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WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Following reports that private civilian contractors remain on the
job even after being involved in the illegal abuse of Iraqi detainees,
U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a Chief Deputy Whip, called
on President Bush to immediately suspend all contracts with private military
firms involved in the supervision, security or interrogation of Iraqi prisoners.
In
a letter to President Bush, Schakowsky wrote that “pending a thorough
investigation and appropriate action, including, but not limited to, the
dismissal and prosecution of those involved, all contracts with civilian
firms for functions involving security, supervision and interrogation of
prisoners, should be suspended.”
Schakowsky,
who is a longtime critic of the use of private military contractors, demanded
that, in addition to suspending the contracts, President Bush “make
clear your Administration’s policy on the laws governing the conduct of
contractors in Iraq.”
She
continued: “The sadistic abuses of Iraqis at a U.S. military prison
raise serious questions about the accountability of U.S.-hired private
military contractors who are involved in illegal activity… What is your
plan for prosecuting those who violate international human rights laws
and the laws of war as stipulated under the Geneva Convention? [i]f
you believe the United States currently lacks statutory authority to prosecute
illegal actions of contractors under U.S. hire in Iraq, I urge you to ask
the Congress for that authority.”
Schakowsky
concluded, “…the use of private military contractors …is a misguided
policy that impedes the ability of the Congress to conduct appropriate
oversight and keeps the American public in the dark.”
Below
is Schakowsky’s letter to President Bush:
May
4, 2004
The
Honorable George W. Bush
President
of the United States
1600
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington,
D.C. 20500
Dear
President Bush:
I am writing out of concern over recent news of abuse of prisoners being
held by the United States at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. In particular,
I have questions about the role of civilian contractors in these abuses,
the investigation into the abuses, and rules of accountability for U.S.
civilian contractors operating in Iraq. As you may know, I wrote
to Ambassador Bremer in February about those concerns over the mistreatment
Iraqi detainees, including juveniles. This is yet another example
of questionable adherence to international human rights laws by United
States forces in Iraq.
It has been reported that, more than two months after a classified Army
report found that contract workers were implicated in the illegal abuse
of Iraqis, the companies that employ them (CACI International Inc. and
Titan Corp.) say that they have heard nothing from the Pentagon and that
they have not removed any employees from Iraq.
The sadistic abuses of Iraqis at a U.S. military prison raise serious questions
about the accountability of U.S.-hired private military contractors who
are involved in illegal activity. It has been widely reported that
civilian contractors are not subject to the Uniform Code of Military Conduct
and that the Department of Justice is reluctant to get involved in this
issue.
The images and stories of abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison, a prison notorious
for abuse under the former regime, have serious implications for the United
States, for the success of our mission in Iraq, for the safety of U.S.
personnel, and for our efforts to combat terror in general.
I have long held that the use of civilian contractors to carry out military
functions on behalf of the United States is a dangerous policy, in large
part because of the lack of accountability and oversight that exists when
contractors are used. In particular, I do not believe that private
companies should be trusted with interrogation of Iraqi prisoners.
I believe that pending a thorough investigation and appropriate action,
including but not limited to the dismissal and prosecution of those involved,
all contracts with civilian firms for functions involving security, supervision
and interrogation of prisoners, should be suspended. Please
provide me information detailing all instances in which U.S. contractors
are in positions of authority over U.S. personnel.
Furthermore, I would like to know the policy of your Administration regarding
the directives, rules and laws governing contractors that operate on behalf
of the United States in Iraq. It is my hope that the individuals
named in recent press reports were not ordered to conduct such atrocious
activities by U.S. personnel. However, that is something your Administration
should unequivocally address.
Moreover, you should make clear your Administration’s policy on the laws
governing the conduct of contractors in Iraq. What is your plan for
prosecuting those who are alleged to have violated international human
rights laws and the laws of war as stipulated under the Geneva Convention?
Please share with me the guidance you have provided to the Defense, Justice
and State Departments on this issue. And please tell me how you plan
to ensure that those who have committed these unacceptable violations of
human rights in the named of the United States will be brought to justice.
If your Administration holds that civilian contractors are not accountable
under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, even if they are hired by the
Defense Department, please tell me which laws will direct the prosecution
of these individuals. And please share your justification for hiring
individuals to carry out sensitive work on behalf of the United States
absent accountability to our nation’s reputation, our military personnel,
or to the Iraqi people.
It has been reported that the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act
(the Act), passed in 2000, may provide "some basis" for the Justice Department
to investigate and prosecute private military contractors who engage in
illegal activity. Please tell me if your Administration directed
the Justice Department to take such action under the Act. Finally,
if you believe the United States currently lacks statutory authority to
prosecute illegal actions of contractors under U.S. hire in Iraq, I urge
you to ask the Congress for that authority.
Pending a full investigation and answers to all of these serious questions,
I again urge you to suspend all contracts with private firms conducting
services on behalf of the United States in Iraqi prisons. In addition,
I would like a copy of all such contracts and a copy of the classified
report prepared by Army Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba in February on abuse at
the (Abu Ghraib) prison.
I maintain that the use of private military contractors by the United States
is a misguided policy the American people untold amounts, in terms of dollars,
U.S. lives and is damaging our reputation with the international community.
It also impedes the ability of the Congress to conduct appropriate oversight
and keeps the American public in the dark.
Sincerely,
Jan
Schakowsky
Member
of Congress |
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