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The "Taguba Report" On Treatment Of Abu
Ghraib Prisoners In Iraq
ARTICLE 15-6 INVESTIGATION OF THE 800th
MILITARY POLICE BRIGADE
SECRET / NO FOREIGN
DISSEMINATION1
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TABLE
OF CONTENTS References
.....................................................................
3
Background
...................................................................
6
(Assessment of DoD Counter-Terrorism Interrogation and
Detention Operations In Iraq MG Miller's
Assessment)..............................................
8
IO Comments on MG Miller's Assessment
................... 8
Report on Detention and Corrections In Iraq (MG
Ryder's Report)
.................................................... 9
IO Comments on MG Ryder's Report
......................... 12
Preliminary Investigative Actions
................................ 12
Findings and Recommendations
Part One (Detainee
Abuse)...........................................
15
Findings
..................................................................15
Recommendations
.................................................. 20
Part Two (Escapes and Accountability)
.......................
22
Findings
.................................................................
22
Recommendations
.................................................. 31
Part Three (Command Climate,
Etc.)............................
34
Findings
.................................................................
36
Recommendations
.................................................. 44
Other Findings/Observations
........................................ 49
Conclusion
....................................................................
50
Annexes
........................................................................
51
References
1. Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of
War, 12 August 1949
2. Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the
Wounded and Sick in the Armed Forces in the Field, 12 August
1949
3. Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the
Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea, 12
August 1949
4. Geneva Convention Protocol Relative to the Status of Refugees,
1967
5. Geneva Convention Relative to the Status of Refugees, 1951
6. Geneva Convention for the Protection of War Victims, 12 August
1949
7. Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War, 12 August 1949
8. DOD Directive 5100.69, "DOD Program for Prisoners of War and
other Detainees," 27 December 1972/p>
9. DOD Directive 5100.77 "DOD Law of War Program," 10 July
1979/p>
10. STANAG No. 2044, Procedures for Dealing with Prisoners of War
(PW) (Edition 5), 28 June 1994/p>
11. STANAG No. 2033, Interrogation of Prisoners of War (PW)
(Edition 6), 6 December 1994/p>
12. AR 190-8, Enemy Prisoners of War, Retained Personnel,
Civilian Internees, and Other Detainees, 1 October 1997
13. AR 190-47, The Army Corrections System, 15 August 1996
14. AR 190-14, Carrying of Firearms and Use of Force for Law
Enforcement and Security Duties, 12 March 1993
15. AR 195-5, Evidence Procedures, 28 August 1992
15. AR 195-5, Evidence Procedures, 28 August 1992
16. AR 190-11, Physical Security of Arms, Ammunition and
Explosives, 12 February 1998
17. AR 190-12, Military Police Working Dogs, 30 September
1993
18. AR 190-13, The Army Physical Security Program, 30 September
1993
19. AR 380-67, Personnel Security Program, 9 September 1988
20. AR 380-5, Department of the Army Information Security, 31
September 2000
21. AR 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia,
5 September 2003
22. AR 190-40, Serious Incident Report, 30 November 1993
23. AR 15-6, Procedures for Investigating Officers and Boards of
Officers, 11 May 1988
24. AR 27-10, Military Justice, 6 September 2002
25. AR 635-200, Enlisted Personnel, 1 November 2000
26. AR 600-8-24, Officer Transfers and Discharges, 29 June
2002
27. AR 500-5, Army Mobilization, 6 July 1996
28. AR 600-20, Army Command Policy, 13 May 2002
29. AR 623-105, Officer Evaluation Reports, 1 April 1998
30. AR 175-9, Contractors Accompanying the Force, 29 October
1999
31. FM 3-19.40, Military Police Internment/Resettlement
Operations, 1 August 2001
32. FM 3-19.1, Military Police Operations, 22 March 2001
33. FM 3-19.4, Military Police Leaders' Handbook, 4 March
2002
34. FM 3-05.30, Psychological Operations, 19 June 2000
35. FM 33-1-1, Psychological Operations Techniques and
Procedures, 5 May 1994
36. FM 34-52, Intelligence Interrogation, 28 September 1992
37. FM 19-15, Civil Disturbances, 25 November 1985
38. FM 3-0, Operations, 14 June 2001
39. FM 101-5, Staff Organizations and Functions, 23 May 1984
40. FM 3-19.30, Physical Security, 8 January 2001
41. FM 3-21.5, Drill and Ceremonies, 7 July 2003
42. ARTEP 19-546-30 MTP, Mission Training Plan for Military
Police Battalion (IR)
43. ARTEP 19-667-30 MTP, Mission Training Plan for Military
Police Guard Company
44. ARTEP 19-647-30 MTP, Mission Training Plan for Military
Police Escort Guard Company
45. STP 19-95B1-SM, Soldier's Manual, MOS 95B, Military Police,
Skill Level 1, 6 August 2002
46. STP 19-95C14-SM-TG, Soldier's Manual and Trainer's Guide for
MOS 95C Internment/Resettlement Specialist, Skill Levels 1/2/3/4, 26
March 1999
47. STP 19-95C1-SM MOS 95C, Corrections Specialist, Skill Level
1, Soldier's Manual, 30 September 2003
48. STP 19-95C24-SM-TG MOS 95C, Corrections Specialist, Skill
Levels 2/3/4, Soldier's Manual and Trainer's Guide, 30 September
2003
49. Assessment of DOD Counter-Terrorism Interrogation and
Detention Operations in Iraq, (MG Geoffrey D. Miller, Commander
JTF-GTMO, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba), 9 September 2003
50. Assessment of Detention and Corrections Operations in Iraq,
(MG Donald J. Ryder, Provost Marshal General), 6 November 2003
51. CJTF-7 FRAGO #1108, Subject: includes- para 3.C.8 &
3.C.8.A.1, Assignment of 205 MI BDE CDR Responsibilities for the
Baghdad Central Confinement Facility (BCCF), 19 November 2003
52. CJTF-7 FRAGO #749, Subject: Intelligence and Evidence- Led
Detention Operations Relating to Detainees, 24 August 2003
53. 800th MP BDE FRAGO # 89, Subject: Rules of Engagement, 26
December 2003
54. CG CJTF-7 Memo: CJTF-7 Interrogation and Counter- Resistance
Policy, 12 October 2003
55. CG CJTF-7 Memo: Dignity and Respect While Conducting
Operations, 13 December 2003
56. Uniform Code of Military Justice and Manual for Courts
Martial, 2002 Edition
ARTICLE 15-6 INVESTIGATION OF THE 800th
MILITARY POLICE BRIGADE
BACKGROUND
1. (U) On 19 January 2004, Lieutenant General (LTG) Ricardo S.
Sanchez, Commander, Combined Joint Task Force Seven (CJTF-7)
requested that the Commander, US Central Command, appoint an
Investigating Officer (IO) in the grade of Major General (MG) or
above to investigate the conduct of operations within the 800th
Military Police (MP) Brigade. LTG Sanchez requested an investigation
of detention and internment operations by the Brigade from 1
November 2003 to present. LTG Sanchez cited recent reports of
detainee abuse, escapes from confinement facilities, and
accountability lapses, which indicated systemic problems within the
brigade and suggested a lack of clear standards, proficiency, and
leadership. LTG Sanchez requested a comprehensive and
all-encompassing inquiry to make findings and recommendations
concerning the fitness and performance of the 800th MP Brigade. (ANNEX 2)
2. (U) On 24 January 2003, the Chief of Staff of US Central
Command (CENTCOM), MG R. Steven Whitcomb, on behalf of the CENTCOM
Commander, directed that the Commander, Coalition Forces Land
Component Command (CFLCC), LTG David D. McKiernan, conduct an
investigation into the 800th MP Brigade's detention and internment
operations from 1 November 2003 to present. CENTCOM directed that
the investigation should inquire into all facts and circumstances
surrounding recent reports of suspected detainee abuse in Iraq. It
also directed that the investigation inquire into detainee escapes
and accountability lapses as reported by CJTF-7, and to gain a more
comprehensive and all-encompassing inquiry into the fitness and
performance of the 800th MP Brigade. (ANNEX 3)
3. (U) On 31 January 2004, the Commander, CFLCC, appointed MG
Antonio M. Taguba, Deputy Commanding General Support, CFLCC, to
conduct this investigation. MG Taguba was directed to conduct an
informal investigation under AR 15- 6 into the 800th MP Brigade's
detention and internment operations. Specifically, MG Taguba was
tasked to:
-
- (U) Inquire into all the facts and circumstances surrounding
recent allegations of detainee abuse, specifically allegations
of maltreatment at the Abu Ghraib Prison (Baghdad Central
Confinement Facility (BCCF));
- (U) Inquire into detainee escapes and accountability lapses as
reported by CJTF-7, specifically allegations concerning these
events at the Abu Ghraib Prison;
- (U) Investigate the training, standards, employment, command
policies, internal procedures, and command climate in the 800th MP
Brigade, as appropriate;
- (U) Make specific findings of fact concerning all aspects of
the investigation, and make any recommendations for corrective
action, as appropriate. (ANNEX 4)
4. (U) LTG Sanchez's request to investigate the 800th
MP Brigade followed the initiation of a criminal investigation by
the US Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC) into specific
allegations of detainee abuse committed by members of the 372nd MP
Company, 320th MP Battalion in Iraq. These units are part of the
800th MP Brigade. The Brigade is an Iraq Theater asset, TACON to
CJTF-7, but OPCON to CFLCC at the time this investigation was
initiated. In addition, CJTF-7 had several reports of detainee
escapes from US/Coalition Confinement Facilities in Iraq over the
past several months. These include Camp Bucca, Camp Ashraf, Abu
Ghraib, and the High Value Detainee (HVD) Complex/Camp Cropper. The
800th MP Brigade operated these facilities. In addition, four
Soldiers from the 320th MP Battalion had been formally charged under
the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) with detainee abuse in
May 2003 at the Theater Internment Facility (TIF) at Camp Bucca,
Iraq. (ANNEXES 5-18, 34 and 35)
5. (U) I began assembling my investigation team prior
to the actual appointment by the CFLCC Commander. I assembled
subject matter experts from the CFLCC Provost Marshal (PM) and the
CFLCC Staff Judge Advocate (SJA). I selected COL Kinard J. La Fate,
CFLCC Provost Marshal to be my Deputy for this investigation. I also
contacted the Provost Marshal General of the Army, MG Donald J.
Ryder, to enlist the support of MP subject matter experts in the
areas of detention and internment operations. (ANNEXES 4 and 19)
6. (U) The Investigating Team also reviewed the
Assessment of DoD Counter-Terrorism Interrogation and Detention
Operations in Iraq conducted by MG Geoffrey D. Miller, Commander,
Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO). From 31 August to 9
September 2003, MG Miller led a team of personnel experienced in
strategic interrogation to HQ, CJTF-7 and the Iraqi Survey Group
(ISG) to review current Iraqi Theater ability to rapidly exploit
internees for actionable intelligence. MG Miller's team focused on
three areas: intelligence integration, synchronization, and fusion;
interrogation operations; and detention operations. MG Miller's team
used JTF-GTMO procedures and interrogation authorities as baselines.
(ANNEX 20)
7. (U) The Investigating Team began its inquiry with
an in- depth analysis of the Report on Detention and Corrections in
Iraq, dated 5 November 2003, conducted by MG Ryder and a team of
military police, legal, medical, and automation experts. The CJTF-7
Commander, LTG Sanchez, had previously requested a team of subject
matter experts to assess, and make specific recommendations
concerning detention and corrections operations. From 13 October to
6 November 2003, MG Ryder personally led this assessment/assistance
team in Iraq. (ANNEX 19)
ASSESSMENT OF DoD COUNTER-TERRORISM INTERROGATION
AND DETENTION OPERATIONS IN IRAQ (MG MILLER'S
ASSESSMENT)
1. (S/NF) The principal focus of MG Miller's team was
on the strategic interrogation of detainees/internees in Iraq. Among
its conclusions in its Executive Summary were that CJTF-7 did not
have authorities and procedures in place to affect a unified
strategy to detain, interrogate, and report information from
detainees/internees in Iraq. The Executive Summary also stated that
detention operations must act as an enabler for interrogation. (ANNEX 20)
2. (S/NF) 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." (ANNEX 20)
3. (S/NF) MG Miller's team also concluded that Joint
Strategic Interrogation Operations (within CJTF-7) are hampered by
lack of active control of the internees within the detention
environment. The Miller Team also stated that establishment of the
Theater Joint Interrogation and Detention Center (JIDC) at Abu
Ghraib (BCCF) will consolidate both detention and strategic
interrogation operations and result in synergy between MP and MI
resources and an integrated, synchronized, and focused strategic
interrogation effort. (ANNEX 20)
4. (S/NF) MG Miller's team also observed that the
application of emerging strategic interrogation strategies and
techniques contain new approaches and operational art. The Miller
Team also concluded that a legal review and recommendations on
internee interrogation operations by a dedicated Command Judge
Advocate is required to maximize interrogation effectiveness. (ANNEX 20)
IO COMMENTS ON MG MILLER'S
ASSESSMENT
1. (S/NF) MG Miller's team recognized that they were
using JTF-GTMO operational procedures and interrogation authorities
as baselines for its observations and recommendations. There is a
strong argument that the intelligence value of detainees held at
JTF-Guantanamo (GTMO) is different than that of the
detainees/internees held at Abu Ghraib (BCCF) and other detention
facilities in Iraq. Currently, there are a large number of Iraqi
criminals held at Abu Ghraib (BCCF). These are not believed to be
international terrorists or members of Al Qaida, Anser Al Islam,
Taliban, and other international terrorist organizations. (ANNEX 20)
2. (S/NF) The recommendations of MG Miller's team that
the "guard force" be actively engaged in setting the conditions for
successful exploitation of the internees would appear to be in
conflict with the recommendations of MG Ryder's Team and AR 190-8
that military police "do not participate in military intelligence
supervised interrogation sessions." The Ryder Report concluded that
the OEF template whereby military police actively set the favorable
conditions for subsequent interviews runs counter to the smooth
operation of a detention facility. (ANNEX 20)
REPORT ON DETENTION AND CORRECTIONS IN IRAQ (MG
RYDER'S REPORT) 1. (U) MG Ryder and his
assessment team conducted a comprehensive review of the entire
detainee and corrections system in Iraq and provided recommendations
addressing each of the following areas as requested by the Commander
CJTF-7:
- (U) Detainee and corrections system management
- (U) Detainee management, including detainee
movement,
segregation, and accountability
- (U) Means of command and control of the detention
and
corrections system
- (U) Integration of military detention and
corrections with
the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and adequacy of plans
for transition to an Iraqi- run corrections system
- (U) Detainee medical care and health management
- (U) Detention facilities that meet required
health,
hygiene, and sanitation standards
- (U) Court integration and docket management for
criminal
detainees
- (U) Detainee legal processing
- (U) Detainee databases and records, including
integration
with law enforcement and court databases (ANNEX 19)
2. (U) Many of the findings and recommendations of MG
Ryder's team are beyond the scope of this investigation. However,
several important findings are clearly relevant to this inquiry and
are summarized below (emphasis is added in certain areas):
- (U) Detainee Management (including movement,
segregation,
and accountability)
- (U) There is a wide variance in standards and
approaches at
the various detention facilities. Several Division/Brigade
collection points and US monitored Iraqi prisons had flawed or
insufficiently detailed use of force and other standing
operating procedures or policies (e.g. weapons in the
facility, improper restraint techniques, detainee
management, etc.) Though, there were no military police
units purposely applying inappropriate confinement practices.
