Iraq Prison Abuse Appalling, Investigated Since January

IRAQ PRISON ABUSE APPALLING, INVESTIGATED SINCE JANUARY

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, met with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld Thursday morning to discuss the investigation into abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Following the meeting, he made the following statement:

"Just as everyone else, I was appalled when I first heard the allegations of prisoner abuse in Iraq. But I was encouraged when I discovered that the military immediately began an investigation in January into both the acts themselves, and the atmosphere that allowed them to take place.

"My meeting with Secretary Rumsfeld left me reassured that the length and scope of the investigation into these unacceptable acts is appropriate. I'm confident that, for those genuinely interested in the truth, his briefing to the Armed Services Committee Friday will have a similar effect.

"Some critics would have us believe that it is unfortunate that the Pentagon treated this investigation as a thorough and professional criminal investigation, instead of holding a show trial in the press. Rather than respecting the rights of both the accused and the victims and releasing only a completed report, some would have preferred a premature airing of these details before the full story was known.

"For those who insist on using these abhorrent acts as political fodder, I urge caution, and I encourage all to hear from Secretary Rumsfeld before issuing broad indictments that paint our military with far too broad of a partisan brush. They deserve better."