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Reuters Stands by Iraq Abuse Reports, Releases Timeline on Incident By Greg Mitchell Published: May 20, 2004 4:00 PM EST NEW YORK Despite official military statements denying any wrongdoing -- and an announcement today that the case is "closed" -- Reuters is standing by allegations that three of its employees were abused by U.S. soldiers while confined near Falluja in January. A chronology produced by Reuters detailing events surrounding the alleged abuse of three of its staffers in Iraq, obtained by E&P today, appears to support the agency's contention that it has repeatedly pressed the military for a full and objective probe of this incident from the beginning, with sometimes disquieting results. The detailed chronology reveals that the agency's Baghdad bureau chief, Andrew Marshall, received an e-mail from the military on Jan. 29 containing an executive summary of the U.S. investigation and its final results, which claimed no abuse of the staffers -- while the investigation, according to the Pentagon, was still underway. And none of the three Reuters detainees had been interviewed by the military. The military said the summary had been sent in error, but when the final report was sent to Reuters nearly a month later, the executive summary had not changed. On Wednesday, General Ricardo Sanchez reiterated his belief that the investigation of this case was "thorough" and he stood by the military's conduct in the matter. (The official military report on the incident was posted today at Raleigh's newsobserver.com.) "Our investigation found no abuse of any kind," Maj. Jimmie Cummings, spokesman for the 82nd Airborne Division, which was responsible for detaining the Reuters' employees, told the Associated Press today. "This is a closed case." Reuters told E&P today that it had "no reason to doubt" the testimony of its staffers. Responding to questions about why Reuters seemingly "waited" until now to press this issue, Stephen Naru, Reuters' global head of media relations, said, "The suggestion that Reuters has not been prepared to go public on this story until now is just not true. Since the incident first occurred in early January, we have been open about and consistent in our efforts to secure a fair and independent investigation into the incident. ... Reuters took significant steps to provide information and evidence to the Pentagon and field commanders in this case. This includes testimonies of the three individuals, which we have no reason to doubt. These testimonials took place many months before any prisoner abuse claims became public. "Suggestions that the three are motivated by 'anti-coalition' motives are totally unfounded. Given the awful experiences these individuals went through these kind of remarks are regrettable. Until the U.S. army takes the time to interview the three individuals as part of a thorough investigation it is not really in a position to evaluate the veracity of their evidence." Here is the internal timeline, created by Reuters, and obtained by E&P, that details the agency's version of its reaction to the alleged abuse of its staffers in early January, and the response from the U.S. military since: Jan. 2: First indication of detentions of three Iraqis working for Reuters and an Iraqi working for NBC in Falluja following the shooting down of a U.S. helicopter. Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt tells a Baghdad news briefing that "enemy personnel" posing as journalists had fired on U.S. forces and had later been detained. Baghdad bureau informs 82nd Airborne and other military personnel of identity and status of the detainees within first hours of their detentions. Jan. 3-4: Baghdad Bureau Chief Andrew Marshall working with [Combined Joint Task Force] and [Coalition Provisional Authority] officials in Baghdad and 82nd in Falluja/Ramadi to try to secure employees' release. Marshall and Baghdad office manager Khaled al-Ramahi travel to [Forward Operating Base]Volturno near Falluja but are not allowed inside and not allowed to see the detainees. Captain Ryan Deruoin tells Marshall outside the base that the detainees are well and are being properly treated. Jan. 4: Marshall and NBC Bureau Chief Karl Bostic meet Kimmitt in Baghdad to seek releases. Kimmitt said the detainees would be released the following day. Jan. 5: Marshall provides 82nd Airborne, at its request, with footage shot in Falluja on 2 Jan by Salem Ureibi. Footage is of worshippers in Falluja at Friday prayers at a mosque and demonstrates that there is no basis for U.S. assertion that Ureibi and others were seen in the area where the helicopter was shot down. Jan. 5: Washington Bureau Chief Rob Doherty, Reuters Global Managing Editor David Schlesinger and Reuters Americas Television Editor John Clarke meet with [Chief Pentagon spokesman Lawrence] Di Rita and [Pentagon spokesman Bryan] Whitman at Pentagon. Detainees released shortly before meeting. Reuters party says it is seeking retraction of Kimmitt statement alleging "enemy personnel" posing as journalists fired on US forces. Jan. 5: Reuters runs first story on the detainees. Jan. 6: Reuters seeks clarification at a Baghdad press briefing on the statement about "enemy personnel posing as media." Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack, [Commanding Officer] of 82nd Airborne, tells reporters in Baghdad the detainees had probably been in the wrong place at the wrong time and says there is no credible evidence they were involved in wrongdoing. Jan. 8: Marshall obtains disturbing taped testimony from released three detainees detailing specifics of physical and emotional abuse. Schlesinger and Doherty meet Di Rita and Whitman again in order to detail abuse verbally and express Reuters concerns. Jan. 9: Formal letter of complaint from Schlesinger to Gen. [Ricardo] Sanchez (copied to Paul Bremer) urging a full investigation, seeking retraction of the statement on "enemy personnel posing as media" and offering full assistance to the military to facilitate an investigation. Letter also raises Jan. 6 remarks by Kimmitt to Marshall and protests them. Jan. 12: Reuters receives a response to its Jan. 9 letter from HQ 82nd Airborne, Ramadi, signed by Staff Judge Advocate Lt. Col. Thomas Ayres advising that Swannack has ordered a division-level investigation of the allegations by a field-grade officer. "In our view, evidence still exists for the U.S. to reasonably suspect these three individuals of involvement in the downing of the U.S. helicopter on January 2, 2004," the letter states, adding the three remain under investigation. The letter contains a request to Reuters to hand over all documents in its possession related to the incident, as well as employment records or contracts of the three. It is accompanied by a list of 25 questions to answer, relating to the three, their background, relationship with Reuters, work practices and "any indication at all of their leaning/feelings about the Coalition". Jan. 16 Jan: Schlesinger responds to Lt. Col. Ayres. The 42-page reply answers the 25 questions, appends the Reuters Trust Principles and medical reports and provides full transcripts of the taped testimony of the three. It also offers to make available copies of the tapes of the testimony, video footage, cameras and other equipment. Letter says Reuters agrees that the military may conduct further interviews with the three, as well as question Reuters driver Alaa Noury, who witnessed the events, in the presence of Marshall. Jan. 16: [Another] Reuters story about detainees and abuse. Jan. 16: U.S. military press office in Baghdad releases statement announcing that Sanchez has ordered a criminal investigation into reported incidents of detainee abuse at an undisclosed Coalition detention facility in Iraq (the first word of events that would later be exposed at Abu Ghraib). Jan. 23: Reuters outside counsel Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering writes to William (Jim) Haynes, [Department of Defense] General Counsel, about the Falluja abuse and suggesting that he may wish to take up the matter with Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz as "an institutional imperative". Jan. 27 Schlesinger writes to Di Rita, copied to Sanchez and Bremer, noting it has been over three weeks since the detentions. Letter repeats call for a retraction or correction of the "enemy personnel" statement and for a full investigation into the treatment of the detainees, with all the evidence to be made available to Reuters. The letter states: "It has become clear that the military either does not yet appreciate the significance of the matters we have raised or -- even worse -- fully understands their seriousness but is deliberately attempting to downplay them or ignore them." Jan. 27: Reuters issues a press release and story on the letter and the news agency's concerns at the apparent lack of action. Jan. 29: Marshall in Baghdad receives an e-mail from 82nd [Public Affairs Officer] Cpt. Tammy Galloway containing an unclassified executive summary of the military investigation and its results. Galloway then again contacts by e-mail Marshall asking to "recall" the document. In subsequent e-mail exchanges, she advises first that the document was sent in error, then states that it was sent prematurely. She then says it is not intended for public use. Simultaneously, Sanchez tells a news conference in Baghdad in response to questions from a Reuters reporter that the investigation should be completed within a week and "is right on the verge of being released". Jan. 29: Schlesinger writes to Di Rita about receipt of the executive summary and requesting an urgent telephone conversation to ascertain whether the executive summary is the final word. Letter states, among other criticisms of the investigation, that the military's failure to interview the staff detained raises questions about its seriousness and credibility. Feb. 3: Schlesinger receives a fax ... from Whitman ... The Whitman fax says the Pentagon takes the matter seriously, is "looking into each of your requests" and will respond shortly. Around the same time, Kimmitt tells a Reuters reporter at a news briefing in Baghdad that "most of the conclusions" of the investigation have already come out in the executive summary. Schlesinger again contacts Whitman by e-mail asking how the two assertions can be reconciled and follows up with a message to Whitman's Blackberry seeking an urgent conversation and advising that Reuters intends to go public with its concerns. Feb. 3: In light of Kimmitt's comments, Schlesinger sends a letter to Di Rita, copied to Bremer, Sanchez, Haynes and Whitman about Reuters concerns with the investigation and advising that Reuters intends to issue a press statement about those concerns. The letter describes the investigation as "woefully inadequate" and criticizes gratuitous speculative conclusions in the summary that two of the detainees may have purposefully exaggerated their allegations for anti-coalition purposes. It repeats earlier criticisms of its conduct and demands a reopening of the investigation in a more thorough and objective manner at senior levels in the DoD. The letter also states: "Moreover, many of the allegations are startlingly similar to allegations made by detainees at other U.S.