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Torture on Trial - HRF Observes Court Martial of Army Officer Accused in Death of Iraqi Major General
Marc Kusnetz is a consultant to Human Rights First and a freelance journalist. He was a producer at NBC News for twenty-six years. David Danzig is the manager of Human Rights First's "End Torture Now" campaign. Welshofer In His Own Words Chief Warrant Officer Lewis Welshofer took the stand Thursday in his own defense. He testified for more than three hours. Below are excerpts from my notes on his testimony. I took my notes long hand and believe them to be an accurate reflection of what was said but they should not be thought to be a complete transcript of the proceedings. Chief Warrant Officer Lewis Welshofer on his training Welshofer began his testimony by telling the Court about his training, which included a basic training and a specialized 12-week course on interrogation. Welshofer also served as a trainer at a SERE school in Hawaii where U.S. service members are trained on what they might face if there were to fall into enemy hands. The Defense Counsel referred to his regular training as “the schoolhouse” and the SERE experiences as “what you learned in Hawaii.”: Defense Attorney: Before you deployed to Iraq, were you given any specific training on the environment you would find in Iraq? On August 30, Chief Welshofer received a memo from Captain Ponce, described during prior testimony as detailed to unnamed senior commanders in Iraq. This email was admitted into evidence and the 6-officer jury pool will have a chance to review it. The defense attorney asked Chief Welshofer to describe what was in the memo. Welshofer: Basically it said that as far as they [unspecified, but likely a reference to senior commanders] knew there were no ROE [Rules of Engagement] for interrogations. They were still struggling with the definition for a detainee. It also said that commanders were tired of us taking casualties and they [told interrogators they] wanted the gloves to come off….It also was asking interrogators for an interrogation techniques wish list. They recognized that what we practiced in the schoolhouse was not working. They were looking for ideas outside the box. Defense Attorney Frank Spinner asked about a series of three memos containing authorized interrogation techniques for use in Iraq. All were written under the name of General Ricardo Sanchez, the highest-ranking military official in Iraq at the time. The first of these is dated September 10, 2003, the second is dated September 14, 2003, and the last is dated October 12, 2003. According to other witnesses, the October 12, 2003 memo limited the use of interrogation techniques that had been authorized in the September memos: Defense: What did the 10 September memo do? Welshofer Testimony on Interrogating General Mowhoush Welshofer: I spent the first hour or so just asking him questions. I was not getting anywhere with him. So I put him on his knees – an authorized stress position and I slapped him… The General bowed his head. The other detainees had gathered by the concertina wire that afforded them a view into the interrogation room. They all bowed their heads without exception when they saw this. I had been asking him if he was a part of the regime…The bowing of his head indicated to me that he recognized his involvement [in the insurgency] and the bowing of the other detainees heads indicated to me that they recognized his involvement as well.Welshofer testified that soon after he began interrogating the General on November 24, 2003, another group of individuals – many of whom were not U.S. troops – arrived and asserted control over the interrogation. Other witnesses contend that Chief Welshofer was still in charge. According to Welshofer, the other individuals included an Iraqi who recognized the General, and whom the General recognized. Welshofer testified that “a melee” broke out: Defense: What did they use to beat him?On November 25, Welshofer once again interrogated the General. This time the interrogation took place on the roof of the detention facility. Welshofer testified to the techniques he used, including: Defense: You also poured water on the General, what technique was that?On the evening of the 25th of November, Chief Welshofer arranged for a short meeting between the General and his youngest son: Defense: Why did you do this?Welshofer said he began direct questioning on the morning of November 26: Welshofer: I was asking him where is Saddam? His answers were in complete sentences. He would say “he may be in Syria. He may be in Jordan. He may be in Russia.” I really had run out of approaches…We were not getting anywhere…Welshofer testified that, on November 26, he “did not recall” a moment when the General became unresponsive. He also testified that he did not remember expressing relief, or saying anything to the effect that he was worried the General had stopped breathing: During cross examination, the prosecutor aggressively challenged Welshofer, stating at one point that “denying a person their ability to breath is the ultimate form of control.” He also asked about the word “Wallah”: Prosecutor: What is wrong with saying Wallah? —David Danzig |
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Human
Rights First will observe the Fort Carson, Colorado, trial of Chief Warrant Officer
Lewis Welshofer, charged with the murder of Iraqi Major General Abed Hamed Mowhoush,
who died after being forced inside a sleeping bag during interrogation.