New Yorker article reflects "fevered insights," spokesman says

Allegations in a New Yorker magazine article that abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq arose from Department of Defense training are "outlandish, conspiratorial, and filled with error and anonymous conjecture," according to Pentagon spokesman Lawrence Di Rita.

In a statement released May 15, Di Rita says, "No responsible official of the Department of Defense approved any program that could conceivably have been intended to result in such abuses," and termed allegations in the New Yorker the reflection of "fevered insights of those with little, if any, connection to the activities in the Department of Defense."

Following is the text of the Defense Department statement:

(begin text)

United States Department of Defense
The Pentagon
Washington [D.C.]
May 15, 2004

Statement from DoD Spokesperson Mr. Lawrence Di Rita

"Assertions apparently being made in the latest New Yorker article on Abu Ghraib and the abuse of Iraqi detainees are outlandish, conspiratorial, and filled with error and anonymous conjecture.

"The abuse evidenced in the videos and photos, and any similar abuse that may come to light in any of the ongoing half dozen investigations into this matter, has no basis in any sanctioned program, training manual, instruction, or order in the Department of Defense.

"No responsible official of the Department of Defense approved any program that could conceivably have been intended to result in such abuses as witnessed in the recent photos and videos.

"To correct one of the many errors in fact, Under secretary Cambone has no responsibility, nor has he had any responsibility in the past, for detainee or interrogation programs in Afghanistan, Iraq, or anywhere else in the world.

"This story seems to reflect the fevered insights of those with little, if any, connection to the activities in the Department of Defense."

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)