We may finally be getting somewhere. Buried in the Washington Post today is an important story that may help us hold the real culprits responsible for Abu Ghraib. For the first time, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller will testify. He has insisted that he had nothing to do with the abuse at Abu Ghraib, specifically the use of dogs, but many, many others have said otherwise. Money quote:
Cardona’s lawyers plan to call as witnesses both officers whose testimony conflicted with Miller’s statements: Col. Thomas M. Pappas and Maj. David DiNenna. They will also ask Miller about the use of dogs and the instructions he received from Defense Department policymakers.
Harvey Volzer, the lead civilian lawyer, said he expects evidence at the trial to show that Miller "strongly recommended the use of military working dogs [at Abu Ghraib] based upon their efficacious use" at Guantanamo Bay. "It is a tragic miscarriage of justice for my client to face charges for actions that were ordered and approved," Volzer said he will tell the military panel.
Warmer. The "migration" of torture from Gitmo to Iraq closely tracks Miller’s transfer from Gitmo to Abu Ghraib, a transfer ordered by Rumsfeld. More interesting, there may be records of Rumsfeld’s and Cambone’s interaction with Miller:
According to statements to investigators by officers in Iraq, Miller’s visit to Abu Ghraib caught the interest of Rumsfeld and his top intelligence adviser, Stephen A. Cambone. Before he left, it was discussed in a teleconference by Miller; Sanchez’s top intelligence adviser, Maj. Gen. Barbara G. Fast; and Cambone’s deputy, Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin.
Before departing from Iraq, Miller reported his findings to Rumsfeld via a secure video link, according to Pappas. Other secure video-teleconferences (VTCs) between Rumsfeld and senior defense officials in Iraq about interrogation matters were held in November and December 2003, the period when abuse occurred. According to a recent court filing by Cardona’s attorneys, "on 3 May 2006, [the] government sent the defense an e-mail stating that they are attempting to find these VTCs."
So far, the military has protected its key figures from real scrutiny. Maybe that’s beginning to crack. Maybe we’ll find out eventually who really ordered the abuse at Abu Ghraib, and at dozens of other facilities throughout the war on terror. Justice deferred is still justice.
The Dish 