(ANNEX 19)
- (U) Currently, due to lack of adequate Iraqi
facilities,
Iraqi criminals (generally Iraqi-on-Iraqi crimes) are detained
with security internees (generally Iraqi-on-Coalition offenses)
and EPWs in the same facilities, though segregated in
different cells/compounds. (ANNEX 19)
- (U) The management of multiple disparate groups of
detained
people in a single location by members of the same unit invites
confusion about handling, processing, and treatment, and
typically facilitates the transfer of information between
different categories of detainees. (ANNEX 19)
- (U) The 800th MP (I/R) units did not
receive
Internment/Resettlement (I/R) and corrections
specific training during their mobilization period.
Corrections training is only on the METL of two MP
(I/R) Confinement Battalions throughout the Army,
one currently serving in Afghanistan, and elements of
the other are at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. MP units
supporting JTF-GTMO received ten days of training in
detention acility operations, to include two days of
unarmed self-defense, training in interpersonal
communication skills, forced cell moves, and correctional
officer safety. (ANNEX 19)
B. (U) Means of Command and Control of the Detention
and Corrections System
1. (U) The 800th MP Brigade was originally
task organized with eight MP(I/R) Battalions consisting
of both MP Guard and Combat Support companies. Due to force
rotation plans, the 800th redeployed two Battalion HHCs in
December 2003, the 115th MP Battalion and the 324th MP Battalion.
In December 2003, the 400th MP Battalion was relieved of its
mission and redeployed in January 2004. The 724th MP
Battalion redeployed on 11 February 2004 and the remainder
is scheduled to redeploy in March and April 2004. They are the
310th MP Battalion, 320th MP Battalion, 530th MP Battalion, and
744th MP Battalion. The units that remain are generally
understrength, as Reserve Component units do not have an
individual personnel replacement system to mitigate medical
losses or the departure of individual Soldiers that have reached
24 months of Federal active duty in a five-year period. (ANNEX 19)
2. (U) The 800th MP Brigade (I/R) is currently a
CFLCC asset, TACON to CJTF-7 to
conduct Internment/Resettlement (I/R) operations in Iraq.
All detention operations are conducted in the CJTF-7 AO; Camps
Ganci, Vigilant, Bucca, TSP Whitford, and a separate High Value
Detention (HVD) site. (ANNEX 19)
3. (U) The 800th MP Brigade has experienced
challenges adapting its task organizational structure,
training, and equipment resources from a unit designed to
conduct standard EPW operations in the COMMZ
(Kuwait). Further, the doctrinally trained MP
Soldier-to-detainee population ratio and facility layout
templates are predicated on a compliant, self-disciplining
EPW population, and not criminals or high-risk
security internees. (ANNEX 19)
4. (U) EPWs and Civilian Internees should receive
the full protections of the Geneva Conventions, unless
the denial of these protections is due to
specifically articulated military necessity (e.g., no visitation
to preclude the direction of insurgency operations). (ANNEXES
( 19) and 24)
5. (U) AR 190-8, Enemy Prisoners of War,
Retained Personnel, Civilian Internees, and other Detainees,
FM 3-19.40, Military Police Internment and
Resettlement Operations, and FM 34-52, Intelligence
Interrogations, require military police to provide an area
for intelligence collection efforts within EPW
facilities. Military Police, though adept at passive collection
of intelligence within a facility, do not participate
in Military Intelligence supervised interrogation sessions.
Recent intelligence collection in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom posited a template whereby military police actively set
favorable conditions for subsequent interviews. Such actions
generally run counter to the smooth operation of a
detention facility, attempting to maintain its population in
a compliant and docile state. The 800th MP Brigade has not
been directed to change its facility procedures to set the
conditions for MI interrogations, nor participate in those
interrogations. (ANNEXES 19 and 21-23))
6. MG Ryder's Report also made the following,
inter alia, near-term and mid-term recommendations
regarding the command and control of detainees:
- (U) Align the release process for security
internees with
DoD Policy. The process of screening security internees should
include intelligence findings, interrogation results,
and current threat assessment.
- (U) Determine the scope of intelligence collection
that
will occur at Camp Vigilant. Refurbish the
Northeast Compound to separate the screening operation from the
Iraqi run Baghdad Central Correctional Facility.
Establish procedures that define the role of military police
Soldiers securing the compound, clearly separating the actions
of the guards from those of the military intelligence
personnel.
- (U) Consolidate all Security Internee
Operations, except
the MEK security mission, under a single Military Police
Brigade Headquarters for OIF 2.
- (U) Insist that all units identified to rotate
into the
Iraqi Theater of Operations (ITO) to conduct internment and
confinement operations in support of OIF 2 be organic to
CJTF-7. (ANNEX 19)
IO COMMENTS REGARDING MG RYDER'S
REPORT
1. (U) The objective of MG Ryder's Team was to
observe detention and prison operations, identify
potential systemic and human rights issues, and provide
near-term, mid-term, and long-term recommendations to improve
CJTF-7 operations and transition of the Iraqi prison system
from US military control/oversight to the
Coalition Provisional Authority and eventually to the
Iraqi Government. The Findings and Recommendations of
MG Ryder's Team are thorough and precise and should
be implemented immediately. (ANNEX 19)
2. (U) Unfortunately, many of the systemic
problems that surfaced during MG Ryder's Team's assessment
are the very same issues that are the subject of this
investigation. In fact, many of the abuses suffered by
detainees occurred during, or near to, the time of that
assessment. As will be pointed out in detail in subsequent
portions of this report, I disagree with the conclusion of
MG Ryder's Team in one critical aspect, that being
its conclusion that the 800th MP Brigade had not been
asked to change its facility procedures to set the
conditions for MI interviews. While clearly the 800th MP
Brigade and its commanders were not tasked to set conditions
for detainees for subsequent MI interrogations, it is
obvious from a review of comprehensive CID interviews of
suspects and witnesses that this was done at lower levels.
(ANNEX 19)
3. (U) I concur fully with MG Ryder's conclusion
regarding the effect of AR 190-8. Military Police, though
adept at passive collection of intelligence within a
facility, should not participate in Military
Intelligence supervised interrogation sessions. Moreover,
Military Police should not be involved with setting
"favorable conditions" for subsequent interviews. These
actions, as will be outlined in this investigation, clearly
run counter to the smooth operation of a detention
facility. (ANNEX 19)
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIVE
ACTIONS
1. (U) Following our review of MG Ryder's Report
and MG Miller's Report, my investigation team immediately
began an in-depth review of all available documents
regarding the 800th MP Brigade. We reviewed in detail
the voluminous CID investigation regarding alleged
detainee abuses at detention facilities in Iraq, particularly
the Abu Ghraib (BCCF) Detention Facility. We
analyzed approximately fifty witness statements from
military police and military intelligence personnel,
potential suspects, and detainees. We reviewed numerous
photos and videos of actual detainee abuse taken by
detention facility personnel, which are now in the custody
and control of the US Army Criminal Investigation Command
and the CJTF-7 prosecution team. The photos and videos
are not contained in this investigation. We obtained
copies of the 800th MP Brigade roster, rating chain,
and assorted internal investigations and disciplinary
actions involving that command for the past several months.
(All ANNEXES Reviewed by Investigation Team)
2. (U) In addition to military police and legal
officers from the CFLCC PMO and SJA Offices we also obtained
the services of two individuals who are experts in
military police detention practices and training. These were
LTC Timothy Weathersbee, Commander, 705th MP
Battalion, United States Disciplinary Barracks, Fort
Leavenworth, and SFC Edward Baldwin, Senior Corrections
Advisor, US Army Military Police School, Fort Leonard Wood. I
also requested and received the services of Col (Dr)
Henry Nelson, a trained US Air Force psychiatrist assigned
to assist my investigation team. (ANNEX 4)
3. (U) In addition to MG Ryder's and MG Miller's
Reports, the team reviewed numerous reference materials
including the 12 October 2003 CJTF-7 Interrogation and
Counter- Resistance Policy, the AR 15-6 Investigation on Riot
and Shootings at Abu Ghraib on 24 November 2003, the 205th
MI Brigade's Interrogation Rules of Engagement
(IROE), facility staff logs/journals and numerous records of
AR 15-6 investigations and Serious Incident Reports
(SIRs) on detainee escapes/shootings and disciplinary
matters from the 800th MP Brigade. (ANNEXES (5-20), 37, 93, and 94)
4. (U) On 2 February 2004, I took my team to
Baghdad for a one-day inspection of the Abu Ghraib Prison
(BCCF) and the High Value Detainee (HVD) Complex in order to
become familiar with those facilities. We also met with
COL Jerry Mocello, Commander, 3rd MP Criminal
Investigation Group (CID), COL Dave Quantock, Commander, 16th
MP Brigade, COL Dave Phillips, Commander, 89th MP
Brigade, and COL Ed Sannwaldt, CJTF-7 Provost Marshal. On
7 February 2004, the team visited the Camp Bucca
Detention Facility to familiarize itself with the facility
and operating structure. In addition, on 6 and 7
February 2004, at Camp Doha, Kuwait, we conducted
extensive training sessions on approved detention practices.
We continued our preparation by reviewing the ongoing
CID investigation and were briefed by the Special Agent
in Charge, CW2 Paul Arthur. We refreshed ourselves on
the applicable reference materials within each team
member's area of expertise, and practiced
investigative techniques. I met with the team on numerous
occasions to finalize appropriate witness lists, review
existing witness statements, arrange logistics, and
collect potential evidence. We also coordinated with CJTF-7
to arrange witness attendance, force protection
measures, and general logistics for the team's move to
Baghdad on 8 February 2004. (ANNEXES 4 and (25)
5. (U) At the same time, due to the Transfer of
Authority on 1 February 2004 between III Corps and V Corps,
and the upcoming demobilization of the 800th MP Brigade
Command, I directed that several critical witnesses who
were preparing to leave the theater remain at Camp
Arifjan, Kuwait until they could be interviewed (ANNEX 29).
My team deployed to Baghdad on 8 February 2004 and
conducted a series of interviews with a variety of witnesses
(ANNEX 30). We returned to Camp Doha, Kuwait on 13
February 2004. On 14 and 15 February we interviewed a number
of witnesses from the 800th MP Brigade. On 17 February
we returned to Camp Bucca, Iraq to complete interviews
of witnesses at that location. From 18 February thru
28 February we collected documents, compiled references,
did follow-up interviews, and completed a detailed
analysis of the volumes of materials accumulated throughout
our investigation. On 29 February we finalized our
executive summary and out-briefing slides. On 9 March we
submitted the AR 15-6 written report with findings
and recommendations to the CFLCC Deputy SJA, LTC
Mark Johnson, for a legal sufficiency review. The
out-brief to the appointing authority, LTG McKiernan, took
place on 3 March 2004. (ANNEXES 26 and 45-91)
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
(PART ONE)
(U) The investigation should inquire into all of
the facts and circumstances surrounding recent allegations of
detainee abuse, specifically, allegations of maltreatment at the
Abu Ghraib Prison (Baghdad Central Confinement Facility).
1. (U) The US Army Criminal Investigation Command
(CID), led by COL Jerry Mocello, and a team of highly trained
professional agents have done a superb job of investigating
several complex and extremely disturbing incidents of detainee
abuse at the Abu Ghraib Prison. They conducted over 50
interviews of witnesses, potential criminal suspects, and
detainees. They also uncovered numerous photos and videos
portraying in graphic detail detainee abuse by Military Police
personnel on numerous occasions from October to December 2003.
Several potential suspects rendered full and complete
confessions regarding their personal involvement and the
involvement of fellow Soldiers in this abuse. Several potential
suspects invoked their rights under Article 31 of the Uniform
Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and the 5th Amendment of the
U.S. Constitution. (ANNEX 25)
2. (U) In addition to a comprehensive and
exhaustive review of all of these statements and documentary
evidence, we also interviewed numerous officers, NCOs, and
junior enlisted Soldiers in the 800th MP Brigade, as well as
members of the 205th Military Intelligence Brigade working at
the prison. We did not believe it was necessary to re-interview
all the numerous witnesses who had previously provided
comprehensive statements to CID, and I have adopted those
statements for the purposes of this investigation. (ANNEXES 26), 34), 35), and 45-91)
REGARDING PART ONE OF THE INVESTIGATION, I MAKE THE
FOLLOWING SPECIFIC FINDINGS OF FACT:
1. (U) That Forward Operating Base (FOB) Abu
Ghraib (BCCF) provides security of both criminal and security
detainees at the Baghdad Central Correctional Facility,
facilitates the conducting of interrogations for CJTF-7,
supports other CPA operations at the prison, and enhances the
force protection/quality of life of Soldiers assigned in order
to ensure the success of ongoing operations to secure a free
Iraq. (Annex 31)
2. (U) That the Commander, 205th Military
Intelligence Brigade, was designated by CJTF-7 as the Commander
of FOB Abu Ghraib (BCCF) effective 19 November 2003. That the
205th MI Brigade conducts operational and strategic
interrogations for CJTF-7. That from 19 November 2003 until
Transfer of Authority (TOA) on 6 February 2004, COL Thomas M.
Pappas was the Commander of the 205th MI Brigade and the
Commander of FOB Abu Ghraib (BCCF). (Annex 31)
3. (U) That the 320th Military Police Battalion of
the 800th MP Brigade is responsible for the Guard Force at Camp
Ganci, Camp Vigilant, & Cellblock 1 of FOB Abu Ghraib
(BCCF). That from February 2003 to until he was suspended from
his duties on 17 January 2004, LTC Jerry Phillabaum served as
the Battalion Commander of the 320th MP Battalion. That from
December 2002 until he was suspended from his duties, on 17
January 2004, CPT Donald Reese served as the Company Commander
of the 372nd MP Company, which was in charge of guarding
detainees at FOB Abu Ghraib. I further find that both the 320th
MP Battalion and the 372nd MP Company were located within the
confines of FOB Abu Ghraib. (ANNEXES 32 and 45)
4. (U) That from July of 2003 to the present, BG
Janis L. Karpinski was the Commander of the 800th MP Brigade.
(Annex 45)
5. (S) That between October and December 2003, at
the Abu Ghraib Confinement Facility (BCCF), numerous incidents
of sadistic, blatant, and wanton criminal abuses were inflicted
on several detainees. This systemic and illegal abuse of
detainees was intentionally perpetrated by several members of
the military police guard force (372nd Military Police Company,
320th Military Police Battalion, 800th MP Brigade), in Tier
(section) 1-A of the Abu Ghraib Prison (BCCF). The allegations
of abuse were substantiated by detailed witness statements
(ANNEX 26) and the discovery of extremely graphic photographic
evidence. Due to the extremely sensitive nature of these
photographs and videos, the ongoing CID investigation, and the
potential for the criminal prosecution of several suspects, the
photographic evidence is not included in the body of my
investigation. The pictures and videos are available from the
Criminal Investigative Command and the CTJF-7 prosecution team.
In addition to the aforementioned crimes, there were also abuses
committed by members of the 325th MI Battalion, 205th MI
Brigade, and Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center (JIDC).
Specifically, on 24 November 2003, SPC Luciana Spencer, 205th MI
Brigade, sought to degrade a detainee by having him strip and
returned to cell naked. (ANNEXES 26 and 53)
6. (S) I find that the intentional abuse of
detainees by military police personnel included the following
acts:
- (S) Punching, slapping, and kicking detainees;
jumping
on their naked feet;
- (S) Videotaping and photographing naked male and
female
detainees;
- (S) Forcibly arranging detainees in various
sexually
explicit positions for photographing;
- (S) Forcing detainees to remove their clothing
and
keeping them naked for several days at a time;
- (S) Forcing naked male detainees to wear
women's
underwear;
- (S) Forcing groups of male detainees to
masturbate
themselves while being photographed and
videotaped;
- (S) Arranging naked male detainees in a pile and
then
jumping on them;
- (S) Positioning a naked detainee on a MRE Box,
with a
sandbag on his head, and attaching wires to his sfingers,
toes, and penis to simulate electric torture;
- (S) Writing "I am a Rapest" (sic) on the leg of
a
detainee alleged to have forcibly raped a 15-year
old fellow detainee, and then photographing him naked;
- (S) Placing a dog chain or strap around a
naked
detainee's neck and having a female Soldier pose for
a picture;
- (S) A male MP guard having sex with a female
detainee;
- (S) Using military working dogs (without muzzles)
to
intimidate and frighten detainees, and in at least one case
biting and severely injuring a detainee;
- (S) Taking photographs of dead Iraqi
detainees.
(ANNEXES 26 and 26)
7. (U) These findings are amply supported by
written confessions provided by several of the suspects, written
statements provided by detainees, and witness statements. In
reaching my findings, I have carefully considered the
pre-existing statements of the following witnesses and suspects
(ANNEX 26):
- (U) SPC Jeremy Sivits, 372nd MP Company - Suspect
- (U) SPC Sabrina Harman, 372nd MP Company - Suspect
- (U) SGT Javal S. Davis, 372nd MP Company - Suspect
- (U) PFC Lynndie R. England, 372nd MP Company - Suspect
- (U) Adel Nakhla, Civilian Translator, Titan
Corp.,
Assigned to the 205th MI Brigade- Suspect
- (U) SPC Joseph M. Darby, 372nd MP Company
- (U) SGT Neil A. Wallin, 109th Area Support
Medical
Battalion
- (U) SGT Samuel Jefferson Provance, 302nd MI
Battalion
- (U) Torin S. Nelson, Contractor, Titan Corp.,
Assigned
to the 205th MI Brigade
- (U) CPL Matthew Scott Bolanger, 372nd MP
Company
- (U) SPC Mathew C. Wisdom, 372nd MP Company
- (U) SSG Reuben R. Layton, Medic, 109th
Medical
Detachment
- (U) SPC John V. Polak, 229th MP Company
8. (U) In addition, several detainees also
described the following acts of abuse, which under the
circumstances, I find credible based on the clarity of their
statements and supporting evidence provided by other witnesses
(ANNEX 26):
- (U) Breaking chemical lights and pouring the
phosphoric
liquid on detainees;
- (U) Threatening detainees with a charged 9mm pistol;
- (U) Pouring cold water on naked detainees;
- (U) Beating detainees with a broom handle and a
chair;
- (U) Threatening male detainees with rape;
- (U) Allowing a military police guard to stitch
the
wound of a detainee who was injured after being
slammed against the wall in his cell;
- (U) Sodomizing a detainee with a chemical light
and
perhaps a broom stick.
- h. (U) Using military working dogs to frighten
and
intimidate detainees with threats of attack, and in
one instance actually biting a detainee.
9. (U) I have carefully considered the statements
provided by the following detainees, which under the
circumstances I find credible based on the clarity of their
statements and supporting evidence provided by other witnesses:
- (U) Amjed Isail Waleed, Detainee # 151365
- (U) Hiadar Saber Abed Miktub-Aboodi, Detainee # 13077
- (U) Huessin Mohssein Al-Zayiadi, Detainee # 19446
- (U) Kasim Mehaddi Hilas, Detainee # 151108
- (U) Mohanded Juma Juma (sic), Detainee # 152307
- (U) Mustafa Jassim Mustafa, Detainee # 150542
- (U) Shalan Said Alsharoni, Detainee, # 150422
- (U) Abd Alwhab Youss, Detainee # 150425
- (U) Asad Hamza Hanfosh, Detainee # 152529
- (U) Nori Samir Gunbar Al-Yasseri, Detainee # 7787
- (U) Thaar Salman Dawod, Detainee # 150427
- (U) Ameen Sa'eed Al-Sheikh, Detainee # 151362
- (U) Abdou Hussain Saad Faleh, Detainee # 18470
(ANNEX 26)
10. (U) I find that contrary to the provision of
AR 190-8, and the findings found in MG Ryder's Report, Military
Intelligence (MI) interrogators and Other US Government Agency's
(OGA) interrogators actively requested that MP guards set
physical and mental conditions for favorable interrogation of
witnesses. Contrary to the findings of MG Ryder's Report, I find
that personnel assigned to the 372nd MP Company, 800th MP
Brigade were directed to change facility procedures to "set the
conditions" for MI interrogations. I find no direct evidence
that MP personnel actually participated in those MI
interrogations. (ANNEXES 19, 21, 25, and 26).
11. (U) I reach this finding based on the actual
proven abuse that I find was inflicted on detainees and by the
following witness statements. (ANNEXES 25, and 26):
- (U) SPC Sabrina Harman, 372nd MP Company, stated in
her
sworn statement regarding the incident where a detainee was
placed on a box with wires attached to his fingers, toes,
and penis, "that her job was to keep detainees awake." She
stated that MI was talking to CPL Grainer. She stated: "MI
wanted to get them to talk. It is Grainer and Frederick's
job to do things for MI and OGA to get these people to
talk."
- (U) SGT Javal S. Davis, 372nd MP Company, stated in
his
sworn statement as follows: "I witnessed prisoners in the
MI hold section, wing 1A being made to do various things
that I would question morally. In Wing 1A we were told that
they had different rules and different SOP for treatment. I
never saw a set of rules or SOP for that section just word
of mouth. The Soldier in charge of 1A was Corporal Granier.
He stated that the Agents and MI Soldiers would ask him to
do things, but nothing was ever in writing he would
complain (sic)." When asked why the rules in 1A/1B were
different than the rest of the wings, SGT Davis stated:
"The rest of the wings are regular prisoners and 1A/B are
Military Intelligence (MI) holds." When asked why he did
not inform his chain of command about this abuse, SGT
Davis stated: " Because I assumed that if they were
doing things out of the ordinary or outside the
guidelines, someone would have said something. Also the
wing belongs to MI and it appeared MI personnel approved
of the abuse." SGT Davis also stated that he had heard
MI insinuate to the guards to abuse the inmates.
When asked what MI said he stated: "Loosen this guy up
for us." Make sure he has a bad night." "Make sure he
gets the treatment." He claimed these comments were made
to CPL Granier and SSG Frederick. Finally, SGT
Davis stated that (sic): "the MI staffs to my
understanding have been giving Granier compliments on the
way he has been handling the MI holds. Example being
statements like, "Good job, they're breaking down real
fast. They answer every question. They're giving out
good information, Finally, and Keep up the good work .
Stuff like that."
- (U) SPC Jason Kennel, 372nd MP Company, was asked
if he
were present when any detainees were abused. He stated: "I
saw them nude, but MI would tell us to take away their
mattresses, sheets, and clothes." He could not recall who
in MI had instructed him to do this, but commented that,
"if they wanted me to do that they needed to give me
paperwork." He was later informed that "we could not do
anything to embarrass the prisoners."
- (U) Mr. Adel L. Nakhla, a US civilian
contract
translator was questioned about several
detainees accused of rape. He observed (sic): "They
(detainees) were all naked, a bunch of people from MI, the
MP were there that night and the inmates were ordered by
SGT Granier and SGT Frederick ordered the guys
while questioning them to admit what they did. They made
them do strange exercises by sliding on their stomach,
jump up and down, throw water on them and made them some
wet, called them all kinds of names such as "gays" do
they like to make love to guys, then they handcuffed
their hands together and their legs with shackles and
started to stack them on top of each other by insuring that
the bottom guys penis will touch the guy on tops butt."
- (U) SPC Neil A Wallin, 109th Area Support
Medical
Battalion, a medic testified that: "Cell 1A was
used to house high priority detainees and cell 1B was used
to house the high risk or trouble making detainees.
During my tour at the prison I observed that when the
male detainees were first brought to the facility, some
of them were made to wear female underwear, which I
think was to somehow break them down."
12. (U) I find that prior to its deployment to
Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom, the 320th MP Battalion
and the 372nd MP Company had received no training
in detention/internee operations. I also find that
very little instruction or training was provided to
MP personnel on the applicable rules of the
Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of
War, FM 27-10, AR 190-8, or FM 3-19.40. Moreover, I find
that few, if any, copies of the Geneva Conventions were
ever made available to MP personnel or detainees. (ANNEXES
21-24, 33, and multiple witness statements)
13. (U) Another obvious example of the Brigade
Leadership not communicating with its Soldiers or ensuring
their tactical proficiency concerns the incident of
detainee abuse that occurred at Camp Bucca, Iraq, on May
12, 2003. Soldiers from the 223rd MP Company reported to
the 800th MP Brigade Command at Camp Bucca, that four
Military Police Soldiers from the 320th MP Battalion had
abused a number of detainees during inprocessing at Camp
Bucca. An extensive CID investigation determined that
four soldiers from the 320th MP Battalion had kicked
and beaten these detainees following a transport mission
from Talil Air Base. (ANNEXES 34 and 35)
14. (U) Formal charges under the UCMJ were
preferred against these Soldiers and an Article-32
Investigation conducted by LTC Gentry. He recommended a
general court martial for the four accused, which BG
Karpinski supported. Despite this documented abuse, there
is no evidence that BG Karpinski ever attempted to remind
800th MP Soldiers of the requirements of the Geneva
Conventions regarding detainee treatment or took any steps
to ensure that such abuse was not repeated. Nor is there
any evidence that LTC(P) Phillabaum, the commander of
the Soldiers involved in the Camp Bucca abuse incident,
took any initiative to ensure his Soldiers were
properly trained regarding detainee treatment. (ANNEXES 35 and 62)
RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO PART ONE OF THE
INVESTIGATION:
1. (U) Immediately deploy to the Iraq Theater an
integrated multi-discipline Mobile Training Team (MTT)
comprised of subject matter experts in
internment/resettlement operations, international and
operational law, information technology, facility
management, interrogation and intelligence gathering
techniques, chaplains, Arab cultural awareness, and medical
practices as it pertains to I/R activities. This team needs
to oversee and conduct comprehensive training in all
aspects of detainee and confinement operations.
2. (U) That all military police and military
intelligence personnel involved in any aspect of detainee
operations or interrogation operations in CJTF-7, and
subordinate units, be immediately provided with training by
an international/operational law attorney on the
specific provisions of The Law of Land Warfare FM
27-10, specifically the Geneva Convention Relative to
the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Enemy Prisoners of
War, Retained Personnel, Civilian Internees, and
Other Detainees, and AR 190-8.
3. (U) That a single commander in CJTF-7 be
responsible for overall detainee operations throughout the
Iraq Theater of Operations. I also recommend that the
Provost Marshal General of the Army assign a minimum of two
(2) subject matter experts, one officer and one NCO, to
assist CJTF-7 in coordinating detainee operations.
4. (U) That detention facility commanders and
interrogation facility commanders ensure that appropriate
copies of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment
of Prisoners of War and notice of protections be made
available in both English and the detainees' language and
be prominently displayed in all detention
facilities. Detainees with questions regarding their
treatment should be given the full opportunity to read the
Convention.
5. (U) That each detention facility commander
and interrogation facility commander publish a complete
and comprehensive set of Standing Operating Procedures
(SOPs) regarding treatment of detainees, and that all
personnel be required to read the SOPs and sign a
document indicating that they have read and understand the
SOPs.
6. (U) That in accordance with the
recommendations of MG Ryder's Assessment Report, and my
findings and recommendations in this investigation, all
units in the Iraq Theater of Operations
conducting internment/confinement/detainment operations in
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom be OPCON for all
purposes, to include action under the UCMJ, to
CJTF-7.
7. (U) Appoint the C3, CJTF as the staff
proponent for detainee operations in the Iraq Joint
Operations Area (JOA). (MG Tom Miller, C3, CJTF-7, has been
appointed by COMCJTF-7).
8. (U) That an inquiry UP AR 381-10, Procedure
15 be conducted to determine the extent of culpability
of Military Intelligence personnel, assigned to the 205th
MI Brigade and the Joint Interrogation and Debriefing
Center (JIDC) regarding abuse of detainees at Abu Ghraib
(BCCF).
9. (U) That it is critical that the proponent
for detainee operations is assigned a dedicated Senior
Judge Advocate, with specialized training and knowledge of
international and operational law, to assist and advise on
matters of detainee operations.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
(PART TWO)
(U) The Investigation inquire into detainee
escapes and accountability lapses as reported by CJTF-7,
specifically allegations concerning these events at the Abu
Ghraib Prison:
REGARDING PART TWO OF THE INVESTIGATION, I
MAKE THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC FINDINGS OF FACT:
1. The 800th MP Brigade was responsible for
theater-wide Internment and Resettlement (I/R) operations.
(ANNEXES 45 and 95)
2. (U) The 320th MP Battalion, 800th MP Brigade
was tasked with detainee operations at the Abu Ghraib
Prison Complex during the time period covered in this
investigation. (ANNEXES 41, 45, and 59)
3. (U) The 310th MP Battalion, 800th MP Brigade
was tasked with detainee operations and Forward Operating
Base (FOB) Operations at the Camp Bucca Detention Facility
until TOA on 26 February 2004. (ANNEXES 41 and 52)
4. (U) The 744th MP Battalion, 800th MP Brigade
was tasked with detainee operations and FOB Operations at
the HVD Detention Facility until TOA on 4 March 2004.
(ANNEXES 41 and 55)
5. (U) The 530th MP Battalion, 800th MP Brigade
was tasked with detainee operations and FOB Operations at
the MEK holding facility until TOA on 15 March 2004.
(ANNEXES 41 and 97)
6. (U) Detainee operations include
accountability, care, and well being of Enemy Prisoners of
War, Retained Person, Civilian Detainees, and Other
Detainees, as well as Iraqi criminal prisoners. (ANNEX 22)
7. (U) The accountability for detainees is
doctrinally an MP task IAW FM 3-19.40. (ANNEX 22)
8. (U) There is a general lack of
knowledge, implementation, and emphasis of basic legal,
regulatory, doctrinal, and command requirements within the
800th MP Brigade and its subordinate units. (Multiple
witness statements in ANNEXES 45-91). 9. (U) The handling
of detainees and criminal prisoners after in-processing was
inconsistent from detention facility to detention facility,
compound to compound, encampment to encampment, and even
shift to shift throughout the 800th MP Brigade AOR. (ANNEX 37)
10. (U) Camp Bucca, operated by the 310th MP
Battalion, had a "Criminal Detainee In-Processing SOP" and
a "Training Outline" for transferring and releasing
detainees, which appears to have been followed. (ANNEXES 38
and 52)
11. (U) Incoming and outgoing detainees are
being documented in the National Detainee Reporting System
(NDRS) and Biometric Automated Toolset System (BATS) as
required by regulation at all detention facilities.
However, it is underutilized and often does not give a
"real time" accurate picture of the detainee population due
to untimely updating. (ANNEX 56)
12. (U) There was a severe lapse in the
accountability of detainees at the Abu Ghraib Prison
Complex. The 320th MP Battalion used a self-created "change
sheet" to document the transfer of a detainee from one
location to another. For proper accountability, it is
imperative that these change sheets be processed and the
detainee manifest be updated within 24 hours of movement.
At Abu Ghraib, this process would often take as long as 4
days to complete. This lag- time resulted in inaccurate
detainee Internment Serial Number (ISN) counts, gross
differences in the detainee manifest and the actual
occupants of an individual compound, and significant
confusion of the MP Soldiers. The 320th MP Battalion S-1,
CPT Theresa Delbalso, and the S-3, MAJ David DiNenna,
explained that this breakdown was due to the lack of
manpower to process change sheets in a timely manner. (ANNEXES
39 and 98)
13. (U) The 320th Battalion TACSOP requires
detainee accountability at least 4 times daily at Abu Ghraib.
However, a detailed review of their operational journals
revealed that these accounts were often not done or not
documented by the unit. Additionally, there is no indication
that accounting errors or the loss of a detainee in the
accounting process triggered any immediate corrective action
by the Battalion TOC. (ANNEX 44)
14. (U) There is a lack of standardization in
the way the 320th MP Battalion conducted physical counts of
their detainees. Each compound within a given encampment did
their headcounts differently. Some compounds had detainees
line up in lines of 10, some had them sit in rows, and some
moved all the detainees to one end of the compound and counted
them as they passed to the other end of the compound. (ANNEX 98)
15. (U) FM 3-19.40 outlines the need for 2 roll
calls (100% ISN band checks) per day. The 320th MP Battalion
did this check only 2 times per week. Due to the lack of
real-time updates to the system, these checks were regularly
inaccurate. (Annexes 22and 98)
16. (U) The 800th MP Brigade and subordinate
units adopted non-doctrinal terms such as "band checks,"
"roll-ups," and "call-ups," which contributed to the lapses in
accountability and confusion at the soldier level. (ANNEXES
63, 88, and 98)
17. (U) Operational journals at the various
compounds and the 320th Battalion TOC contained numerous
unprofessional entries and flippant comments, which
highlighted the lack of discipline within the unit. There was
no indication that the journals were ever reviewed by anyone
in their chain of command. (ANNEX 37)
18. (U) Accountability SOPs were not fully
developed and standing TACSOPs were widely ignored. Any SOPs
that did exist were not trained on, and were never distributed
to the lowest level. Most procedures were shelved at the unit
TOC, rather than at the subordinate units and guards mount
sites. (ANNEXES 44, 67, 71, and 85)
19. (U) Accountability and facility operations
SOPs lacked specificity, implementation measures, and a system
of checks and balances to ensure compliance. (ANNEXES 76 and
82)
20. (U) Basic Army Doctrine was not widely
referenced or utilized to develop the accountability practices
throughout the 800th MP Brigade's subordinate units. Daily
processing, accountability, and detainee care appears to have
been made up as the operations developed with reliance on, and
guidance from, junior members of the unit who had civilian
corrections experience. (ANNEX 21)
21. (U) Soldiers were poorly prepared and
untrained to conduct I/R operations prior to deployment, at
the mobilization site, upon arrival in theater, and throughout
their mission. (ANNEXES 62, 63, and 69)
22. (U) The documentation provided to this
investigation identified 27 escapes or attempted escapes from
the detention facilities throughout the 800th MP Brigade's
AOR. Based on my assessment and detailed analysis of the
substandard accountability process maintained by the 800th MP
Brigade, it is highly likely that there were several more
unreported cases of escape that were probably "written off" as
administrative errors or otherwise undocumented. 1LT Lewis
Raeder, Platoon Leader, 372nd MP Company, reported knowing
about at least two additional escapes (one from a work detail
and one from a window) from Abu Ghraib (BCCF) that were not
documented. LTC Dennis McGlone, Commander, 744th MP Battalion,
detailed the escape of one detainee at the High Value Detainee
Facility who went to the latrine and then outran the guards
and escaped. Lastly, BG Janis Karpinski, Commander, 800th MP
Brigade, stated that there were more than 32 escapes from her
holding facilities, which does not match the number derived
from the investigation materials. (ANNEXES 5-10, 45, 55, and
71)
23. (U) The Abu Ghraib and Camp Bucca detention
facilities are significantly over their intended maximum
capacity while the guard force is undermanned and under
resourced. This imbalance has contributed to the poor living
conditions, escapes, and accountability lapses at the various
facilities. The overcrowding of the facilities also limits the
ability to identify and segregate leaders in the detainee
population who may be organizing escapes and riots within the
facility. (ANNEXES 6, 22, and 92)
24. (U) The screening, processing, and release
of detainees who should not be in custody takes too long and
contributes to the overcrowding and unrest in the detention
facilities. There are currently three separate release
mechanisms in the theater-wide internment operations. First,
the apprehending unit can release a detainee if there is a
determination that their continued detention is not warranted.
Secondly, a criminal detainee can be released after it has
been determined that the detainee has no intelligence value,
and that their release would not be detrimental to society. BG
Karpinski had signature authority to release detainees in this
second category. Lastly, detainees accused of committing
"Crimes Against the Coalition," who are held throughout the
separate facilities in the CJTF-7 AOR, can be released upon a
determination that they are of no intelligence value and no
longer pose a significant threat to Coalition Forces. The
release process for this category of detainee is a screening
by the local US Forces Magistrate Cell and a review by a
Detainee Release Board consisting of BG Karpinski, COL Marc
Warren, SJA, CJTF-7, and MG Barbara Fast, C-2, CJTF-7. MG Fast
is the "Detainee Release Authority" for detainees being held
for committing crimes against the coalition. According to BG
Karpinski, this category of detainee makes up more than 60% of
the total detainee population, and is the fastest growing
category. However, MG Fast, according to BG Karpinski,
routinely denied the board's recommendations to release
detainees in this category who were no longer deemed a threat
and clearly met the requirements for release. According to BG
Karpinski, the extremely slow and ineffective release process
has significantly contributed to the overcrowding of the
facilities. (ANNEXES 40, 45, and 46)
25. (U) After Action Reviews (AARs) are not
routinely being conducted after an escape or other serious
incident. No lessons learned seem to have been disseminated to
subordinate units to enable corrective action at the lowest
level. The Investigation Team requested copies of AARs, and
none were provided. (Multiple Witness Statements)
26. (U) Lessons learned (i.e. Findings and
Recommendations from various 15-6 Investigations concerning
escapes and accountability lapses) were rubber stamped as
approved and ordered implemented by BG Karpinski. There is no
evidence that the majority of her orders directing the
implementation of substantive changes were ever acted upon.
Additionally, there was no follow-up by the command to verify
the corrective actions were taken. Had the findings and
recommendations contained within their own investigations been
analyzed and actually implemented by BG Karpinski, many of the
subsequent escapes, accountability lapses, and cases of abuse
may have been prevented. (ANNEXES 5-10)
27. (U) The perimeter lighting around Abu Ghraib
and the detention facility at Camp Bucca is inadequate and
needs to be improved to illuminate dark areas that have
routinely become avenues of escape. (ANNEX 6)
28. (U) Neither the camp rules nor the
provisions of the Geneva Conventions are posted in English or
in the language of the detainees at any of the detention
facilities in the 800th MP Brigade's AOR, even after several
investigations had annotated the lack of this critical
requirement. (Multiple Witness Statements and the Personal
Observations of the Investigation Team)
29. (U) The Iraqi guards at Abu Ghraib BCCF)
demonstrate questionable work ethics and loyalties, and are a
potentially dangerous contingent within the Hard-Site. These
guards have furnished the Iraqi criminal inmates with
contraband, weapons, and information. Additionally, they have
facilitated the escape of at least one detainee. (ANNEX 8 and
26-SPC Polak's Statement)
30. (U) In general, US 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. During
our on-site inspection, they wandered about with too much
unsupervised free access in the detainee area. Having
civilians in various outfits (civilian and DCUs) in and about
the detainee area causes confusion and may have contributed to
the difficulties in the accountability process and with
detecting escapes. (ANNEX 51, Multiple Witness Statements, and
the Personal Observations of the Investigation Team)
31. (U) SGM Marc Emerson, Operations SGM, 320th
MP Battalion, contended that the Detainee Rules of Engagement
(DROE) and the general principles of the Geneva Convention
were briefed at every guard mount and shift change on Abu
Ghraib. However, none of our witnesses, nor our personal
observations, support his contention. I find that SGM Emerson
was not a credible witness. (ANNEXES 45, 80, and the Personal
Observations of the Investigation Team)
32. (U) Several interviewees insisted that the
MP and MI Soldiers at Abu Ghraib (BCCF) received regular
training on the basics of detainee operations; however, they
have been unable to produce any verifying documentation,
sign-in rosters, or soldiers who can recall the content of
this training. (ANNEXES 59, 80, and the Absence of any
Training Records)
33. (S/NF) 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 (JIDC) 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 (ICRC) survey team. This maneuver was deceptive,
contrary to Army Doctrine, and in violation of international
law. (ANNEX 53)
34. (U) The following riots, escapes, and
shootings have been documented and reported to this
Investigation Team. Although there is no data from other
missions of similar size and duration to compare the number of
escapes with, the most significant factors derived from these
reports are twofold. First, investigations and SIRs lacked
critical data needed to evaluate the details of each incident.
Second, each investigation seems to have pointed to the same
types of deficiencies; however, little to nothing was done to
correct the problems and to implement the recommendations as
was ordered by BG Karpinski, nor was there any command
emphasis to ensure these deficiencies were corrected:
- (U) 4 June 03- This escape was mentioned in the 15-6
Investigation covering the 13 June 03 escape, recapture, and
shootings of detainees at Camp Vigilant (320th MP
Battalion). However, no investigation or additional
information was provided as requested by this investigation
team. (ANNEX 7)
- (U) 9 June 03- Riot and shootings of five detainees at
Camp Cropper. (115th MP Battalion) Several detainees
allegedly rioted after a detainee was subdued by MPs of the
115th MP Battalion after striking a guard in compound B of
Camp Cropper. A 15-6 investigation by 1LT Magowan (115th MP
Battalion, Platoon Leader) concluded that a detainee had
acted up and hit an MP. After being subdued, one of the MPs
took off his DCU top and flexed his muscles to the
detainees, which further escalated the riot. The MPs were
overwhelmed and the guards fired lethal rounds to protect
the life of the compound MPs, whereby 5 detainees were
wounded. Contributing factors were poor communications, no
clear chain of command, facility-obstructed views of posted
guards, the QRF did not have non-lethal equipment, and the
SOP was inadequate and outdated. (ANNEX 5)
- (U) 12 June 03- Escape and recapture of detainee #8399,
escape and shooting of detainee # 7166, and attempted escape
of an unidentified detainee from Camp Cropper Holding Area
(115th MP Battalion). Several detainees allegedly made their
escape in the nighttime hours prior to 0300. A 15-6
investigation by CPT Wendlandt (115th MP Battalion, S-2)
concluded that the detainees allegedly escaped by crawling
under the wire at a location with inadequate lighting. One
detainee was stopped prior to escape. An MP of the 115th MP
Battalion search team recaptured detainee # 8399, and
detainee # 7166 was shot and killed by a Soldier during the
recapture process. Contributing factors were overcrowding,
poor lighting, and the nature of the hardened criminal
detainees at that location. It is of particular note that
the command was informed at least 24 hours in advance of the
upcoming escape attempt and started doing amplified
announcements in Arabic stating the camp rules. The
investigation pointed out that rules and guidelines were not
posted in the camps in the detainees' native languages.
