The Bureau of Investigative Journalism sent two letters – which listed a number of significant allegations regarding US forces and US defence policy – to the Department of Defense Press Office at the Pentagon, so as to provide an opportunity to respond in the interest of fairness.
Among the specific questions the Bureau asked the Pentagon to respond to were the following:
- We allege that the US Government handed over detainees to Iraqi authorities, knowing of concerns that torture was rife in Iraqi detention facilities.
- We have concerns that allegations of detainee abuse by Iraqi authorities reported to US forces were not properly investigated.
- On February 22 2007 a US lawyer advises Crazyhorse 18’s Command Unit that Anti-Iraqi Forces could not surrender to an aircraft and were still valid targets. However, we have found four occasions in the data when people were allowed to surrender to aircraft. What is the DoD’s response to this?
- We have found over 300 alleged cases of detainee abuse by US soldiers after Abu Ghraib in 2004.
- Contained within the files are intelligence reports alleging strong links between Syrian intelligence agents and al Qaeda. What is the DoD’s position on such reports?
The US Department of Defense’s response is as follows:
“We strongly condemn the unauthorised disclosure of classified information and will not comment on these leaked documents other than to note that ‘significant activities’ reports are initial, raw observations by tactical units. They are essentially snapshots of events, both tragic and mundane, and do not tell the whole story. That said, the period covered by these reports has been well-chronicled in news stories, books and films and the
release of these field reports does not bring new understanding to Iraq’s past.
“However, it does expose secret information that could make our troops even more vulnerable to attack in the future. Just as with the leaked Afghan documents, we know our enemies will mine this information looking for insights into how we operate, cultivate sources, and react in combat situations, even the capability of our equipment. This security breach could very well get our troops and those they are fighting with killed.”
October 22nd, 2010at 11:55 pm(#)
The US DoD’s response makes me physically ILL!!!
Let me sum it up:
“No new material”
“Statement of empathy that’s pretty much overflowing with BS”
“Possibly kill our troops”
Wow, that sounds very familiar… http://tiny.cc/s9rqg
October 23rd, 2010at 2:03 am(#)
What hipocratic bullshit from the Pentagon. If they were so concerned about the safety and welfare of American troops and Iraqi civilians they never would have gone to Iraq in the first place. Makes me sick and angry to hear these criminals responding like they are. Charge and send all of these war criminal ******** to the Hague.
October 23rd, 2010at 4:09 am(#)
[...] When Britain's Bureau for Investigative Journalism sent a letter to the Pentagon asking for comment on the allegation that "the US Government handed over detainees to Iraqi authorities, knowing of concerns that torture was rife in Iraqi detention facilities," the Pentagon replied only to say: "We strongly condemn the unauthorised disclosure of classified information and will not comment on these leaked documents other than to note that ‘significant activities’ reports are initial, raw observations by tactical units. They are essentially snapshots of events, both tragic and mundane, and do not tell the whole story. That said, the period covered by these reports has been well-chronicled in news stories, books and films and the release of these field reports does not bring new understanding to Iraq’s past" (IraqWarLogs.com) [...]
October 23rd, 2010at 5:39 am(#)
As an Iraq invasion veteran, I must first thank the whistleblower(s) who made public this suppressed information- yours is the true kind of courage, contrasted with the cowardice of those who start wars and hide behind power, Christian nationalism, bombs, tanks and propaganda. The US Congress, military, and public were outright deceived into fighting this war which has always very clearly been an unprovoked war of aggression. Furthermore, it was in the interest of Halliburton and the other Western oil companies that an insurgency be created, and that is exactly what happened- what was inevitable and obviously forseeable after the brutal ‘shock and awe’ bombing and systematic false arrest and torture of the populace. Why was the provocation of the insurgency necessary, as opposed to treating the people of Iraq with human dignity and building a democracy? Because all real democracies historically have been opposed by the US ruling elite on the grounds that they are communist/socialist- since in any country on earth the majority of people believe, much like the people of Alaska concerning their oil reserves- that the populace all deserve a share of the profits made from the use of the resources of their land. War is a business, the most profitable and unethical business in the world, and the Pentagon spokesperson is correct in stating that none of these revelations are new- all of it has happened before as the result of our pro-business, anti-nationalization foreign policy.
