Home > ’Conspiracy’ to cover up Iraq prison abuse
Abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib in Baghdad was covered up in a high-level conspiracy, according to the American general in charge of the prison.
Brig Gen Janice Karpinsky, who oversaw all the military prisons, claimed that there was a "conspiracy at a very senior level" to stop her finding out about the abuse.
She rejected claims that she had personally witnessed beatings and said that the cover-up could reach as high as the Pentagon or the White House.
She told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I have been told that a very reliable witness has made a statement indicating that, not only was I not included in any of the meetings discussing interrogation operations, but specific measures were taken to ensure I would not have access to those facilities, that information or any of the details of interrogation at Abu Ghraib or anywhere else."
Asked if that meant there was a "conspiracy at a very senior level" to stop her uncovering the activities, she said: "Correct".
"From what I understand it was people who had full knowledge of what was going on who knew that they had to keep Janice Karpinsky from discovering any of those activities," she added.
Asked if that meant the involvement of the Pentagon or White House, she added: "I have not seen the statement but the indication is it may have."
Claims by one Iraqi that he saw the general when his hood was removed were rejected. "There was never a time when I witnessed any abuse at Abu Ghraib or anywhere and I was never at a location where, if a prisoner was in a detention cell, he would have been hooded. That never took place," she said.
Brig Gen Karpinsky pointed out that she had been in control of a total of 17 prisons and could not have dedicated more time to Abu Ghraib.
It was "not considered a safe place at all for me to be after dark" when the abuses are alleged to have taken place, she said.