One Year After Abu Ghraib

Abu Ghraib: One Year Later, Who's Accountable?

"In recent days, there has been a good deal of discussion about who bears responsibility for the terrible activities that took place at Abu Ghraib. These events occurred on my watch. As Secretary of Defense, I am accountable for them. I take full responsibility. It is my obligation to evaluate what happened, to make sure those who have committed wrongdoing are brought to justice, and to make changes as needed to see that it doesn't happen again."

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Before the House Armed Services Committee, May 7, 2004

One Year After the Abu Ghraib Photos of Torture and Ill Treatment Became Public - What has the U.S. Done?

Congressional Hearings

In the weeks and months after the public release of photos from Abu Ghraib, Senate and House committees held hearings to assess what happened and who was responsible for torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

Senate Armed Services Committee: 5 hearings
House Armed Services Committee: 4 hearings
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: 3 public hearings

Major Government Investigations

The photos from Abu Ghraib reinforced findings by human rights groups and in the Taguba Report of March 2004, an internal investigation led by Major General Antonio M. Taguba, which looked into allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees in U.S. custody. After the public release of the photos on April 28, 2004, the U.S. government launched several investigations, most notably:

The Schlesinger Report - An investigation by a panel appointed by Secretary Rumsfeld and led by former Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger to provide advice to the Department of Defense on issues related to recent allegations of mistreatment of detainees. (August 23, 2004)
The Fay / Jones Report - An internal army report led by Major General George R. Fay and Lieutenant General Anthony R. Jones examining the role of military intelligence forces at Abu Ghraib. The investigation did not examine the role of officers higher than Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez and none of the civilian leadership. (August 25, 2004)
CIA Office of Inspector General Investigation - An internal CIA investigation, which has not been shared with other investigators and was never made public. (Date Unknown)
The Church Report - Internal investigation led by Vice Admiral Albert Church designed to look holistically at detainee treatment without assigning responsibility or drawing any conclusions. 21 page executive summary made public, 378 page report kept classified. (March 10, 2005)

Results

One year later, where does the United States stand on investigations and accountability for detainee abuse?

400 - Number of specific recommendations for improvements in detainee operations resulting from vario U.S. reports and investigations as of March 10, 2005.
370 - Number of criminal investigations addressing allegations of detainee mistreatment completed according to Secretary Rumsfeld.
140 - Number of allegations against military members that have been addressed in courts-martial, non-judicial punishment, and other adverse administrative action, according to a U.S. Army news release dated June 2, 2005.
10 years - Longest sentence any soldier has received for assault and maltreatment of detainees.
27 - Number of detainee deaths in custody ruled a homicide by the Army Criminal Investigation Command as of March 25, 2005.
3 years - Longest sentence any soldier has received for the death of a detainee in custody.
0 - Number of high-level military or civilian leaders held accountable for policies or practices that lead to abuse of detainees and deaths in custody.