Statement by U.S. Senator Jack Reed on Investigation of Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners

Statement by U.S. Senator Jack Reed on Investigation of Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners

Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) stated, "The terrorists who carried out the senseless, brutal execution of Nicholas Berg must be killed or captured. This wanton act of violence shows again the depravity of these terrorists. Despite terrorist propaganda, they have made it clear in attack after attack that they don't need an excuse to kill Americans. This is the kind of depravity and evil that these terrorists have been carrying out for years.

"But the tragic death of Nicholas Berg is unrelated to the need to fully investigate the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib Prison. There is no excuse and no defense for the actions of the soldiers that we have seen in the photographs at the prison. And if those soldiers received orders that were illegal we must clearly establish who gave those orders.

"The Bush Administration has not candidly answered if there was a formal policy promulgated by the Department of Defense or United States Central Command that was in violation of the Geneva convention and if that policy contributed to the breakdown in military discipline that resulted in the abuse of the prisoners.