October 23rd, 2010at 3:18 pm(#)
So why not tell the REAL TRUTH.. THE WHOLE TRUTH.. & not a bunch of BS that our chicken S gov hides behind FIRE THEM ALL OUR OWN GOVERNMENT “CAN NOT EVEN RUN OUR OWN COUNTRY” more less try to help anyone else.. It’s all about MONEY.. OIL.. & PURE POWER & to see WHO CAN RULE THE WORLD FIRST.. IT JUST WILL NEVER HAPPEN.. That my friends will be the EODW End of Days War… My 7 year old is smarter than anyone at the pentgon. He actually has what no one else there has.. “COMMON SENSE” TRUTH” SELF-RESPECT bunch of jack rabbits…What will the pentagon do when billions of people turn on the gov… Gonna put everyone in jail.. Umm NO.. Then they can’t have any money to fund such atrocities.. No one wins at war.. EVERYONE LOOSES, and wikileaks is making sure it starts with the JA’s in charge..
ZICONOTIDE..
October 23rd, 2010at 3:57 pm(#)
[...] BIJ: “Pentagon response to publication of the war logs” [...]
October 23rd, 2010at 4:46 pm(#)
Let us not forget the people who hatched the plans for the illegal invasion of Iraq under the false pretense that Hussein had weapons of mass destruction: Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Tenet, Cheney and their puppet George W. Bush and his poodle Tony Blair. All of these people should be tried as war criminals,
but courts like the Nuremberg proceeding against the Nazis are
convened only by the victors. Unfortunately, in this case, the victors are also the criminals, but history will not forgive them.
October 23rd, 2010at 9:13 pm(#)
Courage means the ability to stand directly in the face of truth. The trash in America’s boardrooms and beltway do not have the courage, the honesty, the intelligence or the decency to even acknowledge that truth exists, let alone dwell in its presence.
October 23rd, 2010at 9:41 pm(#)
Bovine excrement!!
October 23rd, 2010at 10:31 pm(#)
The documents are identified as situation reports and the individuals who made the reports should be free to comment, confirm or condemn the material. Does anyone expect the mainstream media to locate and interview any of those who wrote the reports? That is very doubtful when the government has shown eagerness to prosecute those who are whistleblowers. The climate of fear has been continued under the Obama Administration which lacked the courage to investigate and indict even one of the war criminals who brought us into the Iraq disaster, begnning with Bush, Cheney, Powell and a passel of neo-cons. Obama should fire Gates and call in all the generals, then ask one-by-one for a policy to get us out of the debacle and retire anyone who comes up with another hare-brained surge, or a diversionary war. Then cancel the war weapons contracts and use the money for domestic infrastructure: roads, schools, clean water and air.
October 23rd, 2010at 11:01 pm(#)
Fortunately, the USA is losing the propaganda battle for popular perception of its actions around the world.
Increasingly the USA is being seen for what it really represents: greed, arrogance, warmongering, empoverishment, oppression, death and destruction.
The US’s self-appointed role as the world’s policeman is rapidly sliding into a sinister Inspector Clueso (or is that clueless?) caricature.
Come on America! Give it up! Chinese global power is the new future and the US’s enfant terrible antics around the globe are the last desperate tantrums of an impotent brat.
October 23rd, 2010at 11:39 pm(#)
I was just a little cog in a big Army wheel for 20 years. After hearing what I heard and seeing what I saw, there is absolutely NOTHING that would surprise me about the US military. What makes me so sad is the potential for doing global good that will never happen, the millions of Americans who should be middle class, who are struggling to survive because of the greed and hungriness for power of the US military industrial complex. God bless us and protect us. That’s all I can say.
