"The deplorable humiliation of Iraqi prisoners is appalling and simply unacceptable," said Senator Collins. "I join my Senate colleagues today in condemning the abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison, in calling for a full investigation by the President, the military, and the Congress, and in demanding that all those responsible be held accountable. I hope our united message shows the Iraqi people, the Muslim world, and the international community that American values remain strong against the oppression of any people and steadfast in support of individual liberties."
Major General Antonio Taguba, who wrote the military report on alleged abuse of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib Prison, is scheduled to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee tomorrow. He and other Department of Defense and military intelligence officials are expected to discuss the role of intelligence investigators in the questioning of Iraqi prisoners and the investigation into their abuse. Senator Collins is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. She questioned U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld last Friday about the abuse at Abu Ghraib Prison.
The Senate resolution passed today "urges the Government of the United States to take appropriate measures to ensure that such acts do not occur in the future." It also states that, "the reaction to the alleged abuses is having a negative impact on the United States' efforts to stabilize and reconstruct Iraq and to promote democratic values in the Middle East and could affect the security of the United States Armed Forces serving abroad.
Senator Collins also joined her colleagues in stressing that, "the vast majority of Americans in Iraq are serving courageously and with great honor to promote a free and stable Iraq."
Senator Collins said, "We stand by the many thousands of honorable and dedicated American servicemen and women who are working around the clock and sometimes sacrificing their own lives toward this goal."
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