US Iraq Prison Abuse Highlights

An interesting choice of words for the above headline... "Abuse Highlights"?

Compiled by the Associated Press, via the Duluth News Tribune.

Highlights of the Army investigation report on the role of the 205th Military Intelligence Brigade in abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq:

• Twenty-three military intelligence soldiers and four civilian contractors are alleged to be involved in detainee abuse. Six military intelligence soldiers and two contractors are accused of having witnessed abuse but failed to report it.


• Two Army medics are alleged to have known about abuse but failed to report it.


• In addition to the seven military police soldiers previously charged with abuse as a result of an earlier investigation, three other MPs are alleged to have been involved. One additional MP is accused of having known about abuse but failing to report it.


• The primary reason the abuse happened was that a "small group of morally corrupt soldiers and civilians" knowingly violated Army regulations. A contributing factor was a lack of discipline by some of the soldiers' leaders, who in some cases knew about the misconduct and did nothing about it.


• In most of the 44 substantiated incidents, the abuse did not occur during interrogations of prisoners and there is no evidence that it was done in response to any Army order.


• One incident involved the death of an Iraqi detainee.


• There were at least eight Iraqi "ghost detainees" - prisoners kept off the books at the request of the CIA, in violation of the Army's rules for handling prisoners. Those cases are being further investigated by the Defense Department and the CIA.


• The highest ranking person to be referred for possible disciplinary action as a result of the investigation is Col. Thomas Pappas, commander of the 205th Military Intelligence Brigade. He was cited for numerous failings. Four other military intelligence officers outside the 205th also were accused of failings. No decisions have been made on whether criminal charges will be brought against any of the five.


• The cases of the civilian contractors have been referred to the Justice Department for further consideration.