CACI disputes some findings of prisoner abuse investigation

CACI International Inc. acknowledged but partially disagreed with the findings of the U.S. Army's latest report that three of its contractors took part in or did not report the abuse of Iraq prisoners at the Abu Ghraib detention center.

The report, based on an investigation by Maj. Gen. George Fay and Lt. Gen. Anthony Jones, found that 35 military intelligence personnel participated in or witnessed at least 44 instances of abuse at the detention center.

Of those, 27 soldiers and civilian contractors were directly involved in abuse and could be prosecuted or subject to disciplinary action, it said. CACI has employed interrogators at the prison, while Titan Corp. has interpreters there.

The report went on to say that four contractors were involved in the mistreatment of prisoners and two others observed abusive acts but ignored them. It did not name the contractors, but identified them as employees of Arlington, Va.-based CACI and Titan of San Diego. The civilian contractor cases have been referred to the Justice Department for investigation.

In a statement issued yesterday, CACI said it was disappointed that any of its current or former employees allegedly participated in the scandal, but added: "We are pleased to note that the Fay report clearly demonstrates that the responsibility for misconduct at Abu Ghraib was not that of one single CACI employee that had been vilified in the Taguba report," referring to a previous Army report on the prisoner abuse by Maj. Gen. Anthony Taguba.

"Nothing in the Fay report can be construed as CACI employees directing, participating in or even observing anything close to what we have all seen in the dozens of horrendous photos," the statement by CACI Chairman and Chief Executive Officer J.P. (Jack) London said.

CACI also said that the report cited other allegations it was unaware of and is now investigating. CACI declined to name the employees, citing safety reasons.

Titan did not issue a statement in response to the Fay report, but a spokesman told The Washington Post that the company was cooperating with the investigation and was pleased that the report cleared one of its employees previously implicated in the Taguba report.

The spokesman also said Titan would take appropriate action if any of its employees committed any wrongdoing, according to the article.