-controlled facilities, and there is no indication that our staff were aware of these reports." Feb. 3: Whitman calls Schlesinger soon after the Reuters story runs. According to Schlesinger's, note, Whitman says he has contacted Kimmitt, who advised him that while the executive summary contained "conclusions" the investigation had not been completed and the outcome needed to be vetted by the chain of command. Schlesinger quotes Whitman as telling him that "Mr. Di Rita, Larry, is very adamant to getting to the bottom of this ... Those are appalling allegations that we take very seriously." Whitman adds: "Regardless of what has been provided you to date, we don't consider this a closed matter by any means." Feb 20: Marshall receives e-mail from Major Harper of the 82nd Airborne with the same executive summary sent to him "prematurely" on Jan. 29. Harper characterizes the attachment as the "final executive summary," implying the 82nd considers the investigation closed. Feb. 20: Schlesinger speaks with Whitman about the Harper e-mail and the Dana report. On Falluja, Schlesinger minutes Whitman as telling him off the record: "This does not sufficiently address the issues you have raised and we know that." Schlesinger quotes Whitman as saying Sanchez himself is involved in the issue now and he and Sanchez have discussed it. Whitman said the e-mail represented the fact that the 82nd has finished its work, but now Sanchez was looking into the issue. "I'm confident this will work faster than your other issues," Whitman said. Feb. 23: U.S. Army announces that 17 military personnel have been suspended pending investigations into reports of the mistreatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib. Reuters story also refers to investigations into the treatment of the Falluja detainees. March 11: Reuters CEO Tom Glocer and Schlesinger visit Pentagon to meet Di Rita and Whitman ... Schlesinger minutes quote Di Rita as saying that the Sanchez investigation into Falluja is "nearly complete". (Note this is SIX days after the date on the letter we ultimately received from Sanchez declaring the matter closed.) March 20: Kimmitt announces that six soldiers have been charged with offences stemming from the alleged abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib. "The coalition takes all reports of detainee abuse seriously and all allegations of mistreatment are investigated. We are committed to treating all persons under coalition control with dignity, respect and humanity," Kimmit says. Reuters story makes reference to the Falluja detainees. April 28: CBS "60 Minutes II" airs graphic photographs of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib, triggering widespread international condemnation and a crisis in the U.S. military. May 2: Schlesinger resends his Feb. 3 letter to Di Rita. In a cover e-mail, Schlesinger states: "In light of the recent reports and pictures detailing the conditions for some prisoners held by the U.S. military in Abu Ghraib, I think it is imperative that our staffs' complaints, which were independent of and predate the current public reports, be reviewed thoroughly, objectively and with a new view towards their veracity." May 12: Marshall advises the Reuters Iraq Security Group in an e-mail of his view that Reuters should consider another statement and story if the May 2 e-mail/letter to Di Rita fails to elicit a response. He advises that the Reuters detainees may want to go public. May 14: Doherty speaks by telephone to Whitman to press for a report on the detentions and a response to Schlesinger's May 2 e-mail/letter. Whitman tells Doherty that he had been advised by CJTF-7 that a response from Sanchez had been sent to Reuters several weeks earlier. Doherty again advises Whitman that no correspondence has been received. Whitman says he has requested a copy of the Sanchez letter and is awaiting it. May 17: Marshall e-mails [Political and General News Editor Paul] Holmes and [Middle East and Africa Editor Barry] Moody informing them that the Reuters detainees are now prepared to go public with specific details of the abuse and requesting advice on how to proceed. Holmes and Moody advise they support issuing a story on news grounds. May 17: Whitman e-mails [Washington Bureau Chief Rob] Doherty a copy of the Sanchez letter, dated March 5. The Sanchez letter, addressed to Schlesinger, states that the general is confident the investigation was thorough and objective and that its conclusions, clearing military personnel of any wrongful conduct, was sound. Iraq Security Group decides to go ahead with story detailing the abuse. May 18: Reuters issues story, bylined Andrew Marshall in Baghdad, detailing the abuse. An [update] to the story quotes Di Rita as saying: "The commander in Iraq reviewed the investigation in this matter and was persuaded that it was thorough and appropriate. Should there be new information provided sufficient to cause reconsideration of these particular allegations, such information would be reviewed and acted upon as appropriate." May 19: Reuters issues story, bylined Vicki Allen in Washington, detailing General Sanchez's defense of the investigation. He tells reporters: "My belief is that the investigations that were conducted as a result of those allegations were thorough and the decisions were made at that time." Sanchez spoke to reporters after testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Greg Mitchell ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) is editor of E&P.
