More Interrogation Secrets

More Interrogation Secrets

The Army closed a criminal investigation of abuse allegations
by an Iraqi detainee last year, finding no reason to believe his claims, even
though no Americans involved in the case were questioned, according to Pentagon
records made public Thursday.

Internal Army documents about the Iraqi’s capture on
Jan. 4, 2004, and his subsequent interrogation at an unspecified facility
at or near Baghdad International Airport were not reviewed, the records show,
because investigators were told they had been lost in a computer malfunction.

The Iraqi, whose full name was blacked out in the documents
by U.S. censors, is described as a relative of a former bodyguard for Saddam
Hussein.

The detainee alleged that he was kicked in the stomach
once and punched in the spine once by his interrogators. He said he was placed
in front of a window air conditioner after being stripped naked and having
a bag placed over his head. Cold water was poured over the bag every few minutes,
he said, and he was dragged around a room by his arm. …

Records
Show Army Ended Abuse Probe Early

Kicked "once," punched in the spine "once"?
This reporting isn’t helpful. One punch against Saddam’s bodyguard isn’t going
to convince anyone. But the reality that the Army closed the investigation, now
that’s an issue worth pursuing. Is it a policy? Was it standard practice to
close investigations against detainees early? What do you think?

This is something that General Geoffrey Miller should be asked.
Oh, that’s right, he’s standing
behind Article 31, the military’s version of the 5th Amendment against self-incrimination.

If it weren’t for the Freedom of Information Act we wouldn’t even know
this much.