I am a former Military Intelligence Analyst/Interrogator of 15 years service.

I would ask you to carefully consider my observations and analysis re what I see as overlooked but significant aspects related to the Taguba Report and the testimony before Congress:

1. Excerpt from MG Taguba's report. In one of the two previous reports used by M G Taguba as references for his, the third sequential, investigation (Italics are my emphasis):

"With respect to interrogation, MG Miller's Team recommended that CJTF-7 dedicate and train a detention guard force subordinate to the Joint Interrogation Debriefing Center (JIDC) Commander that "sets the conditions for the successful interrogation and exploitation of internees/detainees."

Regarding Detention Operations, MG Miller's team stated that the function of Detention Operations is to provide a safe, secure, and humane environment that supports the expeditious collection of intelligence. However, it also stated "it is essential that the guard force be actively engaged in setting the conditions for successful exploitation of the internees."

Comment: Maj General Miller was previously responsible for the management of detention and interrogation/intelligence collection at Guanatanamo Bay, Cuba (Gitmo). He has subsequently been appointed to manage all detention operations in Iraq after the removal of M G Karpinski. Please note, M G Miller and a team of 30-odd 'specialists' visited Abu Ghrieb in August/September 2003 with the specific aim of improving "interrogation/intelligence collection and set the conditions for the successful interrogation and exploitation of internees/detainees", based on 'lessons learned' through management and techniques he and staff developed at Gitmo, since 9/11. Remarkably, M G Miller is now conducting restricted tours for the media and promising improved conditions at Abu Gharieb. I suggest the subsequent events re the photographs and torture that took place from Nov '03 thru to Jan '04 are likely a 'direct' causual consequence of his and his teams 'sanctioned by Command' efforts. M G Miller can in no way be regarded as someone without 'blood' on his hands. Considering the testimony given to congress on friday and the extensive mendacious and disingenuous assurances of M G Miller re Abu Gharieb and nterrogation/intelligence-gathering, when will the impeachment proceedings commence ?.

2. Excerpt from MG Taguba's report, (Italics are my emphasis):

"In general, U.S. civilian contract personnel (Titan Corporation, CACI, etc….), third-country nationals and local contractors do not appear to be properly supervised within the detention facility at Abu Ghraib..."

My Comment: 'Third-country nationals' is an intelligence community euphemism for nationals from a 'politically sensitive' country. The phrase is used to mask 'National Security'/Classified operations in conjunction with other nations Military, security, Intelligence communities, i.e. CIA, Shin Bet, MI6, etc. Note contracted US interrogators/translators, local (Iraqi, ex Iraqi Mukhabarrat (de-ba'athified ?) interrogators/translators are commented on collectively with 'third country nationals'. Therefore the clear implication is the probability of interrogators/translators from Israel ?, UK ?, etc directly participating in or offering training expertise re interrogators/translation/analysis throughout Abu Gharieb, possibly Iraq, Afghanistan, Gitmo with the full sanctioned knowledge of US Intelligence community & military command.

Follow this link for a reference to one of the identified interrogators (Joe Ryan, and a portion of his online diary whilst an intterogator at Abu Gharieb) employed in wing 1A as having indentified in his resume having attended Israeli Interrogation Course. http://billmon.org/archives/001450.html#comments. Further comments/analysis re the specifics of Joe Ryans diary to follow.

3. Excerpts from MG Taguba's report, (Capitalisation my emphasis):

"The various detention facilities operated by the 800th MP Brigade have routinely held persons brought to them by other government agencies (OGAs) WITHOUT ACCOUNTING FOR THEM, KNOWING their identities, or even THE REASON for their detention. The Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center at Abu Ghraib called these detainees "GHOST DETAINEES". ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION, the 320th MP Battalion at Abu Ghraib held a handful of "ghost detainees" (6-8) for OGAs that they moved around within the facility to HIDE THEM from a visiting International Committee of the Red Cross survey team. This maneuver was DECEPTIVE, contrary to Army Doctrine and in VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW…."(Findings and Recommendations, Part II, No. 33)

