Update [2005-3-30 11:15:28 by susanhbu]: “The United States is holding about 10,500 prisoners in Iraq, more than double the number held in October, the military says.” (MSNBC)
Thanks again to the ACLU, we now have a copy of the “smoking gun” 2003 memo signed by Gen Ricardo Sanchez, then commander of US forces in Iraq.
Reports the BBC, “the Sept. 2003 document … authorised interrogation techniques including the use of dogs, stress positions and disorientation.” The ACLU press release notes:
The existence of the memo had been widely rumored, but this is the first time that the memo has been released. …
But what about Sanchez’s “no way, not me!” testimony before Congress?
Troutfishing posted a diary at Daily Kos this morning — “Citizen-journalist finds apparent proof of Sanchez perjury concerning torture” — that caught my eye. Amongst Troutfishing’s morning e-mail, he says he spotted this:
It appears that nobody else has made the connection.….
I [Susan’s note: The “I” is Mark Kraft] posted on my journal at insomnia.livejournal.com about a memo that the ACLU released late today, indicating that Gen. Sanchez signed off on 29 interrogation techniques, including 12 which far exceeded limits established by the Army’s own Field Manual.
The memo also indicates that Gen. Sanchez committed perjury when testifying before Congress.
From Sanchez’s testimony on May 19, 2004::
SANCHEZ: “Sir, that may be correct that it’s in a news article, but I never approved any of those measures to be used within CJTF-7 (Abu Grhaib) [sic] at any time in the last year.”
The memo, Troutfishing reports, specifically details his approval for the following techniques, as expressed verbatim from the document :
wording, not mine.)
Specifically, in at least two instances, he signed off on practices that by his own admission were intended to create and exploit fear. He approved, frankly, the exact practices he said under oath that he did not approve.
Also of note from the ACLU on March 1, 2005:
You may view the ACLU’s copy of Sanchez’s memorandum.
Trouthfishing provides a link to “Sanchez’ sworn testimony before the Congressional committee.”
Emphases mine and Troutfishing’s.