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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula Posted May 11, 2004 Press release © 2004 U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Menominee)

Stupak urges President to fire Defense Secretary, calls for investigation of private contractors in Iraq

"President Bush has repeatedly allowed the United States' reputation with the international community to be tarnished and has not held his appointees accountable for the damage," Stupak said. "Whether it was going to war based upon wildly inaccurate intelligence information or White House officials exposing the identity of one of our own CIA operatives or this most recent revelation about inhumane treatment of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, President Bush refuses to hold his people accountable."

According to recent media reports, Administration officials, including Secretary Rumsfeld, have known about abuses for months, yet they failed to act on repeated recommendations to improve conditions for thousands of Iraqi detainees. In response, Rumsfeld only received a private scolding from President Bush.

"This is not a minor problem that can be fixed with just a slap on the wrist or by buying million dollar ads to re-define history. The international community is appalled and upset at the cowboy arrogance and actions of this Administration," Stupak said. "Wild West tactics don't work anywhere, especially in the Middle East."

Stupak also called upon the House Government Reform Committee to hold hearings into the government-paid contractors in Iraq who may have played a role in the actions at Abu Ghraib. In addition, in a letter sent to the Department of Justice last week, Stupak and 28 other members asked the Attorney General to investigate those contractors.

"We need to get to the bottom of this situation right now and show American citizens and the international community that such actions will not be tolerated," Stupak said. "The damage inflicted upon the United States' reputation will take years, if not decades, to repair. We need to hold our own government officials accountable for their actions just as we hold other governments accountable, and it needs to start with Rumsfeld's termination."

Citizens may contact Stupak's Washington office at (202) 225-4735 or email him at stupak@mail.house.gov. His Congressional Aide Amy Wisti may be reached in Houghton from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday, at (906) 482-1371.

For Rep. Stupak's views on current issues, visit his Web site.

Editor's Notes:  You can also call U.S. Senator Carl Levin at 202-224-6221 and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow at 202-224-4822 to leave a message with your views. See the May 8, 2004, New York Times editorial on this prisoner issue. (You may have to post an email address for free access to the New York Times on line.) For an update on the House of Representatives Floor Proceedings, visit the Web site of the Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives.