Here’s a very helpful TIMELINE, courtesy of the liberal advocacy group moveon.org and John Kerry’s campaign manager,
Mary Beth Cahill, tracing events of the Iraqi prisoner scandal:
Fall 2003 Bremer repeatedly raises issue of prison conditions with Rumsfeld and the
President’s inner circle according to LA Times: “Bremer repeatedly raised the issue of prison
conditions as early as last fall — both in one-on-one meetings with Rumsfeld and other
administration leaders, and in group meetings with the president’s inner circle on national security.
Officials described Bremer as ‘kicking and screaming’ about the need to release thousands of
uncharged prisoners and improve conditions for those who remained.” (Washington Post,
Graham, 5/7/04)
November 5, 2003 Maj. Gen. Donald J. Ryder files report concluding that there
were potential human rights, training, and manpower issues — system wide — that needed
immediate attention. Discussed serious concerns about tension between missions of the military
police assigned to guard prisoners and intelligence teams who interrogate them. (New Yorker
Magazine, Hersh, 5/5/04
January 2004 Rumsfeld learns of photographs showing prisoner abuse according to
the Washington Post: “…Rumsfeld has known of the photographs since January, when they came
to the attention of U.S. commanders in Iraq, he had not seen them, and he was not aware that
CBS was about to air them until just hours before they were broadcast last week.” (Washington
Post, Graham, 5/7/04)
Mid-January, 2004 Bush told about the photo of abuse according to the Washington
Post: “Marine Gen. Peter Pace…said Wednesday on CBS’s “Early Show” that beginning in
mid-January, everyone “up the chain of command . . . was kept apprised orally of the ongoing
investigation.” Asked if Bush “was well aware of the situation,” Pace replied: “Yes.””
(Washington Post, Allen, 5/7/04)
Late February 2004 Major General Antonio M. Taguba issues 53-page report
concluding that between October and December 2003 there were numerous instances of “sadistic,
blatant and wanton criminal abuses” at Abu Ghraib. Report was not meant for public release.
(New York, Hersh, 5/5/04 and LA Times, McDonnell, 5/3/04)
March 2004 Six enlisted personnel charged with prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib. One
is court marshaled. (AP, Burns, 5/3/04)
Mid-April, 2004 Military learns CBS has pictures of prisoner abuse in Iraq. General
Abizaid and General Myers ask CBS to post-pone broadcast of the photos. (NY Times, Schmitt,
5/4/04)
April 28, 2004
+ Graphic photos of abuse of Iraqi prisoners are shown on CBS 60 Minutes 2. (AP, Crary,
4/28/04)
+ Rumsfeld provides classified briefing to Congressional leaders on situation in
Iraq, fails to mention that photos of Iraqi abuse victims will be aired that evening on television.
(Senate Armed Services Committee Testimony, Levin, 5/7/04)
+ May 3, 2004 Spokesman
McClellan says that Bush still hasn’t seen or been briefed on the Taguba report. (WH Briefing,
McClellan, 5/3/04).
May 4, 2004
+ Rumsfeld says he disagrees with critics who have said the Pentagon moved too slowly.
Defense Department officials have moved correctly and efficiently, he said. “The system works,”
he said. “The system works.” Admitted he had not read the whole Taguba report or seen the
photos. (DoD Briefing, Rumsfeld, 5/4/04)
+ Military discloses Army has conducted 30
criminal investigations into misconduct by American captors in Iraq and Afghanistan, including 10
cases of suspicious death, 10 cases of abuse, and two deaths of Iraqis already determined to have
been criminal homicides. (NY Times, Neilan, 5/5/04)
+ General George Casey, Army’s
Vice-Chief of Staff, refers to a “complete breakdown in discipline.” (NY Times, Reuters wire,
5/5/04)