My Comment: As previously discussed, other government agencies (OGAs) is a routine Intelligence euphemism for non-military intelligence agencies such as CIA, FBI, NSA, etc. In the US Military/Intelligence context it almost always means CIA. Ghost Detainees are those that are not documented, processed or recorded in any way in order to systematically deny them Legal, Human and International Law and Genevea Convention rights protections. It is a practice that came to prominence throughout Latin America, Sudan, 1960's Algiers, etc. Such activities clearly indicate a known, sanctioned, systemic Military/Intelligence/Government Agency command sanctioned policy of creating 'Disappeared', ultimately resulting in extreme forms of unnaccountable torture and ultimaley 'disposal' (i.e. murder, via Argentinian Deathsquads, circa Vietnam 'Phoenix' operations in Vietnam/Laos, etc). Therefore it is highly probable this activity also occurs throughout any other area of operations of the US/UK etc in the so called 'war on terror', ie. the Globe. This is outrageous !

There's no way in the world the practice of keeping "ghost detainees" in secret confinement - in flagrant violation of the Geneva Convention - can be written off as a 'non-systemic' 'isolated abuse.' This is like something out of Kiss of the Spider Woman, or journalist Jacobo Timerman's account of his time in a secret Argentine political prison, Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0299182444/103-3183057-6828619?v=glance. Is this what CIA counterterrorism chief Cofer Black meant when he said http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2002_hr/092602black.html that after 9/11, "the gloves came off?" And did the humanity come off with them ?

Follow this link for relevant references: http://billmon.org/archives/001455.html#comments. Please note the Amnesty International reference to suspicion of similar activities occurring at the High Value Detainee (HVD) section of detention facilities at the US Bagram Airforce Base in Afghanistan.

4. An example of the extreme torture and subsequent death (murder ?) during interrogation, and 'disposal' of a 'ghost detainee' by the CIA at Abu Ghrieb. Yet another 'disappeared' (you may have seen the Photo of the obviously 'beaten to death' detainee packed in ice on a guerney ):

Frederick's version http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?040510fa_fact of a relevant incident is a good deal more, ah, colorful: In November, Frederick wrote, an Iraqi prisoner under the control of what the Abu Ghraib guards called "O.G.A.," or other government agencies-that is, the C.I.A. and its paramilitary employees-was brought to his unit for questioning. "They stressed him out so bad that the man passed away. They put his body in a body bag and packed him in ice for approximately twenty-four hours in the shower. . . . The next day the medics came and put his body on a stretcher, placed a fake IV in his arm and took him away." The dead Iraqi was never entered into the prison's inmate-control system, Frederick recounted, "and therefore never had a number."

Comment: as above for para 4. This is the end result re 'ghost detainees', undocumented, unaccountable torture, death and dissapearance.

5. Why is the Taguba report classified Secret/NOFORN (no Foriegn governement dissemination) when it is a formal US Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) investigation ?:

TORTURE REPORT MAY HAVE BROKEN CLASSIFICATION RULES http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/2004/05/050504.html Posted May 5, 2004 09:33 PM PST By classifying an explosive report on the torture of Iraqi prisoners as "Secret," the Pentagon may have violated official secrecy policies, which prohibit the use of classification to conceal illegal activities.

My Comment: I suggest it had been classified SECRET/NOFORN because of the oblique, passing references that clearly indicate sanctioned, systemic, patently criminal, multi-theatre practices since at least 9/11 discussed above in para 2 & 3.

6. Key private contractor interrogator clearly identified in M G Taguba's report was still doing his worst as an interrogator at Abu Gharieb at least thru 26 April '04:

That Mr. Steven Stephanowicz, Contract US Civilian Interrogator, CACI, 205th Military Intelligence Brigade, be given an Official Reprimand to be placed in his employment file, termination of employment, and generation of a derogatory report to revoke his security clearance for the following acts which have been previously referred to in the aforementioned findings: • Made a false statement to the investigation team regarding the locations of his interrogations, the activities during his interrogations, and his knowledge of abuses.

• Allowed and/or instructed MPs, who were not trained in interrogation techniques, to facilitate interrogations by "setting conditions" which were neither authorized and in accordance with applicable regulations/policy. He clearly knew his instructions equated to physical abuse.

