9/11 to Abu Ghraib: The Chain of Command in US Military Prisoner Abuse

Summary

The article "Chain of Command: The Road from 9/11 to Abu Ghraib" discusses the subject of the fall of the Bush-era military and the legal issues that have followed suit, including the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal. It explains how the after-effects of the 9/11 attacks were used to sidestep traditional international law and how the resulting policies, from the Geneva Conventions to the U.S. Constitution, were ultimately ignored.


The article details the events leading up to the Abu Ghraib scandal, beginning with the military-wide changes that the Bush Administration introduced in order to fight against the war on terror. It explains how the laws of war were intentionally disregarded, creating an environment in which interrogators and guards were allowed to use inhumane methods of interrogation and humiliation. Furthermore, the article reveals that military personnel were given legal impunity by their superiors, including the Secretary of Defense and other members of the Bush Administration.

The article then goes on to discuss the legal and political ramifications of the Abu Ghraib scandal, as well as the subsequent investigations that were conducted by the U.S. government. It explains how the violators were eventually brought to justice, yet reveals that those punishments were seen by many as inadequate and unfair. Furthermore, it details the lasting effects of the scandal and the Bush Administration's actions, including the current debate over the use of torture.

To conclude, the article highlights the importance of accountability within the chain of command and the importance of international law. It argues that the events of Abu Ghraib serve as a reminder of the consequences of disregarding human rights and the need for prudence when engaging in military operations.

In summary, the article "Chain of Command: The Road from 9/11 to Abu Ghraib" details the events leading up to the Abu Ghraib scandal and the legal and political repercussions that followed. It investigates how the Bush Administration's policies disregarded international laws and led to the inhumane treatment of prisoners, as well as the inadequate punishments that were issued. Lastly, it serves as a reminder of the importance of following human rights and international law, as well as holding individuals accountable within the chain of command.
 

What Led to the Abu Ghraib Abuse?

When the shocking images of detainee abuse occurring at Abu Ghraib prison became public in 2004, the entire world was outraged. The Bush Administration, led by President George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, the Vice President, was forced to answer questions on why there was not more accountability and oversight of the prison. In order to understand why the abuse could have gone on for so long and why it was not stopped sooner, it is necessary to look at the chain of command and the decisions made by the government at the time.
 

The Bush Administration's Role in the Abu Ghraib Abuse

The actions of the Bush Administration in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, set the stage for the abuse that occurred at Abu Ghraib. The Administration chose to pursue a "War on Terror" strategy and created a system of extrajudicial detention and interrogation that allowed for the mistreatment of prisoners. This was done without accountability or oversight and opened the door for abuse. Additionally, the Administration provided legal support to the prison authority that allowed for the abuse to occur.
 

The Role of the Military Leaders in the Abuse

Once the Bush Administration had laid the groundwork for abuse to occur, the responsibility fell to the military leaders who were in charge of Abu Ghraib. These leaders were responsible for overseeing the prison, setting standards, and providing oversight to ensure that the detainees were treated according to international law. Unfortunately, this oversight was lacking, and military leaders turned a blind eye to the ongoing mistreatment and abuse of the detainees.
 

The Roles of Private Contractors in the Abuse

Private contractors, hired by the Bush Administration to carry out interrogations at Abu Ghraib, also played a role in facilitating the abuse. These contractors were not subject to the same rules and oversight as military personnel and allowed for the mistreatment of prisoners under their care to go unchecked. Additionally, contractors have been accused of participating in the abuse of prisoners themselves.

Hersh has been at the forefront of investigative journalism since 1969, when he broke the news of the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam, which also won him a Pulitzer Prize. Since then, he has disclosed the secret bombing of Cambodia (1969); the U.S.-backed coup in Chile (1973); the ''disappearance'' of flight 007, which was shot down by the Soviets in 1983; and the Gulf War Syndrome (1991 Gulf War). His book The Price of Power: Kissinger in the Nixon White House won the National Book Critics Circle Award. In 2003, he won the Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism.

Because Hersh has such unique reporting skills that allow him access to classified information, his books contain interesting details not easily accessible to many reporters. For Chain of Command, Hersh follows in the footsteps of John Toland, who used face-to-face interviews with key players to document ''who knew what'' in regard to World War II in general and Pearl Harbor in particular. Hersh goes into the trenches to set the record straight about President Bush's ''War on Terror.''

Hersh's clean style and well-thought-out conclusions only enhance his frustration and disappointment with the current administration. Hersh is not afraid to assign responsibility for the recent missteps. More important, if he seems to have ''inside'' information, it's because he has access to sources that are off limits to most journalists. The feedback he weaves into his book comes from interviews with administration officials (e.g., the White House, Department of Defense, Department of State, National Security Counsel), CIA and FBI operatives, legislators, judges, military officers, petitioners, and foreign sources who run the gamut. He cites news conferences, legislative hearings, reports, memoranda, letters, meetings notes, and other certified documents. He also points out breaking news from other sources, duly crediting these media. These specific details are just the insights that make his books so appealing for the reader, since they are unlikely to be discovered elsewhere. By using such sources from the government and intelligence sectors, Hersh is able to present a new and interesting take on this recent chapter of America's foreign policy--a departure from general media coverage.

Chain of Command wraps up the reporting (26 articles) he has done on this subject over the last three years for The New Yorker magazine, putting it in context under chapter themes and an epilogue. In the eight chapters, he reveals the connections between the actions taken in Iraq, as well as revealing the secrets surrounding the Abu Ghraib prison-abuse scandal and the interwoven mistakes and lies that occurred along the way, making his account original. His narratives address the manner in which intelligence was used throughout the current administration. His revelations will rivet readers, forcing them to ask the unsettling questions and realize that there is always more to a story than what is portrayed by the media. Readers, while they may not always find Hersh's style or tone appealing, will appreciate his insight and legendary reporting skills.

That is not to say that Hersh does not have his critics. Slightly more than midway through the book, Hersh describes his widely publicized confrontation with Richard Perle, who was Ronald Reagan's Assistant Secretary of Defense and a foreign policy adviser in George W. Bush's presidential campaign. In 2001, Perle accepted Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's offer to chair the Defense Policy Board, which advises the government on weapons procurement. However, these individuals cannot detract from Hersh's keen ability to reveal information and conclusions about the government in a way that is original and unique. In his book, Hersh offers the reader a fresh and clear interpretation of the events this administration has dealt with since September 11, as well as the direction we are headed.

Hersh best encapsulates the point of Chain of Command in his chapter on ''The Other War'' (Afghanistan): ''There's always a story that wasn't written, and it almost always should have been.''