Salon uncovers a disturbing military document that reveals the US Defence Secretary’s key role in the treatment and torture of a Guantanamo Bay detainee:
Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld was personally involved in the late 2002 interrogation of a high-value al-Qaida detainee known in intelligence circles as “the 20th hijacker.” He also communicated weekly with the man in charge of the interrogation, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, the controversial commander of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre.
During the same period, detainee Mohammed al-Kahtani suffered from what Army investigators have called “degrading and abusive” treatment by soldiers who were following the interrogation plan Rumsfeld had approved. Kahtani was forced to stand naked in front of a female interrogator, was accused of being a homosexual, and was forced to wear women’s underwear and to perform “dog tricks” on a leash. He received 18-to-20-hour interrogations during 48 of 54 days.
Little more than two years later, during an investigation into the mistreatment of prisoners at Guantanamo, Rumsfeld expressed puzzlement at the notion that his policies had caused the abuse. “He was going, ‘My God, you know, did I authorize putting a bra and underwear on this guy’s head?’” recalled Lt. Gen. Randall M. Schmidt, an investigator who interviewed Rumsfeld twice in early 2005.
George W. Bush still offers Rumsfeld his “full support.”
This Bush administratino is somethign right out of Caligula. No wonder retired genrals are linig up calling for the resignation of Rumsfeld.
Addamo, Rumsfeld should be banged up in the Hague awaiting trial, but I find it incredible that now retired generals are complaining that they didn’t have enough troops etc to do the job. It was their responsibility to ensure they had what they needed. If Rumsfeld wouldn’t give it to them they should have gone over his head to the C-in-C and/or Congress and if they still couldn’t get it, refused to go to war! They are as culpable as the Sec of Defense.
Big W offers Rummie “full support”.
Given Big W doesn’t personally make any actual decisions at all, but rather it told what his decisions will be, perhaps that should read:
Rummie offers Rummie “full support”.