The following is an excerpt from Joe Ryans (another Private contractor interrogator) Online diary of his experiences at Abu Gharieb thru to 25 April, when the military 'requested' him to 'pull' his 'online diary' (my emphasis):

I got to take the rest of the day off after our long booth time. This gave us a nice evening after dinner to head to the roof and play a round of golf. Scott Norman, Jeff Mouton, Steve Hattabaugh, Steve Stefanowicz, and I all took turns trying to hit balls over the back wall and onto the highway. Since the club is a left handed 3 iron, I had an unfair advantage and missed a dump truck by only about ten feet. Not bad since the highway is about 220 yards. We do what we can to make it fun here.

Online diary Cache here: http://216.239.41.104/search?q=cache:XYYOCOWnu_8J:www.am1500.com/personalities/joeryan.htm+KSTP+%22Joe+Ryan%22&hl=en

Comment: Contrary to testimony before congress that immediate corrective action was taken by command in late January. Why was Steve Stefanowicz still doing his worst at Abu Gharieb at least thru to 25 April '04 ? Taguba's findings are clear that he had primary contributary guilt. ah, but oh yes, he was'nt a disposable Army reserve MP, was he ?

Joe Ryans diary shows clear evidence for the continued presence at Abu Ghuraib of abusive civilian interrogators working for CACI well into late April '04, the diary is remarkable for its complete ignorance of what was going on in Iraq. Ryan alleges that the Mahdi Army, a militia of Iraqi Shiite young men from the ghettos, was made up of Iranians! And he says that Sistani wants power for himself. If this is what CPA people think in Iraq, no wonder they have screwed up the Occupation so badly.

This is a clear demonstration of collective, pre-meditated criminal intent and acts. Yet another example of the reality of Intelligence activities at Abu Gharieb, now under the 'new improved, on my honour, everything is A-OK now, supervision of Major General Miller. What was happening, is still happening, is systemic and a sanctioned policy. The rotten canker runs deep.

7. Are the classified Rules of Engagement (ROEs) in Iraq acceptable/legal under International Law ? Perhaps an explanation for the consistent, repetitive, inexplicable unjustified/unexplained/uninvestigated 'killings' of Iraqi civilians, especially those in vehicles throughout the occupation (extract from Joe Ryans diary, my emphasis):

Yesterday when the LRS guys went out, LTC Edwards insisted on going on their patrol. He is the MI Battalion Commander and not well liked or respected by anyone on this post. The LTC and his driver did not see fit to actually go to the mission briefs prior to rolling out. A blocking position was set up on one of the overpasses and when a vehicle approached, the LTC's driver opened fire without provocation. As such, the LRS guys, upon hearing fire, traversed and opened fire as well. The Rules of Engagement are that no warning shots are fired. You either fire at a known threat, or do not fire at all. This is established so your fellow soldiers can immediately lay down suppressive fire upon hearing shots fired. Fortunately, they did not kill the driver of the vehicle, only wounded him. His truck is completely useless though. The poor Iraqi was treated by our medical staff and then LTC Edwards made the LRS take the guy back to his home with one of the vehicles from on our compound, plus $500. Now LTC Edwards is downgraded to despised and a joke.

Comment: Appropriate, measured, proportional use of force according to the Laws of War ? What is the true extent of the crimes of our administration, military and Intelligence communities.

8. Another telling extract from Joe Ryan's diary (my emphasis):

25 April

Today was a short day. There were six of us that had to come in early and conduct long interrogations to ensure that certain detainees were only able to be seen, but not talked to. The Iraqi Governing Council came and looked through our mirrors into the booths to see some of the foreign fighters we have detained. They wanted to talk to them and film to show the international media, but we refused, due to not being able to interrupt interrogations. They were much more patient than we thought they would be so they tried to wait us out. Five and a half hours in the booth was a long time, but we finally outlasted them. The IGC left with only the satisfaction that we have foreign fighters from Morocco, Syria, Jordan, and other countries detained here. To be clear, they are not sponsored by their respective countries to come here, but it is due to their individual choices, be it religious or stupidity.

Comment: This is a clear demonstration of collective, pre-meditated criminal intent and acts. Yet another example of the reality of Intelligence activities at Abu Gharieb, now under the 'new improved, on my honour, everything is A-OK now, supersvison of Major General Miller. Note, the Iraqi's, America and the world have been knowingly lied to about the supposed presence of bodies of 100's of 'Foreign fighters' sanctioned by the regions governments. The lies run deep in this administration and unfortunately our militray and intelligence communities. What was happening is still happening, is systemic and a sanctioned policy. The rotten canker appears to run deep.