(ANNEX 6)
- (U) 13 June 03- Escape and recapture of detainee # 8968
and the shooting of eight detainees at Abu Ghraib (BCCF)
(320th MP Battalion). Several detainees allegedly attempted
to escape at about 1400 hours from the Camp Vigilant
Compound, Abu Ghraib (BCCF). A 15-6 investigation by CPT
Wyks (400th MP Battalion, S-1) concluded that the detainee
allegedly escaped by sliding under the wire while the tower
guard was turned in the other direction. This detainee was
subsequently apprehended by the QRF. At about 1600 the same
day, 30-40 detainees rioted and pelted three interior MP
guards with rocks. One guard was injured and the tower
guards fired lethal rounds at the rioters injuring 7 and
killing 1 detainee. (ANNEX 7)
- (U) 05 November 03- Escape of detainees # 9877 and #
10739 from Abu Ghraib (320th MP Battalion). Several
detainees allegedly escaped at 0345 from the Hard-Site, Abu
Ghraib (BCCF). An SIR was initiated by SPC Warner (320th MP
Battalion, S-3 RTO). The SIR indicated that 2 criminal
prisoners escaped through their cell window in tier 3A of
the Hard-Site. No information on findings, contributing
factors, or corrective action has been provided to this
investigation team. (ANNEX 11)
- (U) 07 November 03- Escape of detainee # 14239 from Abu
Ghraib (320th MP Battalion). A detainee allegedly escaped at
1330 from Compound 2 of the Ganci Encampment, Abu Ghraib
(BCCF). An SIR was initiated by SSG Hydro (320th MP
Battalion, S-3 Asst. NCOIC). The SIR indicated that a
detainee escaped from the North end of the compound and was
discovered missing during distribution of the noon meal, but
there is no method of escape listed in the SIR. No
information on findings, contributing factors, or corrective
action has been provided to this investigation team. (ANNEX
12)
- (U) 08 November 03- Escape of detainees # 115089, #
151623, # 151624, # 116734, # 116735, and # 116738 from Abu
Ghraib (320th MP Battalion). Several detainees allegedly
escaped at 2022 from Compound 8 of the Ganci encampment, Abu
Ghraib. An SIR was initiated by MAJ DiNenna (320th MP
Battalion, S-3). The SIR indicated that 5-6 prisoners
escaped from the North end of the compound, but there is no
method of escape listed in the SIR. No information on
findings, contributing factors, or corrective action has
been provided to this investigation team. (ANNEX 13)
- (U) 24 November 03- Riot and shooting of 12 detainees #
150216, #150894, #153096, 153165, #153169, #116361, #153399,
#20257, #150348, #152616, #116146, and #152156 at Abu Ghraib
(320th MP Battalion). Several detainees allegedly began to
riot at about 1300 in all of the compounds at the Ganci
encampment. This resulted in the shooting deaths of 3
detainees, 9 wounded detainees, and 9 injured US Soldiers. A
15-6 investigation by COL Bruce Falcone (220th MP Brigade,
Deputy Commander) concluded that the detainees rioted in
protest of their living conditions, that the riot turned
violent, the use of non-lethal force was ineffective, and,
after the 320th MP Battalion CDR executed "Golden Spike,"
the emergency containment plan, the use of deadly force was
authorized. Contributing factors were lack of comprehensive
training of guards, poor or non-existent SOPs, no formal
guard-mount conducted prior to shift, no rehearsals or
ongoing training, the mix of less than lethal rounds with
lethal rounds in weapons, no AARs being conducted after
incidents, ROE not posted and not understood, overcrowding,
uniforms not standardized, and poor communication between
the command and Soldiers. (ANNEX 8)
- (U) 24 November 03- Shooting of detainee at Abu Ghraib
(320th MP Battalion). A detainee allegedly had a pistol in
his cell and around 1830 an extraction team shot him with
less than lethal and lethal rounds in the process of
recovering the weapon. A 15-6 investigation by COL Bruce
Falcone (220th Brigade, Deputy Commander) concluded that one
of the detainees in tier 1A of the Hard Site had gotten a
pistol and a couple of knives from an Iraqi Guard working in
the encampment. Immediately upon receipt of this
information, an ad-hoc extraction team consisting of MP and
MI personnel conducted what they called a routine cell
search, which resulted in the shooting of an MP and the
detainee. Contributing factors were a corrupt Iraqi Guard,
inadequate SOPs, the Detention ROE in place at the time was
ineffective due to the numerous levels of authorization
needed for use of lethal force, poorly trained MPs, unclear
lanes of responsibility, and ambiguous relationship between
the MI and MP assets. (ANNEX 8)
- (U) 13 December 03- Shooting by non-lethal means into
crowd at Abu Ghraib (320th MP Battalion). Several detainees
allegedly got into a detainee-on-detainee fight around 1030
in Compound 8 of the Ganci encampment, Abu Ghraib. An SIR
was initiated by SSG Matash (320th MP Battalion, S-3
Section). The SIR indicated that there was a fight in the
compound and the MPs used a non-lethal crowd- dispersing
round to break up the fight, which was successful. No
information on findings, contributing factors, or corrective
action has been provided to this investigation team. (ANNEX
14)
- (U) 13 December 03- Shooting by non-lethal means into
crowd at Abu Ghraib (320th MP Battalion). Several detainees
allegedly got into a detainee-on-detainee fight around 1120
in Compound 2 of the Ganci encampment, Abu Ghraib. An SIR
was initiated by SSG Matash (320th MP Battalion, S-3
Section). The SIR indicated that there was a fight in the
compound and the MPs used two non-lethal shots to disperse
the crowd, which was successful. No information on findings,
contributing factors, or corrective action has been provided
to this investigation team. (ANNEX 15)
- (U) 13 December 03- Shooting by non-lethal means into
crowd at Abu Ghraib (320th MP Battalion). Approximately 30-
40 detainees allegedly got into a detainee-on-detainee fight
around 1642 in Compound 3 of the Ganci encampment, Abu
Ghraib (BCCF). An SIR was initiated by SSG Matash (320th MP
Battalion, S-3 Section). The SIR indicates that there was a
fight in the compound and the MPs used a non-lethal crowd-
dispersing round to break up the fight, which was
successful. No information on findings, contributing
factors, or corrective action has been provided to this
investigation team. (ANNEX 16)
- (U) 17 December 03- Shooting by non-lethal means of
detainee from Abu Ghraib (320th MP Battalion). Several
detainees allegedly assaulted an MP at 1459 inside the Ganci
Encampment, Abu Ghraib (BCCF). An SIR was initiated by SSG
Matash (320th MP BRIGADE, S-3 Section). The SIR indicated
that three detainees assaulted an MP, which resulted in the
use of a non-lethal shot that calmed the situation. No
information on findings, contributing factors, or corrective
action has been provided to this investigation team. (ANNEX
17)
- (U) 07 January 04- Escape of detainee #115032 from Camp
Bucca (310th MP Battalion). A detainee allegedly escaped
between the hours of 0445 and 0640 from Compound 12, of Camp
Bucca. Investigation by CPT Kaires (310th MP Battalion S-3)
and CPT Holsombeck (724th MP Battalion S-3) concluded that
the detainee escaped through an undetected weakness in the
wire. Contributing factors were inexperienced guards, lapses
in accountability, complacency, lack of leadership presence,
poor visibility, and lack of clear and concise communication
between the guards and the leadership. (ANNEX 9)
- (U) 12 January 04- Escape of Detainees #115314 and
#109950 as well as the escape and recapture of 5 unknown
detainees at the Camp Bucca Detention Facility (310th MP
Battalion). Several detainees allegedly escaped around 0300
from Compound 12, of Camp Bucca. An AR 15-6 Investigation by
LTC Leigh Coulter (800th MP Brigade, OIC Camp Arifjan
Detachment) concluded that three of the detainees escaped
through the front holding cell during conditions of limited
visibility due to fog. One of the detainees was noticed,
shot with a non-lethal round, and returned to his holding
compound. That same night, 4 detainees exited through the
wire on the South side of the camp and were seen and
apprehended by the QRF. Contributing factors were the lack
of a coordinated effort for emplacement of MPs during
implementation of the fog plan, overcrowding, and poor
communications. (ANNEX 10)
- (U) 14 January 04- Escape of detainee #12436 and missing
Iraqi guard from Hard-Site, Abu Ghraib (320th MP Battalion).
A detainee allegedly escaped at 1335 from the Hard Site at
Abu Ghraib (BCCF). An SIR was initiated by SSG Hydro (320th
MP Battalion, S-3 Asst. NCOIC). The SIR indicates that an
Iraqi guard assisted a detainee to escape by signing him out
on a work detail and disappearing with him. At the time of
the second SIR, neither missing person had been located. No
information on findings, contributing factors, or corrective
action has been provided to this investigation team. (ANNEX
99)
- (U) 26 January 04- Escape of detainees #s 115236,
116272, and 151933 from Camp Bucca (310th MP Battalion).
Several Detainees allegedly escaped between the hours of
0440 and 0700 during a period of intense fog. Investigation
by CPT Kaires (310th MP Battalion S-3) concluded that the
detainees crawled under a fence when visibility was only 10-
15 meters due to fog. Contributing factors were the limited
visibility (darkness under foggy conditions), lack of proper
accountability reporting, inadequate number of guards,
commencement of detainee feeding during low visibility
operations, and poorly rested MPs. (ANNEX 18)
36. (U) As I have previously indicated, this
investigation determined that there was virtually a complete
lack of detailed SOPs at any of the detention facilities.
Moreover, despite the fact that there were numerous reported
escapes at detention facilities throughout Iraq (in excess of
35), AR 15-6 Investigations following these escapes were
simply forgotten or ignored by the Brigade Commander with no
dissemination to other facilities. After-Action Reports and
Lessons Learned, if done at all, remained at individual
facilities and were not shared among other commanders or
soldiers throughout the Brigade. The Command never issued
standard TTPs for handling escape incidents. (ANNEXES 5-10,
Multiple Witness Statements, and the Personal Observations of
the Investigation Team)
RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING PART TWO OF THE
INVESTIGATION:
- (U) ANNEX 100 of this investigation contains a
detailed
and referenced series of recommendations for
improving the detainee accountability practices
throughout the OIF area of operations.
- (U) Accountability practices throughout any
particular
detention facility must be standardized and in
accordance with applicable regulations and international
law.
- (U) The NDRS and BATS accounting systems must
be
expanded and used to their fullest extent to
facilitate real time updating when detainees are moved
and or transferred from one location to another.
- (U) "Change sheets," or their doctrinal equivalent
must
be immediately processed and updated into the system
to ensure accurate accountability. The detainee roll call
or ISN counts must match the manifest provided to the
compound guards to ensure proper accountability of
detainees.
- (U) Develop, staff, and implement comprehensive
and
detailed SOPs utilizing the lessons learned from
this investigation as well as any previous
findings, recommendations, and reports.
- (U) SOPs must be written, disseminated, trained on,
and
understood at the lowest level.
- (U) Iraqi criminal prisoners must be held in
separate
facilities from any other category of detainee.
- (U) All of the compounds should be wired into
the
master manifest whereby MP Soldiers can account for
their detainees in real time and without waiting for
their change sheets to be processed. This would also have
the change sheet serve as a way to check up on the
accuracy of the manifest as updated by each compound. The
BATS and NDRS system can be utilized for this function.
- (U) Accountability lapses, escapes, and
disturbances
within the detainment facilities must be
immediately reported through both the operational and
administrative Chain of Command via a Serious Incident
Report (SIR). The SIRs must then be tracked and followed
by daily SITREPs until the situation is resolved.
- (U) Detention Rules of Engagement (DROE),
Interrogation
Rules of Engagement (IROE), and the
principles of the Geneva Conventions need to be briefed
at every shift change and guard mount.
- (U) AARs must be conducted after serious incidents
at
any given facility. The observations and corrective
actions that develop from the AARs must be analyzed by
the respective MP Battalion S-3 section, developed into a
plan of action, shared with the other facilities, and
implemented as a matter of policy.
- (U) There must be significant structural
improvements
at each of the detention facilities. The
needed changes include significant enhancement of
perimeter lighting, additional chain link fencing,
staking down of all concertina wire, hard site
development, and expansion of Abu Ghraib (BCCF) .
- (U) The Geneva Conventions and the facility rules
must
be prominently displayed in English and the language
of the detainees at each compound and encampment at every
detention facility IAW AR 190-8.
- (U) Further restrict US civilians and
other
contractors' access throughout the facility.
Contractors and civilians must be in an authorized and
easily identifiable uniform to be more easily
distinguished from the masses of detainees in civilian
clothes.
- (U) Facilities must have a stop
movement/transfer
period of at least 1 hour prior to
every 100% detainee roll call and ISN counts to ensure
accurate accountability.
- (U) The method for doing head counts of
detainees
within a given compound must be standardized.
- (U) Those military units conducting I/R operations
must
know of, train on, and constantly reference the
applicable Army Doctrine and CJTF command policies. The
references provided in this report cover nearly every
deficiency I have enumerated. Although they do not, and
cannot, make up for leadership shortfalls, all soldiers,
at all levels, can use them to maintain standardized
operating procedures and efficient accountability
practices.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (PART
THREE)
(U) Investigate the training, standards,
employment, command policies, internal procedures, and command
climate in the 800th MP Brigade, as appropriate:
Pursuant to Part Three of the Investigation,
select members of the Investigation team (Primarily COL La
Fate and I) personally interviewed the following witnesses:
- (U) BG Janis Karpinski, Commander, 800th MP Brigade
- (U) COL Thomas Pappas, Commander, 205th MI Brigade
- (U) COL Ralph Sabatino, CFLCC Judge Advocate,
CPA
Ministry of Justice (Interviewed by COL Richard
Gordon, CFLCC SJA)
- (U) LTC Gary W. Maddocks, S-5 and Executive
Officer,
800th MP Brigade
- (U) LTC James O'Hare, Command Judge Advocate, 800th MP
Brigade
- (U) LTC Robert P. Walters Jr., Commander, 165th
MI
Battalion (Tactical Exploitation)
- (U) LTC James D. Edwards, Commander, 202nd MI Battalion
- (U) LTC Vincent Montera, Commander, 310th MP Battalion
- (U) LTC Steve Jordan, former Director,
Joint
Interrogation and Debriefing Center/LNO to the
205th MI Brigade
- (U) LTC Leigh A. Coulter, Commander, 724th MP
Battalion
and OIC Arifjan Detachment, 800th MP Brigade
- (U) LTC Dennis McGlone, Commander, 744th MP Battalion
- (U) MAJ David Hinzman, S-1, 800th MP Brigade
- (U) MAJ William D. Proietto, Deputy CJA, 800th
MP
Brigade
- (U) MAJ Stacy L. Garrity, S-1 (FWD), 800th MP Brigade
- (U) MAJ David W. DiNenna, S-3, 320th MP Battalion
- (U) MAJ Michael Sheridan, XO, 320th MP Battalion
- (U) MAJ Anthony Cavallaro, S-3, 800th MP Brigade
- (U) CPT Marc C. Hale, Commander, 670th MP Company
- (U) CPT Donald Reese, Commander, 372nd MP Company
- (U) CPT Darren Hampton, Assistant S-3, 320th
MP
Battalion
- (U) CPT John Kaires, S-3, 310th MP Battalion
- (U) CPT Ed Diamantis, S-2, 800th MP Brigade
- (U) CPT Marc C. Hale, Commander, 670th MP Company
- (U) CPT Donald Reese, Commander, 372nd MP Company
- (U) CPT James G. Jones, Commander, 229th MP Company
- (U) CPT Michael Anthony Mastrangelo, Jr.,
Commander,
310th MP Company
- (U) CPT Lawrence Bush, IG, 800th MP Brigade
- (U) 1LT Lewis C. Raeder, Platoon Leader, 372nd
MP
Company
- (U) 1LT Elvis Mabry, Aide-de-camp to Brigade
Commander,
800th MP Brigade
- (U) 1LT Warren E. Ford, II, Commander, HHC 320th
MP
Battalion
- (U) 2LT David O. Sutton, Platoon Leader, 229th
MP
Company
- (U) CW2 Edward J. Rivas, 205th MI Brigade
- (U) CSM Joseph P. Arrington, Command Sergeant
Major,
320th MP Battalion
- (U) SGM Pascual Cartagena, Acting Command
Sergeant
Major, 800th MP Brigade
- (U) CSM Timothy L. Woodcock, Command Sergeant
Major,
310th MP Battalion
- (U) 1SG Dawn J. Rippelmeyer, First Sergeant, 977th
MP
Company
- (U) SGM Mark Emerson, Operations SGM, 320th
MP
Battalion
- (U) MSG Brian G. Lipinski, First Sergeant, 372nd
MP
Company
- (U) MSG Andrew J. Lombardo, Operations Sergeant,
310th
MP Battalion
- (U) SFC Daryl J. Plude, Platoon Sergeant, 229th
MP
Company
- (U) SFC Shannon K. Snider, Platoon SGT, 372nd MP Company
- (U) SFC Keith A. Comer, 372nd MP Company
- (U) SSG Robert Elliot, Squad Leader, 372nd MP Company
- (U) SSG Santos A. Cardona, Army Dog Handler, 42nd
MP
Detachment, 16th MP Brigade
- (U) SGT Michael Smith, Army Dog Handler, 523rd
MP
Detachment, 937th Engineer Group
- (U) MA1 William J. Kimbro, USN Dog Handler, NAS
Signal
and Canine Unit
- (U) Mr. Steve Stephanowicz, US civilian
Contract
Interrogator, CACI, 205th MI Brigade
- (U) Mr. John Israel, US civilian Contract
Interpreter,
Titan Corporation, 205th MI
Brigade (ANNEXES 45 and (91)
REGARDING PART THREE OF THE INVESTIGATION, I MAKE
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC FINDINGS OF FACT:
1. (U) I find that BG Janis Karpinski took
command of the 800th MP Brigade on 30 June 2003 from BG
Paul Hill. BG Karpinski has remained in command since that
date. The 800th MP Brigade is comprised of eight MP
battalions in the Iraqi TOR: 115th MP Battalion, 310th MP
Battalion, 320th MP Battalion, 324th MP Battalion, 400th
MP Battalion, 530th MP Battalion, 724th MP Battalion,
and 744th MP Battalion. (ANNEXES 41 and 45)
2. (U) Prior to BG Karpinski taking command,
members of the 800th MP Brigade believed they would be
allowed to go home when all the detainees were released
from the Camp Bucca Theater Internment Facility following
the cessation of major ground combat on 1 May 2003. At one
point, approximately 7,000 to 8,000 detainees were held at
Camp Bucca. Through Article-5 Tribunals and a
screening process, several thousand detainees were
released. Many in the command believed they would go home
when the detainees were released. In late May-early June
2003 the 800th MP Brigade was given a new mission to manage
the Iraqi penal system and several detention centers.
This new mission meant Soldiers would not redeploy to
CONUS when anticipated. Morale suffered, and over the next
few months there did not appear to have been any attempt
by the Command to mitigate this morale problem. (ANNEXES 45
and 96)
3. (U) There is abundant evidence in the
statements of numerous witnesses that soldiers throughout
the 800th MP Brigade were not proficient in their basic MOS
skills, particularly regarding
internment/resettlement operations. Moreover, there is no
evidence that the command, although aware of these
deficiencies, attempted to correct them in any systemic
manner other than ad hoc training by individuals with
civilian corrections experience. (Multiple Witness
Statements and the Personal Observations of the
Investigation Team)
4. (U) I find that the 800th MP Brigade was not
adequately trained for a mission that included operating a
prison or penal institution at Abu Ghraib Prison Complex.
As the Ryder Assessment found, I also concur that units of
the 800th MP Brigade did not receive
corrections-specific training during their mobilization
period. MP units did not receive pinpoint assignments prior
to mobilization and during the post mobilization training,
and thus could not train for specific missions. The
training that was accomplished at the mobilization sites
were developed and implemented at the company level with
little or no direction or supervision at the Battalion and
Brigade levels, and consisted primarily of common tasks and
law enforcement training. However, I found no evidence
that the Command, although aware of this deficiency,
ever requested specific corrections training from
the Commandant of the Military Police School, the US
Army Confinement Facility at Mannheim, Germany, the
Provost Marshal General of the Army, or the US Army
Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. (ANNEXES
19 and 76)
5. (U) I find that without adequate training for
a civilian internee detention mission, Brigade personnel
relied heavily on individuals within the Brigade who
had civilian corrections experience, including many
who worked as prison guards or corrections officials in
their civilian jobs. Almost every witness we interviewed
had no familiarity with the provisions of AR 190-8 or FM
3- 19.40. It does not appear that a Mission Essential
Task List (METL) based on in-theater missions was
ever developed nor was a training plan implemented
throughout the Brigade. (ANNEXES 21, 22, 67, and 81)
6. (U) I also find, as did MG Ryder's Team, that
the 800th MP Brigade as a whole, was understrength for the
mission for which it was tasked. Army Doctrine dictates
that an I/R Brigade can be organized with between 7 and
21 battalions, and that the average battalion size
element should be able to handle approximately 4000
detainees at a time. This investigation indicates that BG
Karpinski and her staff did a poor job allocating
resources throughout the Iraq JOA. Abu Ghraib (BCCF)
normally housed between 6000 and 7000 detainees, yet it
was operated by only one battalion. In contrast, the
HVD Facility maintains only about 100 detainees, and is
also run by an entire battalion. (ANNEXES 19, 22, and 96)
7. (U) Reserve Component units do not have an
individual replacement system to mitigate medical or other
losses. Over time, the 800th MP Brigade clearly suffered
from personnel shortages through release from active
duty (REFRAD) actions, medical evacuation, and
demobilization. In addition to being severely undermanned,
the quality of life for Soldiers assigned to Abu Ghraib
(BCCF) was extremely poor. There was no DFAC, PX,
barbershop, or MWR facilities. There were numerous mortar
attacks, random rifle and RPG attacks, and a serious threat
to Soldiers and detainees in the facility. The
prison complex was also severely overcrowded and the
Brigade lacked adequate resources and personnel to
resolve serious logistical problems. Finally, because of
past associations and familiarity of Soldiers within
the Brigade, it appears that friendship often took
precedence over appropriate leader and subordinate
relationships. (ANNEX 101, Multiple Witness Statements, and
the Personal Observations of the Investigation Team)
8. (U) With respect to the 800th MP Brigade
mission at Abu Ghraib (BCCF), I find that there was clear
friction and lack of effective communication between the
Commander, 205th MI Brigade, who controlled FOB Abu Ghraib
(BCCF) after 19 November 2003, and the Commander, 800th
MP Brigade, who controlled detainee operations inside
the FOB. There was no clear delineation of
responsibility between commands, little coordination at the
command level, and no integration of the two
functions. Coordination occurred at the lowest possible
levels with little oversight by commanders. (ANNEXES 31,
45, and 46)
9. (U) I find that this ambiguous command
relationship was exacerbated by a CJTF-7 Fragmentary Order
(FRAGO) 1108 issued on 19 November 2003. Paragraph 3.C.8,
Assignment of 205th MI Brigade Commander's Responsibilities
for the Baghdad Central Confinement Facility, states as
follows:
- 3.C.8. A. (U) 205 MI BRIGADE.
- 3.C.8. A. 1. (U) EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY COMMANDER 205 MI
BRIGADE ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BAGHDAD CONFINEMENT
FACILITY (BCCF) AND IS APPOINTED THE FOB COMMANDER. UNITS
CURRENTLY AT ABU GHRAIB (BCCF) ARE TACON TO 205 MI BRIGADE
FOR "SECURITY OF DETAINEES AND FOB PROTECTION."
Although not supported by BG Karpinski, FRAGO
1108 made all of the MP units at Abu Ghraib TACON to the
Commander, 205th MI Brigade. This effectively made an MI
Officer, rather than an MP Officer, responsible for the MP
units conducting detainee operations at that facility.
This is not doctrinally sound due to the different
missions and agendas assigned to each of these
respective specialties. (ANNEX 31)
10 (U) Joint Publication 0-2, Unified Action
Armed Forces (UNAAF), 10 July 2001 defines Tactical Control
(TACON) as the detailed direction and control of movements
or maneuvers within the operational area necessary
to accomplish assigned missions or tasks. (ANNEX
42)
"TACON is the command authority over assigned
or attached forces or commands or military capability
made available for tasking that is limited to the
detailed direction and control of movements or maneuvers
within the operational area necessary to accomplish
assigned missions or tasks. TACON is inherent in OPCON
and may be delegated to and exercised by commanders at
any echelon at or below the level of combatant
commander."
11. (U) Based on all the facts and circumstances
in this investigation, I find that there was little, if
any, recognition of this TACON Order by the 800th MP
Brigade or the 205th MI Brigade. Further, there was no
evidence if the Commander, 205th MI Brigade clearly
informed the Commander, 800th MP Brigade, and specifically
the Commander, 320th MP Battalion assigned at Abu
Ghraib (BCCF), on the specific requirements of this
TACON relationship. (ANNEXES 45 and 46)
12. (U) It is clear from a comprehensive review
of witness statements and personal interviews that the
320th MP Battalion and 800th MP Brigade continued to
function as if they were responsible for the security,
health and welfare, and overall security of detainees
within Abu Ghraib (BCCF) prison. Both BG Karpinski and COL
Pappas clearly behaved as if this were still the case.
(ANNEXES 45 and 46)
13. (U) With respect to the 320th MP Battalion,
I find that the Battalion Commander, LTC (P) Jerry
Phillabaum, was an extremely ineffective commander and
leader. Numerous witnesses confirm that the Battalion S-3,
MAJ David W. DiNenna, basically ran the battalion on a
day-to-day basis. At one point, BG Karpinski sent LTC
(P) Phillabaum to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait for approximately
two weeks, apparently to give him some relief from
the pressure he was experiencing as the 320th
Battalion Commander. This movement to Camp Arifjan
immediately followed a briefing provided by LTC (P)
Phillabaum to the CJTF-7 Commander, LTG Sanchez, near the
end of October 2003. BG Karpinski placed LTC Ronald Chew,
Commander of the 115th MP Battalion, in charge of the 320th
MP Battalion for a period of approximately two weeks.
LTC Chew was also in command of the 115th MP
Battalion assigned to Camp Cropper, BIAP, Iraq. I could
find no orders, either suspending or relieving LTC (P)
Phillabaum from command, nor any orders placing LTC Chew in
command of the 320th. In addition, there was no indication
this removal and search for a replacement was communicated
to the Commander CJTF-7, the Commander 377th TSC, or
to Soldiers in the 320th MP Battalion. Temporarily
removing one commander and replacing him with another
serving Battalion Commander without an order and
without notifying superior or subordinate commands is
without precedent in my military career. LTC (P) Phillabaum
was also reprimanded for lapses in accountability
that resulted in several escapes. The 320th MP Battalion
was stigmatized as a unit due to previous detainee
abuse which occurred in May 2003 at the Bucca
Theater Internment Facility (TIF), while under the command
of LTC (P) Phillabaum. Despite his proven deficiencies as
both a commander and leader, BG Karpinski allowed LTC
(P) Phillabaum to remain in command of her most
troubled battalion guarding, by far, the largest number
of detainees in the 800th MP Brigade. LTC (P)
Phillabaum was suspended from his duties by LTG Sanchez,
CJTF-7 Commander on 17 January 2004. (ANNEXES 43, 45, and
61)
14. (U) During the course of this investigation
I conducted a lengthy interview with BG Karpinski that
lasted over four hours, and is included verbatim in the
investigation Annexes. BG Karpinski was extremely emotional
during much of her testimony. What I found
particularly disturbing in her testimony was her
complete unwillingness to either understand or accept that
many of the problems inherent in the 800th MP Brigade were
caused or exacerbated by poor leadership and the refusal of
her command to both establish and enforce basic standards
and principles among its soldiers. (ANNEX 45 and the
Personal Observations of the Interview Team)
15. (U) BG Karpinski alleged that she received
no help from the Civil Affairs Command, specifically, no
assistance from either BG John Kern or COL Tim Regan. She
blames much of the abuse that occurred in Abu Ghraib (BCCF)
on MI personnel and stated that MI personnel had given
the MPs "ideas" that led to detainee abuse. In addition,
she blamed the 372nd Company Platoon Sergeant, SFC
Snider, the Company Commander, CPT Reese, and the First
Sergeant, MSG Lipinski, for the abuse. She argued that
problems in Abu Ghraib were the fault of COL Pappas and LTC
Jordan because COL Pappas was in charge of FOB Abu
Ghraib. (ANNEX 45)
16. (U) BG Karpinski also implied during her
testimony that the criminal abuses that occurred at Abu
Ghraib (BCCF) might have been caused by the ultimate
disposition of the detainee abuse cases that originally
occurred at Camp Bucca in May 2003. She stated that "about
the same time those incidents were taking place out of
Baghdad Central, the decisions were made to give the guilty
people at Bucca plea bargains. So, the system communicated
to the soldiers, the worst that's gonna happen is, you're
gonna go home." I think it important to point out that
almost every witness testified that the serious criminal
abuse of detainees at Abu Ghraib (BCCF) occurred in
late October and early November 2003. The photographs
and statements clearly support that the abuses
occurred during this time period. The Bucca cases were set
for trial in January 2004 and were not finally disposed
of until 29 December 2003. There is entirely no
evidence that the decision of numerous MP personnel
to intentionally abuse detainees at Abu Ghrabid (BCCF)
was influenced in any respect by the Camp Bucca
cases. (ANNEXES 25, 26, and 45)
17. (U) Numerous witnesses stated that the 800th
MP Brigade S-1, MAJ Hinzman and S-4, MAJ Green, were
essentially dysfunctional, but that despite numerous
complaints, these officers were not replaced. This had a
detrimental effect on the Brigade Staff's effectiveness and
morale. Moreover, the Brigade Command Judge Advocate, LTC
James O'Hare, appears to lack initiative and was unwilling
to accept responsibility for any of his actions. LTC
Gary Maddocks, the Brigade XO did not properly supervise
the Brigade staff by failing to lay out staff
priorities, take overt corrective action when needed, and
supervise their daily functions. (ANNEXES 45, 47, 48, 62,
and 67)
18. (U) In addition to poor morale and staff
inefficiencies, I find that the 800th MP Brigade did not
articulate or enforce clear and basic Soldier and Army
standards. I specifically found these examples of unenforced
standards:
- There was no clear uniform standard for any
MP
Soldiers assigned detention duties. Despite
the fact that hundreds of former Iraqi soldiers
and officers were detainees, MP personnel were
allowed to wear civilian clothes in the FOB after duty
hours while carrying weapons. (ANNEXES 51 and 74)
- Some Soldiers wrote poems and other sayings on
their
helmets and soft caps. (ANNEXES 51 and 74)
- In addition, numerous officers and senior NCOs
have
been reprimanded/disciplined for misconduct
during this period. Those disciplined include;
(ANNEXES 43 and 102)
- (U) BG Janis Karpinski, Commander, 800th MP
Brigade
- Memorandum of Admonishment by LTG Sanchez,
Commander,
CJTF-7, on 17 January 2004.
- (U) LTC (P) Jerry Phillabaum, Commander, 320th MP
Battalion
- GOMOR from BG Karpinski, Commander 800th MP Brigade,
on
10 November 2003, for lack of leadership and for
failing to take corrective security measures as ordered
by the Brigade Commander; filed locally
- Suspended by BG Karpinski, Commander 800th MP
Brigade,
17 January 2004; Pending Relief for Cause, for
dereliction of duty
- (U) LTC Dale Burtyk, Commander, 400th MP Battalion
- GOMOR from BG Karpinski, Commander 800th MP Brigade,
on
20 August 2003, for failure to properly train his
Soldiers. (Soldier had negligent discharge of M-16
while exiting his vehicle, round went into fuel tank);
filed locally.
- (U) MAJ David DiNenna, S-3, 320th MP Battalion
- GOMOR from LTG McKiernan, Commander CFLCC, on 25
May
2003, for dereliction of duty for failing to report
a violation of CENTCOM General Order #1 by a
subordinate Field Grade Officer and Senior
Noncommissioned Officer, which he personally observed;
returned to soldier unfiled.
- GOMOR from BG Karpinski, Commander 800th MP Brigade,
on
10 November 03, for failing to take corrective
security measures as ordered by the Brigade Commander;
filed locally.
- (U) MAJ Stacy Garrity, Finance Officer, 800th MP Brigade
- GOMOR from LTG McKiernan, Commander CFLCC, on 25
May
2003, for violation of CENTCOM General Order #1,
consuming alcohol with an NCO; filed locally.
- (U) CPT Leo Merck, Commander, 870th MP Company
- Court-Martial Charges Preferred, for Conduct
Unbecoming
an Officer and Unauthorized Use of
Government Computer in that he was alleged to have
taken nude pictures of his female Soldiers without
their knowledge; Trial date to be announced.
- (U) CPT Damaris Morales, Commander, 770th MP Company
- GOMOR from BG Karpinski, Commander 800th MP Brigade,
on
20 August 2003, for failing to properly train his
Soldiers (Soldier had negligent discharge of M-16 while
exiting his vehicle, round went into fuel tank); filed
locally.
- (U) CSM Roy Clement, Command Sergeant Major,
800th MP
Brigade
- GOMOR and Relief for Cause from BG Janis
Karpinski,
Commander 800th MP Brigade, for
fraternization and dereliction of duty for fraternizing
with junior enlisted soldiers within his unit; GOMOR
officially filed and he was removed from the CSM list.
- (U) CSM Edward Stotts, Command Sergeant Major,
400th
MP Battalion
- GOMOR from BG Karpinski, Commander 800th MP Brigade,
on
20 August 2003, for failing to properly train his
Soldiers (Soldier had negligent discharge of M-16 while
exiting his vehicle, round went into fuel tank); filed
locally
- (U) 1SG Carlos Villanueva, First Sergeant,
770th MP
Company
- GOMOR from BG Karpinski, Commander 800th MP Brigade,
on
20 August 2003, for failing to properly train his
Soldiers (Soldier had negligent discharge of M-16 while
exiting his vehicle, round went into fuel tank); filed
locally.
- (U) MSG David Maffett, NBC NCO, 800th MP Brigade,
- GOMOR from LTG McKiernan, Commander CFLCC, on 25
May
2003, for violation of CENTCOM General Order #1,
consuming alcohol; filed locally.
- (U) SGM Marc Emerson, Operations SGM, 320th MP
Battalion,
- Two GO Letters of Concern and a verbal reprimand
from
BG Karpinski, Commander 800th MP Brigade, for
failing to adhere to the guidance/directives given to
him by BG Karpinski; filed locally.
d. (U) Saluting of officers was sporadic and
not enforced. LTC Robert P. Walters, Jr., Commander
of the 165th Military Intelligence Battalion
(Tactical Exploitation), testified that the saluting
policy was enforced by COL Pappas for all MI personnel,
and that BG Karpinski approached COL Pappas to
reverse the saluting policy back to a no-saluting policy
as previously existed. (ANNEX 53)
19. (U) I find that individual Soldiers within
the 800th MP Brigade and the 320th Battalion stationed
throughout Iraq had very little contact during their tour
of duty with either LTC (P) Phillabaum or BG Karpinski. BG
Karpinski claimed, during her testimony, that she paid
regular visits to the various detention facilities where
her Soldiers were stationed. However, the detailed
calendar provided by her Aide-de-Camp, 1LT Mabry, does not
support her contention. Moreover, numerous witnesses stated
that they rarely saw BG Karpinski or LTC (P)
Phillabaum. (Multiple Witness Statements)
20. (U) In addition I find that psychological
factors, such as the difference in culture, the Soldiers'
quality of life, the real presence of mortal danger over an
extended time period, and the failure of commanders to
recognize these pressures contributed to the perversive
atmosphere that existed at Abu Ghraib (BCCF) Detention
Facility and throughout the 800th MP Brigade. (ANNEX
1).
21. As I have documented in other parts of
this investigation, I find that there was no clear emphasis
by BG Karpinski to ensure that the 800th MP Brigade
Staff, Commanders, and Soldiers were trained to standard
in detainee operations and proficiency or that
serious accountability lapses that occurred over a
significant period of time, particularly at Abu Ghraib
(BCCF), were corrected. AR 15-6 Investigations regarding
detainee escapes were not acted upon, followed up with
corrective action, or disseminated to subordinate
commanders or Soldiers. Brigade and unit SOPs for dealing
with detainees if they existed at all, were not read
or understood by MP Soldiers assigned the difficult
mission of detainee operations. Following the abuse of
several detainees at Camp Bucca in May 2003, I could find
no evidence that BG Karpinski ever directed
corrective training for her soldiers or ensured that MP
Soldiers throughout Iraq clearly understood the
requirements of the Geneva Conventions relating to the
treatment of detainees. (Multiple Witness Statements and
the Personal Observations of the Investigation Team
)
22. On 17 January 2004 BG Karpinski was formally
admonished in writing by LTG Sanchez regarding the
serious deficiencies in her Brigade. LTG Sanchez found that
the performance of the 800th MP Brigade had not met
the standards set by the Army or by CJTF-7. He found
that incidents in the preceding six months had occurred
that reflected a lack of clear standards, proficiency
and leadership within the Brigade. LTG Sanchez also
cited the recent detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib (BCCF) as
the most recent example of a poor leadership climate
that "permeates the Brigade." I totally concur with
LTG Sanchez' opinion regarding the performance of
BG Karpinski and the 800th MP Brigade. (ANNEX 102 and
the Personal Observations of the Investigating
Officer)
RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO PART THREE OF THE
INVESTIGATION:
1. (U) That BG Janis L. Karpinski, Commander,
800th MP Brigade be Relieved from Command and given a
General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand for the following
acts which have been previously referred to in the
aforementioned findings:
- Failing to ensure that MP Soldiers at
theater-level
detention facilities throughout Iraq had
appropriate SOPs for dealing with detainees and that
Commanders and Soldiers had read, understood, and would
adhere to these SOPs.
- Failing to ensure that MP Soldiers in the 800th
MP
Brigade knew, understood, and adhered to the
protections afforded to detainees in the Geneva
Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
- Making material misrepresentations to the
Investigation
Team as to the frequency of her visits to
her subordinate commands.
- Failing to obey an order from the CFLCC Commander,
LTG
McKiernan, regarding the withholding of
disciplinary authority for Officer and Senior
Noncommissioned Officer misconduct.
- Failing to take appropriate action regarding
the
ineffectiveness of a subordinate Commander, LTC (P)
Jerry Phillabaum.
- Failing to take appropriate action regarding
the
ineffectiveness of numerous members of her Brigade
Staff including her XO, S-1, S-3, and S-4.
- Failing to properly ensure the results
and
recommendations of the AARs and numerous 15-6
Investigation reports on escapes and shootings (over a
period of several months) were properly disseminated to,
and understood by, subordinate commanders.
- Failing to ensure and enforce basic Soldier
standards
throughout her command.
- Failing to establish a Brigade METL.
- Failing to establish basic proficiency in
assigned
tasks for Soldiers throughout the 800th MP
Brigade.
- Failing to ensure that numerous and
reported
accountability lapses at detention facisslities
throughout Iraq were corrected.
2. (U) That COL Thomas M. Pappas, Commander,
205th MI Brigade, be given a General Officer Memorandum
of Reprimand and Investigated UP Procedure 15, AR 381-10,
US Army Intelligence Activities for the following acts
which have been previously referred to in the
aforementioned findings:
- Failing to ensure that Soldiers under his
direct
command were properly trained in and followed the
IROE.
- Failing to ensure that Soldiers under his
direct
command knew, understood, and followed the
protections afforded to detainees in the Geneva
Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of
War.
- Failing to properly supervise his soldiers working
and
"visiting" Tier 1 of the Hard-Site at Abu Ghraib
(BCCF).
3.(U) That LTC (P) Jerry L. Phillabaum,
Commander, 320th MP Battalion, be Relieved from Command, be
given a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand, and be
removed from the Colonel/O-6 Promotion List for the
following acts which have been previously referred to in
the aforementioned findings:
- Failing to properly ensure the
results,
recommendations, and AARs from numerous reports
on escapes and shootings over a period of several months
were properly disseminated to, and understood by,
subordinates.
- Failing to implement the appropriate
recommendations
from various 15-6 Investigations as
specifically directed by BG Karpinski.
- Failing to ensure that Soldiers under his
direct
command were properly trained in Internment and
Resettlement Operations.
- Failing to ensure that Soldiers under his
direct
command knew and understood the protections
afforded to detainees in the Geneva Convention Relative
to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
- Failing to properly supervise his soldiers working
and
"visiting" Tier 1 of the Hard-Site at Abu Ghraib
(BCCF).
- Failing to properly establish and enforce basic
soldier
standards, proficiency, and accountability.
- Failure to conduct an appropriate Mission Analysis
and
to task organize to accomplish his mission.
4. (U) That LTC Steven L. Jordan, Former
Director, Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center and
Liaison Officer to 205th Military Intelligence Brigade, be
relieved from duty and be given a General Officer
Memorandum of Reprimand for the following acts which have
been previously referred to in the aforementioned
findings:
- Making material misrepresentations to the
Investigating
Team, including his leadership roll at Abu
Ghraib (BCCF).
- Failing to ensure that Soldiers under his
direct
control were properly trained in and followed the
IROE.
- Failing to ensure that Soldiers under his
direct
control knew, understood, and followed the
protections afforded to detainees in the Geneva
Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
- Failing to properly supervise soldiers under his
direct
authority working and "visiting" Tier 1 of the
Hard-Site at Abu Ghraib (BCCF).
5. (U) That MAJ David W. DiNenna, Sr., S-3,
320th MP Battalion, be Relieved from his position as the
Battalion S-3 and be given a General Officer Memorandum
of Reprimand for the following acts which have
been previously referred to in the aforementioned
findings:
- Received a GOMOR from LTG McKiernan, Commander
CFLCC,
on 25 May 2003, for dereliction of duty for
failing to report a violation of CENTCOM General Order #1
by a subordinate Field Grade Officer and Senior
Noncommissioned Officer, which he personally observed;
GOMOR was returned to Soldier and not filed.
- Failing to take corrective action and
implement
recommendations from various 15-6
investigations even after receiving a GOMOR from BG
Karpinski, Commander 800th MP Brigade, on 10 November 03,
for failing to take corrective security measures as
ordered; GOMOR was filed locally.
- Failing to take appropriate action and report
an
incident of detainee abuse, whereby he personally
witnessed a Soldier throw a detainee from the back of a
truck.
6. (U) That CPT Donald J. Reese, Commander,
372nd MP Company, be Relieved from Command and be given a
General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand for the following
acts which have been previously referred to in
the aforementioned findings:
- Failing to ensure that Soldiers under his
direct
command knew and understood the protections
afforded to detainees in the Geneva Convention Relative
to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
- Failing to properly supervise his Soldiers working
and
"visiting" Tier 1 of the Hard-Site at Abu Ghraib
(BCCF).
- Failing to properly establish and enforce basic
soldier
standards, proficiency, and accountability.
- Failing to ensure that Soldiers under his
direct
command were properly trained in Internment and
Resettlement Operations.
7. (U) That 1LT Lewis C. Raeder, Platoon Leader,
372nd MP Company, be Relieved from his duties as Platoon
Leader and be given a General Officer Memorandum of
Reprimand for the following acts which have been
previously referred to in the aforementioned
findings:
- Failing to ensure that Soldiers under his
direct
command knew and understood the protections
afforded to detainees in the Geneva Convention Relative
to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
- Failing to properly supervise his soldiers working
and
"visiting" Tier 1 of the Hard-Site at Abu Ghraib
(BCCF).
- Failing to properly establish and enforce basic
Soldier
standards, proficiency, and accountability.
- Failing to ensure that Soldiers under his
direct
command were properly trained in Internment and
Resettlement Operations.
