSESMENT The Biometric Automated Toolset (BAT) is mission capable at Abu Ghruyab in that it is functioning and employed at about the 75% level. The Abu Ghruyab BAT server produces the bulk of thLBAT data for Iraq and has four major BAT user groups. The four major user groupsVMP In- processing, MI Screeners, JDIC and the Local Employee Hire(LEP) section. This report will focus on the four major BAT users groups on Abu Ghruyab and address deficiencies found, and recommended courses of action. One overall short fall for BAT in Iraq is contractor support. Iraq needs two additional BAT contractors; onf with SQL/Web experience and one with Tfining/operational experience. Funding for these contractors is required. MP In-Processing 1. Major problems a. Detainee's arriving from capture units with incomplete or no packets b. Quality control oversight by supervisor of data input c. Detainee irtformation not updated (moving prisoners from one 'coniriound to another) . 2. Recommen ations MI Screening 1. Major problems a. Not enough computers b. Do not screen 100% of the detainee's (not necessarily a problem is the field units acquire all necessary data on detainee) 2. Recommendatio a. b. clo"Xs)( 1 ) JIDC 1. Major Problems a. Lack dedicated person to manage the database and perform overall quality control of the data b. BAT would work more efficiently for the JDIC analysts if the following software areas were addressed. i. Add the ability to database ASP, IIR, KB and SPOT reports (unfunded enhancement) ii. Incorporate the ability to detach attached documents. (Unfunded enhancement) iii. Display attached documents from most recent to oldest. iv. Incorporate the ability to save queries 008175 v. Improve the query tool to include the "Not Equal" Value vi. Enable User to edit reports generated from BAT queries, example: modify column width. vii. Incorporate the ability to edit Microsoft Office Document attachments. viii. Add three additional fields to the application (unfunded enhancement) ix. Enable CMD to associate reports to Requirements. (Unfunded enhancement) 2. Recommendations a. b. ku) Local Employee Program (LEP) 1. Major Problems s G.)(06) 3. Recommen ations a. (U)(S)(1) b. c. C08176