Department of Defense Statement on Seymour Hersh Book

[unpsyops]

No. 889-04
IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 10, 2004
Department of Defense Statement on Seymour Hersh Book

Based on media inquiries, it appears that Mr. Seymor Hersh’s upcoming book apparently contains many of the numerous unsubstantiated allegations and inaccuracies which he has made in the past based upon unnamed sources.



Detainee operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere have been examined extensively – both within the Department of Defense and by an independent panel led by former Secretary of Defense Jim Schlesinger. The U.S. military itself -- not Mr. Hersh or any other reporter – first publicized the facts of the abuses at Abu Ghraib in January 2004, four months before Mr. Hersh “broke” the story.



To date the Department has conducted 11 investigations, of which eight reports have been completed and released, additionally:



* Over 13,000 pages of reports have been compiled thus far.
* Investigators have completed 950 interviews.
* 43 Congressional briefings and hearings have been conducted (not to mention 39 additional briefings for Congressional staff).

Those responsible for criminal activities at Abu Ghraib or other detention facilities are being held accountable.



* 45 individuals have been referred for courts-martial
* 12 for General Officer Letters of Reprimand
* 23 Soldiers have been administratively separated

There are ongoing investigations, and there will be more information disclosed. Thus far these investigations have determined that no responsible official of the Department of Defense approved any program that could conceivably have authorized or condoned the abuses seen at Abu Ghraib.



If any of Mr. Hersh’s anonymous sources wish to come forward and offer evidence to the contrary, the department welcomes them to do so. There are several open investigations, and we would certainly investigate their allegations without prejudice or hesitation.

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20040910-1240.html


Something tells me that DoD is being just a little "oversensitive"!
:)

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. WOW I wonder what goodies

Hersh got out.... they were not this defensive when Blind Man's Bluff came out... (Sub Service, if you want to know what they do, read it... and you will hear many a submariner state, I cannot confirm or deny it),

Wow rummy is truly trying to deflect now... WOW

[acmavm]

2. Oh please, the Department of Defense first published the story. No one

would have known what was going on and to what extent if not for Seymour Hersch.

The Department of Defense i.e. Donald Rumsfeld was in CYA mode up until the news started leaking and the pictures started showing up on websites. The Department of Defense still hasn't revealed the whole story, and they're all praying that the rest of the pictures don't show up.

[caledesi]

6. Exactly AC. nt

[TacticalPeek]

3. This may set a new world record.

For protesting too much.

(and preemptively yet; guess that's 'doctrine leak')

[shraby]

4. Curious.....

I've never seen a government agency DoD or otherwise come out against a book written by anyone.
If Hersh doesn't have it right, why do they feel the need to decry his book? Not only that, but what right does the government have to trash a book?
What do we have..a Solomon Rushdie case here? They going to put a bounty on him next because he wrote some things they don't like?

[Raster]

8. ...vote for us or the evil doers will attack you!

[caledesi]

5. Me thinks thou doth protest too much.

Unbelievable!

And in response to this: If any of Mr. Hersh’s anonymous sources wish to come forward.... yeah, when the person that told Bob Novak about Valerie Plame comes forward.

They can't handle the truth <thanks, Jack Nicholson>

edit: the usual

[Wind Dancer]

7. Sy Hersh is one of the best

investigative journalists left. The government has always hated him for exposing their criminal activities.