October 24th, 2010at 3:47 pm(#)
THE MEDIA!!!! NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF GARBAGE!! The media and ad’s they promote, heres a sample of the media *** *** ***, MONEY MONEY MONEY.. The best thing ANYONE can do is get rid of your TV’s. Not to mention all the other electronics that everyone takes for granted now. We did it for almost a year and we did more things as a family and satyed outside more.. Want to fight getting fat/adults/kids get em off the video games and out in front of the TV quit feeding them processed ****.. make them exercise!!!! Need to do the same thing with our government. Except FIRE THEM ALL Bunch of NO Common sense Jack rabbits!!! My 7 seven year old is smarter then all of washington put together… Why.. He has COMMON SENSE! He knows what TRUTH is.. He knows whats RIGHT!! Don’t even get me started on the big pharma companies.. makes us even sicker..
ZICONOTIDE
October 24th, 2010at 8:21 pm(#)
I want to commend the veterans that have left comments. That is where the rubber is meeting the road. It’s well and good for us civilians to give our opinion, but when it comes from those that have been in the thick of things, it means much more to the citizens of the U.S.Many U.S.citizens have begun to realize that they have been duped but the majority are still asleep. I support IVAW, and my associates consider them cowards. They are brave enough to say, “This is wrong.” and take the abuse, therefore they are VERY brave.
Thank you veterans!!
October 25th, 2010at 6:36 am(#)
[...] The State Department Responds (as you’d expect) [...]
October 25th, 2010at 4:25 pm(#)
In addition to continuing Bush and Cheney’s military agenda Obama has failed us in other ways. He was a person who could have changed the entire world for good. His campaign promised hope and change, a complete turnaround from the last administration. The tragedy to me is that “we the people” have been proven an illusion by the powers that be. Obama’s change mantra, his health care and financial reforms were gutted before they left the barn, the environment is seldom mentioned anymore for fear of the teabaggers, and any hope of a new global prosperity and caring has been replaced by corporate greed. The world seems to be run by independent contractors who sponsor campaigns with strong allies in the courts, congress, and executive office (in spite of his promises). Obama’s election has been a waiting game that has finally gone sour. First he appointed the same people to attend to Bush’s financial crisis that caused it, he continues Bush’s anti terrorist military agenda, he’s even given big oil a free ticket in not fighting for subpoena power in the BP disaster.
Now we have a chance in mid election to choose more of the same or even more of the same packaged as patriotic constitutionalism overdosed on testosterone. Can’t wait to see what kind of government will be purchased by all that “free speech” corporate interest can spend.
October 30th, 2010at 11:12 am(#)
Paradigmshift made a very good point, that the criticism’s by veterans of the actions of the US political/military regime carry more weight than do those of civilians.
Veterans have my respect and sympathy for their sacrifices in this genocide for oil, profit and hegemony initiated by their corrupt and self-interested masters.
More veterans need to make their voices heard above the ceaseless barrage of media disinformation and raise the public awareness of what is really happening.
January 4th, 2011at 6:31 am(#)
[...] The US Department of Defense’s made this response: “We strongly condemn the unauthorised disclosure of classified information and will not comment on these leaked documents other than to note that ‘significant activities’ reports are initial, raw observations by tactical units. They are essentially snapshots of events, both tragic and mundane, and do not tell the whole story. That said, the period covered by these reports has been well-chronicled in news stories, books and films and the release of these field reports does not bring new understanding to Iraq’s past. However, it does expose secret information that could make our troops even more vulnerable to attack in the future. Just as with the leaked Afghan documents, we know our enemies will mine this information looking for insights into how we operate, cultivate sources, and react in combat situations, even the capability of our equipment. This security breach could very well get our troops and those they are fighting with killed”. This is posted here. [...]