How Rummy Greenlighted Abu Ghraib

by Larry C. Johnson (bio below)

Yesterday’s press conference with Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and JCS Chief General Peter “Perfect” Pace gave us some insight into why Abu Ghraib could occur and how Rumsfeld’s lack of leadership allowed such reprehensible behavior by U.S. troops.

Look what happened when Rumsfeld and General Pace were asked about the obligation of U.S. commanders to deal with evidence of inhumane treatment:

QUESTION: Sir, taking on his question a bit — and I can give you actual examples from coalition forces who talked to me when I was over there about excesses of the Interior Ministry, the Ministry of Defense; and that is in dealing with prisoners or in arresting people and how they’re treated after they’re arrested — what are the obligations and what are the rights of U.S. military over there in dealing with that?

RUMSFELD: . . . . Obviously, the United States does not have a responsibility when a sovereign country engages in something that they disapprove of. However, we do have a responsibility to say so and to make sure that the training is proper and to work with the sovereign officials so that they understand the damage that can be done to them in the event some of these allegations prove to be true.

QUESTION: And, General Pace, what guidance do you have for your military commanders over there as to what to do if — like when General Horst found this Interior Ministry jail?

PACE: It is absolutely responsibility of every U.S. service member if they see inhumane treatment being conducted, to intervene, to stop it. . . .

RUMSFELD: I don’t think you mean they have an obligation to physically stop it, it’s to report it.

PACE: If they are physically present when inhumane treatment is taking place, sir, they have an obligation to try to stop it.”

There you have it. A Secretary of Defense who believes that U.S. soldiers have no obligation to do anything other than file a report if they encounter torture or other inhumane treatment.

General Pace’s public slap down was a remarkable moment. … continued below …
He signaled very clearly that a limit of the U.S. military’s cooperation with civilian leadership in the war in Iraq has been reached, at least on the issue of torture. Up to this point he has been willing to back up Rummy’s claim that troop training is going swell, despite evidence to the contrary. But on the issue of torture and abuse he drew a public line in the sand. U.S. soldiers and Marines have an obligation, a duty, to stop inhumane treatment regardless of who is doing it. General Pace understands, whereas Rummy is clueless, that once that line is crossed the military’s ability to maintain public support would be in jeopardy.

With the benefit of hindsight, it is clear that Rummy’s attitude that there is no obligation to stop inhumane treatment was clearly conveyed to U.S. soldiers in the first days in Iraq. Unfortunately, those Generals in charge at that time, such as General Sanchez, did not have the guts and the spine to stand up to Rummy and let him know that U.S. troops will not tolerate nor engage in inhumane treatment. This is a hopeful sign. Maybe more Generals are coming to understand that the future of the Army is at stake.

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Larry C. Johnson is CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm that helps corporations and governments manage threats posed by terrorism and money laundering. Mr. Johnson, who worked previously with the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism (as a Deputy Director), is a recognized expert in the fields of terrorism, aviation security, crisis and risk management. Mr. Johnson has analyzed terrorist incidents for a variety of media including the Jim Lehrer News Hour, National Public Radio, ABC’s Nightline, NBC’s Today Show, the New York Times, CNN, Fox News, and the BBC. Mr. Johnson has authored several articles for publications, including Security Management Magazine, the New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times. He has lectured on terrorism and aviation security around the world. Further bio details.