Bush Administration Knew Of Abu Ghaib Report [View All]

[G_j]

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THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
< http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=33095 >
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ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS KNEW OF ABU GHRAIB REPORT

Since late February, the Pentagon has been in possession of a report
produced by Major General Antonio M. Taguba that details the abuse of Iraqis
incarcerated in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison. <1> Months later, despite
knowing of the 53-page report's existence, top administration officials
responsible for the military still have not read the document.

White House officials told the Los Angeles Times that "the abuse of Iraqi
prisoners sparked so much concern that President Bush was told about an
investigation during the winter holidays." <2> But White House Press
Secretary Scott McClellan tried to insulate the President from criticism by
suggesting that the President was surprised by the report's findings.
McClellan told reporters yesterday that Bush "only become aware of the
photographs and the Pentagon's main internal report about the incidents from
news reports last week." <3> Yet President Bush still has not read the
report.

Three weeks before the press reported the story of the Abu Ghraib report,
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard B. Myers knew enough about it
to call Dan Rather and ask him to delay airing the story. <4> Yet, as of
this Tuesday, Myers still hadn't read the report. Secretary of Defense
Donald Rumsfeld said yesterday that he had merely "seen a summary."

SOURCES:
1. "Article 15-6 Investigation of the 800th Military Police Brigade by Maj.
Gen. Antonio M. Taguba", http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=33096.
2. "Accountability at Issue in Abuse of Prisoners", LA Times, 5/5/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=33097.
3. "White House and Pentagon Scurry to Draft Responses", New York Times,
5/5/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=33098.
4. "CBS delayed airing abuse story for two weeks", AP, 5/3/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=33099.

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