9. Are we really Liberators in Iraq ?:

My source told me that before we came here, the borders were controlled and there were never any bombing attacks like this in Iraq until the Americans arrived here. Another point is that we can call our being here anything we want, but "liberating force" is only a political name. We are an "occupying force" in the eyes of the Iraqi people and you cannot tell them otherwise because they are not conditioned to play to political spin like Americans are. There is nothing wrong with being an occupying force; that is what we were in Germany and Japan.

Comment: . . . government of the People by the People for, the People shall not perish from the Earth. --Abraham Lincoln or just a by and for a few ?

10. Miscellaneous relevant online references:

Telltale Signs of Torture Lead Family to Demand Answers. Wife, Daughters Tell of Iraqi Man Discharged from U.S. Custody in Coma. http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=275. Note: Includes photographs and clear indication of torture involving electrocution.

What these images of the Abu Ghraib humiliation and torture have done in the United States is collide with the "exalted image and the pseudo-event" of the Bush propaganda apparatus, just as the images of the My Lai massacre did in 1969. That collision between the reality and the real image of war startles civilians here in the La-La Land of wide screen TV and suburban SUV's, and it shakes them out of their opiated shopper dream-state.

My Lai is what General Colin Powell was remembering when he implemented "the Powell Doctrine" for the military, which includes a co-opted press and a vigorous attempt to keep things like flag-draped coffins off of those wide screen TVs. http://www.counterpunch.org/goff05042004.html

In case you missed it: October 22, 2001: FBI Considers Torture as Suspects Stay Silent http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/1022-01.htm : AMERICAN investigators are considering resorting to harsher interrogation techniques, including torture.

U.S. Troops Treat Elder Iraqi Woman Like A Donkey http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6149.htm: U.S. soldiers who detained an elderly Iraqi woman last year placed a harness on her, made her crawl on all fours and rode her like a donkey, Prime Minister Tony Blair 's personal human rights envoy to Iraq said Wednesday.

U.S. fails to block U.N. anti-torture vote http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&id=224232 Posted May 5, 2004 10:16 PM PST

Torture of Iraqi POWs Because We Respect Human Rights http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/torture_pow.html(Last Update May 4, 04; 09:55:07 PST) "The U.S. is committed to the worldwide elimination of torture and we are leading this fight by example. I call on all governments to join with the U.S. and the community of law abiding nations in prohibiting, investigating and prosecuting all acts of torture." - George W. Bush http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0311/12/i_ins.00.html, June 26, 2003

Secret law, secret lawsuit http://www.cincypost.com/2004/04/30/edita043004.html Posted May 5, 2004 10:20 AM PST To no one's surprise, the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit challenging the constitutionality of parts of the USA Patriot Act, the sweeping security law passed in the immediate aftermath of 9-11. To what should be everyone's shock, the mere fact of the lawsuit was kept secret under provisions of the act.

Willing Torturers http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2328-2004May4.html Posted May 5, 2004 08:17 AM PST A few years ago, a scholarly book with the provocative title "Hitler's Willing Executioners" climbed to the top of U.S. bestseller lists. In part the book attracted attention because its author located the origins of the Nazi death camps in the German national character, in German history and in the specific nature of German anti-Semitism. What happened in Germany, he implied, could never happen anywhere else. Certainly it could never happen here. But it did.

Why being right on WMD is no consolation to Iraqi scientist labelled enemy of America http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1209574,00.html Posted May 5, 2004 08:02 AM PST The top Iraqi scientist who insisted that Saddam had destroyed his WMDs (and in hindsight was clearly telling the truth) remains in solitary confinement by American forces, who apparently view telling the truth as the worst of crimes.

FLASHBACK: 'They will do what is needed to get the information - and fast' Posted May 4, 2004 02:41 PM PST http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/03/09/walqa309.xml At Bagram, where the White House argues that al-Qa'eda prisoners are "unlawful combatants" and thus not entitled to the protection of the Geneva Convention, the CIA has carte blanche to employ the "stress and duress" techniques that it has honed since the Vietnam war. As one informed CIA official puts it: "Let's just say we are not averse to a little smacky face. After all, if you don't violate a prisoner's human rights some of the time then you aren't doing your job."