Steven Stephanowicz

Steven Stephanowicz is "a contract interrogator for the brigade 205th Intelligence Brigade." [http://www.svherald.com/articles/2004/05/08/local_news/news4.txt]

According to the New York Times [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/09/international/middleeast/09PRIS.html?pagewanted=2&hp] , "In mid-August, a team of civilian interrogators led by Steven Stephanowicz, a former Navy petty officer and an employee of a Virginia company called CACI International, began work at Abu Ghraib under a classified one-year military contract. ... Their job was to conduct interrogations in conjunction with military police and military intelligence units, according to a company memorandum."

In the report by Major General Antonio M. Taguba regarding the alleged acts of brutality, abuse, and torture at the Enemy Prisoner of War facility at Abu Ghraib and other Enemy Prisoner of War Camps in Iraq and Afghanistan, Taguba said, "'Specifically I suspect that Col. Thomas M. Pappas, Lt. Col. Steve L. Jordan, Mr. Steven Stephanowicz and Mr. John Israel were either directly or indirectly responsible for the abuses at Abu Ghraib and strongly recommend immediate disciplinary actions ..." [http://www.svherald.com/articles/2004/05/08/local_news/news4.txt]

Taguba said that Stephanowicz "made a false statement to the investigating team regarding the locations of his interrogations, the activities of his interrogations and his knowledge of abuses. ... He also allowed and possibility instructed MPs who had no knowledge of interrogation techniques to facilitate the activities by setting conditions which he 'clearly knew his instructions equated to physical abuse,' Taguba's report states." [http://www.svherald.com/articles/2004/05/08/local_news/news4.txt]

Taguba said that Stephanowicz "should be given an official reprimand, have [his security clearance] reviewed, and, in the case of Stephanowicz, have his security clearance revoked and his employment as a civilian contractor terminated." [http://www.svherald.com/articles/2004/05/08/local_news/news4.txt]

However, the [http://www.cyberjournalist.net/features/joeyrandiary.mht online diary] of another CACI interrogator at Abu Ghraib, Joe Ryan, reveals that a "Steve Stevanowicz" was still working at the prison on April 26th 2004, suggesting that Taguba's conclusions were ignored until the prison abuse scandal broke in the media.

See also

* Abu Ghraib
* Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse
* Human rights situation in post-Saddam Iraq
* Joe Ryan

External links

* Joel Brinkley, [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/19/national/19CONT.html "9/11 Set Army Contractor on Path to Abu Ghraib,"] "New York Times", May 19, 2004.
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/09/international/middleeast/09PRIS.html?pagewanted=2&hp "In Abuse, a Portrayal of Ill-Prepared, Overwhelmed G.I.'s"]
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A25465-2004May13?language=printer Family and Friends Close Ranks Around Civilian Interrogator] "Washington Post", May 14, 2004
* [http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=2558 Who is John Israel?]