8. (U) That SGM Marc Emerson, Operations SGM, 320th
MP Battalion, be Relieved from his duties and given
a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand for the
following acts which have been previously referred to in
the aforementioned findings:
- Making a material misrepresentation to
the
Investigation Team stating that he had "never"
been admonished or reprimanded by BG Karpinski, when in
fact he had been admonished for failing to obey an order
from BG Karpinski to "stay out of the towers" at the
holding facility.
- Making a material misrepresentation to
the
Investigation Team stating that he had attended every
shift change/guard-mount conducted at the 320th MP
Battalion, and that he personally briefed his Soldiers on
the proper treatment of detainees, when in fact numerous
statements contradict this assertion.
- Failing to ensure that Soldiers in the 320th
MP
Battalion knew and understood the protections afforded
to detainees in the Geneva Convention Relative to the
Treatment of Prisoners of War.
- Failing to properly supervise his soldiers working
and
"visiting" Tier 1 of the Hard-Site at Abu Ghraib
(BCCF).
- Failing to properly establish and enforce basic
soldier
standards, proficiency, and accountability.
- Failing to ensure that his Soldiers were
properly
trained in Internment and Resettlement
Operations.
9. (U) That 1SG Brian G. Lipinski, First
Sergeant, 372nd MP Company, be Relieved from his duties as
First Sergeant of the 372nd MP Company and given a General
Officer Memorandum of Reprimand for the following acts
which have been previously referred to in the
aforementioned findings:
- Failing to ensure that Soldiers in the 372nd MP
Company
knew and understood the protections afforded to
detainees in the Geneva Convention Relative to the
Treatment of Prisoners of War.
- Failing to properly supervise his soldiers working
and
"visiting" Tier 1 of the Hard-Site at Abu Ghraib
(BCCF).
- Failing to properly establish and enforce basic
soldier
standards, proficiency, and accountability.
- Failing to ensure that his Soldiers were
properly
trained in Internment and Resettlement
Operations.
10. (U) That SFC Shannon K. Snider, Platoon
Sergeant, 372nd MP Company, be Relieved from his duties,
receive a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand, and
receive action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice
for the following acts which have been previously referred
to in the aforementioned findings:
- Failing to ensure that Soldiers in his platoon knew
and
understood the protections afforded to detainees in
the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of
Prisoners of War.
- Failing to properly supervise his soldiers working
and
"visiting" Tier 1 of the Hard-Site at Abu Ghraib
(BCCF).
- Failing to properly establish and enforce basic
soldier
standards, proficiency, and accountability.
- Failing to ensure that his Soldiers were
properly
trained in Internment and Resettlement
Operations.
- Failing to report a Soldier, who under his
direct
control, abused detainees by stomping on their
bare hands and feet in his presence.
11. (U) 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.
12. (U) That Mr. John Israel, Contract US
Civilian Interpreter, CACI, 205th Military Intelligence
Brigade, be given an Official Reprimand to be placed in
his employment file and have his security clearance
reviewed by competent authority for the following acts or
concerns which have been previously referred to in
the aforementioned findings:
- Denied ever having seen interrogation processes
in
violation of the IROE, which is contrary to several
witness statements.
- Did not have a security clearance.
13. (U) I find that there is sufficient credible
information to warrant an Inquiry UP Procedure 15, AR
381-10, US Army Intelligence Activities, be conducted to
determine the extent of culpability of MI personnel,
assigned to the 205th MI Brigade and the Joint
Interrogation and Debriefing Center (JIDC) at Abu Ghraib
(BCCF). Specifically, I suspect that COL Thomas M. Pappas,
LTC Steve L. Jordan, Mr. Steven Stephanowicz, and Mr.
John Israel were either directly or indirectly responsible
for the abuses at Abu Ghraib (BCCF) and strongly
recommend immediate disciplinary action as described in
the preceding paragraphs as well as the initiation of
a Procedure 15 Inquiry to determine the full extent
of their culpability. (ANNEX 36)
OTHER FINDINGS/OBSERVATIONS
1. (U) Due to the nature and scope of this
investigation, I acquired the assistance of Col (Dr.) Henry
Nelson, a USAF Psychiatrist, to analyze the investigation
materials from a psychological perspective. He determined
that there was evidence that the horrific abuses suffered
by the detainees at Abu Ghraib (BCCF) were wanton acts of
select soldiers in an unsupervised and dangerous setting.
There was a complex interplay of many psychological factors
and command insufficiencies. A more detailed analysis
is contained in ANNEX 1 of this investigation.
2. (U) During the course of this investigation I
conducted a lengthy interview with BG Karpinski that lasted
over four hours, and is included verbatim in the
investigation Annexes. BG Karpinski was extremely emotional
during much of her testimony. What I found
particularly disturbing in her testimony was her
complete unwillingness to either understand or accept that
many of the problems inherent in the 800th MP Brigade were
caused or exacerbated by poor leadership and the refusal of
her command to both establish and enforce basic standards
and principles among its Soldiers. (ANNEX 45)
3. (U) Throughout the investigation, we observed
many individual Soldiers and some subordinate units under the
800th MP Brigade that overcame significant obstacles,
persevered in extremely poor conditions, and upheld the Army
Values. We discovered numerous examples of Soldiers and
Sailors taking the initiative in the absence of leadership and
accomplishing their assigned tasks.
- (U) The 744th MP Battalion, commanded by LTC
Dennis
McGlone, efficiently operated the HVD
Detention Facility at Camp Cropper and met
mission requirements with little to no guidance from
the 800th MP Brigade. The unit was
disciplined, proficient, and appeared to understand their
basic tasks.
- (U) The 530th MP Battalion, commanded by LTC
Stephen
J. Novotny, effectively maintained the MEK Detention
Facility at Camp Ashraf. His Soldiers were proficient in
their individual tasks and adapted well to this highly
unique and non-doctrinal operation.
- (U) The 165th MI Battalion excelled in
providing
perimeter security and force protection at
Abu Ghraib (BCCF). LTC Robert P. Walters, Jr.,
demanded standards be enforced and worked endlessly
to improve discipline throughout the FOB.
4. (U) The individual Soldiers and Sailors that
we observed and believe should be favorably noted
include:
- (U) Master-at-Arms First Class William J. Kimbro,
US
Navy Dog Handler, knew his duties and refused
to participate in improper interrogations
despite significant pressure from the MI personnel at
Abu Ghraib.
- (U) SPC Joseph M. Darby, 372nd MP Company
discovered
evidence of abuse and turned it over to military law
enforcement.
- (U) 1LT David O. Sutton, 229th MP Company,
took
immediate action and stopped an abuse, then
reported the incident to the chain of command.
CONCLUSION
1. (U) Several US Army Soldiers have committed
egregious acts and grave breaches of international law at
Abu Ghraib/BCCF and Camp Bucca, Iraq. Furthermore,
key senior leaders in both the 800th MP Brigade and the
205th MI Brigade failed to comply with established
regulations, policies, and command directives in
preventing detainee abuses at Abu Ghraib (BCCF) and at
Camp Bucca during the period August 2003 to February
2004.
2. (U) Approval and implementation of the
recommendations of this AR 15-6 Investigation and those
highlighted in previous assessments are essential to
establish the conditions with the resources and personnel
required to prevent future occurrences of detainee
abuse.
Annexes 1.
Psychological Assessment 2
Request for investigation from CJTF-7 to
CENTCOM 3
Directive to CFLCC from CENTCOM directing
investigation 4
Appointment Memo from CFLCC CDR to MG Taguba 5 15-6
Investigation 9 June 2003 6. 15-6
Investigation 12 June 2003 7. 15-6
Investigation 13 June 2003 8. 15-6
Investigation 24 November 2003 9. 15-6
Investigation 7 January 2004 10. 15-6
Investigation 12 January 2004 11. SIR 5
November 2003 12. SIR 7 November
2003 13. SIR 8 November
2003 14. SIR 13 December
2003 15. SIR 13 December
2003 16. SIR 13 December
2003 17. SIR 17 December
2003 18. Commander's Inquiry 26 January
2004 19 MG
Ryder's Report, 6 November 2003 20 MG
Miller's Report, 9 September 2003 21 AR 190-8,
Enemy Prisoners of War, Retained Personnel, Civilian
Internees, and Other Detainees, 1 October 1997 22
22. FM 3-19.40, Military Police
Internment/Resettlement Operations, 1 August
2001 23
23. FM 34-52, Intelligence Interrogation,
28 September 1992 24
24. Fourth Geneva Convention, 12 August
1949 25
25. CID Report on criminal abuses at Abu
Ghraib, 28 January 2004 26
26. CID Interviews, 10-25 January
2004 27. 800th MP Brigade Roster, 29
January 2004 28. 205th MI Brigade's
IROE, Undated 29. TOA Order (800th MP
Brigade) and letter holding
witnesses 30. Investigation Team's
witness list 31 FRAGO
#1108 32 Letters
suspending several key leaders in the 800th MP Brigade and
Rating Chain with suspensions
annotated 33. FM 27-10, Military
Justice, 6 September 2002 34 CID
Report on abuse of detainees at Camp Bucca, 8 June
2003 35
Article 32 Findings on abuse of detainees at Camp Bucca, 26
August 2003 36. AR 381-10, 1 July
1984 37
37. Excerpts from log books, 320th MP
Battalion 38. 310th MP Battalion's
Inprocessing SOP 39. 320th MP
Battalion's "Change Sheet" 40. Joint
Interrogation and Debriefing Center's (JIDC) Slides,
Undated 41. Order of Battle Slides, 12
January 2004 42. Joint Publication 0-2,
Unified Actions Armed Forces, 10 July
2001 43. General Officer Memorandums of
Reprimand 44. 800th MP Battalion's
TACSOP 45 BG Janis
Karpinski, Commander, 800th MP Brigade 46 COL
Thomas Pappas, Commander, 205th MI
Brigade 47. COL Ralph Sabatino, CFLCC
Judge Advocate, CPA Ministry of
Justice 48. LTC Gary W. Maddocks, S-5
and Executive Officer, 800th MP
Brigade 49. LTC James O'Hare, Command
Judge Advocate, 800th MP Brigade 50.
LTC Robert P. Walters Jr., Commander, 165th MI Battalion
(Tactical exploitation) 51. LTC James
D. Edwards, Commander, 202nd MI
Battalion 52. LTC Vincent Montera,
Commander 310th MP Battalion 53. LTC
Steve Jordan, former Director, Joint Interrogation and
Debriefing Center/LNO to the 205th MI
Brigade 54. LTC Leigh A. Coulter,
Commander 724th MP Battalion and OIC Arifjan Detachment,
800th MP Brigade 55. LTC Dennis
McGlone, Commander, 744th MP
Battalion 56. MAJ David Hinzman, S-1,
800th MP Brigade 57. MAJ William D.
Proietto, Deputy CJA, 800th MP
Brigade 58. MAJ Stacy L. Garrity, S-1
(FWD), 800th MP Brigade 59. MAJ David
W. DiNenna, S-3, 320th MP Battalion 60.
MAJ Michael Sheridan, XO, 320th MP
Battalion 61. MAJ Anthony Cavallaro,
S-3, 800th MP Brigade 62. CPT Marc C.
Hale, Commander, 670th MP Company 63.
CPT Donald Reese, Commander, 372nd MP
Company 64. CPT Darren Hampton,
Assistant S-3, 320th MP Battalion 65.
CPT John Kaires, S-3, 310th MP
Battalion 66. CPT Ed Diamantis, S-2,
800th MP Brigade 67. LTC Jerry L.
Phillabaum, Commander, 320th MP
Battalion 68. CPT James G. Jones,
Commander, 229th MP Company 69. CPT
Michael A. Mastrangelo, Jr., Commander, 310th MP
Company 70. CPT Lawrence Bush, IG,
800th MP Brigade 71. 1LT Lewis C.
Raeder, Platoon Leader, 372nd MP
Company 72. 1LT Elvis Mabry,
Aide-de-Camp to Brigade Commander, 800th MP
Brigade 73. 1LT Warren E. Ford, II,
Commander, HHC 320th MP Battalion 74.
2LT David O. Sutton, Platoon Leader, 229th MP
Company 75. CW2 Edward J. Rivas, 205th
MI Brigade 76. CSM Joseph P. Arrison,
Command Sergeant Major, 320th MP
Battalion 77. SGM Pascual Cartagena,
Command Sergeant Major, 800th MP
Brigade 78. CSM Timothy L. Woodcock,
Command Sergeant Major, 310th MP
Battalion 79. 1SG Dawn J. Rippelmeyer,
First Sergeant, 977th MP Company 80.
SGM Mark Emerson, Operations SGM, 320th MP
Battalion 81. MSG Brian G. Lipinski,
First Sergeant, 372nd MP Company 82.
MSG Andrew J. Lombardo, Operations Sergeant, 310th MP
Battalion 83. SFC Daryl J. Plude,
Platoon Sergeant, 229th MP Company 84.
SFC Shannon K. Snider, Platoon SGT, 372nd MP
Company 85. SFC Keith A. Comer, 372nd
MP Company 86. SSG Robert Elliot, Squad
Leader, 372nd MP Company 87. SSG Santos
A. Cardona, Army Dog Handler 88. SGT
Michael Smith, Army Dog Handler 89. MA1
William J. Kimbro, USN Dog Handler 90.
Mr. Steve Stephanowicz, US civilian contract Interrogator,
CACI, 205th MI Brigade 91 Mr. John
Israel, US civilian contract Interpreter, Titan Corporation,
205th MI Brigade 92. FM 3-19.1,
Military Police Operations, 22 March 2001 93 CJTF-7
IROE and DROE, Undated 94 CJTF-7
Interrogation and Counter Resistance Policy, 12 October
2003 95
95. 800th MP Brigade Mobilization
Orders 96. Sample Detainee Status
Report, 13 March 2004 97 530th MP
Battalion Mission Brief, 11 February
2004 98. Memorandum for Record, CPT Ed
Ray, Chief of Military Justice, CFLCC, 9 March
2004 99. SIR 14 January
2004 100. Accountability Plan
Recommendations, 9 March 2004 101. 2LT
Michael R. Osterhout, S-2, 320th MP
Battalion 102. Memorandum of Admonishment
from LTG Sanchez to BG Karpinski, 17 January
2004 103. Various SIRs from the 800th MP
Brigade/320th MP Battalion 104. 205th MI
Brigade SITREP to MG Miller, 12 December
2003 105. SGT William A. Cathcart, 372nd MP
Company 106. 1LT Michael A. Drayton,
Commander, 870th MP Company
-------------------------------------------------- Footnote
1 Although the
Taguba Report is marked Secret / No Foreign
Dissemination, it has been widely distributed, and made
available to the public worldwide since at least the week of
May 2, 2004.
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