[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 5, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4857-S4858]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RESPONSE TO PRISONER ABUSE

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I had hoped to come to the floor when 
Senator Durbin spoke with regard to the need for a Senate response on 
the matter of prisoner abuse. Senator Durbin related, as I understand 
it, some conversations I have had with the distinguished majority 
leader, and I confirm I have had some very good conversations with the 
majority leader about some of the actions Senator Durbin outlined.
  The majority leader shares my view, and I know he will want to speak 
to the matter himself, that the Senate needs to address this matter, 
asking Secretary Rumsfeld to come to room S-407 this week so we can ask 
questions directly and clarify why it was when they met with us last 
week we were not told of this information, and share with us as much as 
he and the Pentagon know about the degree of abuse, what other 
circumstances may be involved, and whatever has been learned so far 
through the investigation, and a full airing of the report.
  He also indicated his view that the Secretary ought to come before 
the appropriate committees and testify with regard to these actions so 
the American people have a better understanding of what we know and 
what actions are being taken to address this circumstance so we can say 
without equivocation it will not happen again, and that we can 
reiterate to the world community this is not the practice, not the 
policy, and certainly not in keeping with the character of the American 
people.
  Finally, Senator Frist and I have talked extensively about the 
importance of passing a resolution this week denouncing this abuse and 
expressing our abhorrence on a bipartisan basis and sending as clear a 
message as we can to all the world community that this is unacceptable 
behavior, it is not in keeping with our practice, with our philosophy, 
with our character, and we want as much as possible to rectify what 
damage has been done and to assure those who would in some way make any 
effort to use this for their own purposes as an anti-American 
propaganda tool that that will not be tolerated.

  This is not America. This is not the practice of our country. This is 
not the practice of 99.9 percent of the military serving so admirably 
in Iraq today. They deserve better than that. And to tarnish their 
reputation and the contributions they have made is abhorrent as well.
  We need to make sure those points are made, but, first and foremost, 
we need to have a better understanding. We are shooting in the dark. We 
have no information other than what we have read in the newspaper, and 
that is not acceptable. Secretary Rumsfeld ought to be here, he ought 
to explain himself and the Pentagon, and we ought to say, after having 
acquired that information, as unequivocally and

[[Page S4858]]

with whatever authority we have, this will not happen again.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, before the distinguished minority leader 
departs, I join, as does the majority leader, in his request. As he may 
know, yesterday the Armed Services Committee had a 2-hour briefing with 
the top military leaders from the Department of the Army. Senator Levin 
and I felt it important to proceed very quickly. Following that, we had 
a press conference in which both Senator Levin and I spoke of the need 
for the Secretary of Defense, Mr. Rumsfeld, to come up.
  I have been working on that steadily, and I can assure the leader, 
having talked to my leader last night, Senator Frist--presumably 
shortly after the two leaders had discussed it--that Senator Frist has 
joined with Senator Daschle and others to get that done.
  I anticipate, however--and I think it is probably wise--that the 
President of the United States is going to address this issue, and I 
think immediately following that, I will presume, say, Thursday 
morning, tomorrow morning, that we could hope to have the Secretary 
before the Armed Services Committee. And then subject to the 
leadership, perhaps he could work with other Senators in another forum 
later sometime tomorrow. That would be my advice.
  I commend the leader, my good friend, for his incorporation in his 
remarks the need for every Senator as they address this issue to 
reflect on the, as he said, 99.99 percent of extraordinary 
professionalism and courage rendered by the men and women in the Armed 
Forces, not just in Iraq, not just in Afghanistan, but all over the 
world. No one should have their wonderful works and sacrifices and 
those of their families in any way tarnished by these serious 
allegations.
  I thank my good friend and leader.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, if I can respond, I thank the 
distinguished chairman of the Armed Services Committee for his comments 
and for the work he has already undertaken to ensure many of these 
issues can be addressed. He has shown real leadership. I applaud that 
and look forward to working with him in the days ahead.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank my good friend and colleague of 
many years.
  I should now like to proceed, if the Chair will kindly advise this 
Senator the amount of time under the control of this side of the aisle.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. There are 30 minutes in morning business under 
the control of the majority leader or his designee.
  Mr. WARNER. I should like to take approximately 10 minutes of that 
time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia is recognized.

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