This timeline focuses on the Iraq-Torture Scandal: the Bush Administration's use of torture to elicit false "confessions" linking Al Qaeda to Iraq, to create false propaganda (a "smoking gun") that would allow Bush to "sell" the invasion of Iraq to Cfongress, the American people, and the world.

Timeline sources: Marcy Wheeler, Dan K is Back, Dan K is Back, Jordan Paust,

Date	Event	Bush/Cheney	Busheviks	Opposition
2000
9/			PNAC report "Rebuilding America's Defenses" cites Iraq conflict as "immediate justification" for "substantial American force presence in the Gulf."
11/7		Bush loses popular vote nationally by 500,000 but Florida is too close to call - just 537 votes out of 6 million
12/12			5 Republicans on Supreme Court appoint Bush president by throwing out 175,000 never-counted votes in Florida.	Protests nationwide continue through inauguration
2001
1/			Clinton NSA Sandy Berger warns Bush NSA Condi Rice about al Qaeda
1/30		At first NSC meeting, Bush makes overthrow of Saddam "Topicc A" (Paul O'Neill)
5/		Cheney put in charge of terrorism task force which never meets
8/		Bush receives memo warning "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US" Bush tells briefer "You covered your ass" and does nothing
9/11	4 planes, 3 buildings 3000 lives	Bush reads "The Pet Goat" to Florida class after two attacks, makes brief TV statement, then flies to Louisiana and Nebraska
9/12		Rumsfeld urges the bombing of Iraq in response to the WTC attack		Richard Clarke tells him "they were certain al-Qa'ida was to blame and there was no hint of Iraqi involvement."
9/15		Bush tells Richard Clarke: "Iraq! Saddam! Find out if there's a connection."		Clarke insists there is no connection
9/16		Cheney on Meet the Press: "We also have to work, though, sort of the dark side"
9/17		Bush signs Memorandum of Notification authorizing CIA to capture, detain, and interrogate al Qaeda figures.
9/21			CIA's Cofer Black memo on possible Iraq-Al Qaeda ties
10/11			James Woolsey sent to England to find Iraq-al Qaeda link
10/23			OLC memo by John Yoo and Robert Delahunty eviscerating 4th Amendment by allowing the President to arrest and interrogate potential terrorists without a warrant
11/6			Philbin memo to Gonzales re: trial of detainees for war crimes but denial of Geneva protections
12/17			DoD OGC asks JPRA for information about detainee "exploitation." James Mitchell asked Bruce Jessen to  review documents describing al Qaeda resistence training. They generated a paper on al Qaeda resistence capabilities and countermeasures.
12/18	al-Libi captured in Pakistan
12/27			Rumsfeld announces plans to hold detainees at Gitmo.
2002
1/9			Bybee memo to Gonzales specifying that common article 3 of the Geneva Convention does not apply to "an armed conflict between a nation-state and a transnational terrorist organization."
1/11	First Afghan prisoners arrive at Guantanamo	Cheney invents distinction between forbidden "torture" and acceptable "cruel inhuman and degrading" to "crush a captive's will to resist" - commissions legal opinions to support
1/14			secret Yoo-Delahunty memo re: War Crimes Act’s application to interrogation
1/?			al-Libi sent to Egypt for torture
1/22			Bybee (and Yoo?) memo to Gonzales and Haynes denying Geneva law
1/24			secret Yoo memo re: U.S. obligations under int’l law
1/25			David Addington memo how to torture but avoid prosecution ?Gonzales memo for Bush recommends against applying the Geneva Convention to enemy detainees.
1/26			secret Bybee memo re: options for interpreting the Geneva Conventions	SoS Colin Powell and the JAG object re: Geneva
2/1			Ashcroft letter to Bush seeking denial of Geneva protections
2/2				State Dept atty William Taft argues for the application of Geneva Conventions in memo to Gonzales
2/7		Bush signs memo stating the Article 3 protections of the Geneva Conventions do not apply to Al-Qaeda and Taliban detainees.
2/13		Bush leaks his decision to overthrow Saddam - invasion is inevitable
2/22			After a day in a coffin in Egypt, al-Libi "confesses" Iraq trained al Qaeda in chemical weapons	DIA rejects "confession" as not credible
2/26			Bybee to Haynes re: potential domestic legal constraints re: use of info from coercive interrogation of detainees from Afghanistan
3/13			Bybee to Haynes memo re: transfer of detainees to other countries
3/28	Abu Zubaydah arrested in Pakistan, flown to Thailand			FBI's Ali Soufan interrogates without torture, learns KSM was 9/11 mastermind
4/			CIA OGC lawyers begin conversations with John Bellinger and John Yoo/Jay Bybee on proposed interrogation plan for Abu Zubaydah. Bellinger briefed Condi, Hadley, and Gonzales, as well as Ashcroft and Chertoff. CIA videotapes detainee interrogations
5/2			The US "un-signs" the International Criminal Court treaty.
5/6			CIA interrogators send 28-page cable to HQ requesting torture approval
5/8	Jose Padilla taken into custody based on material warrant signed by Michael Mukasey and based on testimony from Abu Zubaydah.
5/?			CIA OGC lawyers meet with Ashcroft, Condi, Hadley, Bellinger, and Gonzales to discuss alternative interrogation methods, including waterboarding.
5/28			CIA approves torture of Abu Zubaydah in Thailand
6/21			CIA report on Iraq-Al Qaeda by Jamie Miscik to "stretch to the maximum the evidence"
7/10			Date of first interrogation report from Abu Zubaydah cited in 9/11 Report.
7/13			CIA OGC (Rizzo?) meets with Bellinger, Yoo, Chertoff, Daniel Levin, and Gonzales for overview of interrogation plan.
7/17			Tenet met with Condi, who advised CIA could proceed with torture, subject to a determination of legality by OLC. Cheney was present.
7/23			MI6 chief Richard Dearlove returns from briefing by Tenet and tells British cabinet "the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy" of invading Iraq
7/24			Bybee advised CIA that Ashcroft concluded proposed techniques were legal.
7/26			Bybee verbally tells CIA waterboarding is legal. CIA begins to waterboard Abu Zubaydah.
7/31				DIA issues second report doubting al-Libi's confession of Iraq-al Qaeda ties.
8/1			"Bybee Memo" (written by John Yoo, Timothy Flanagan, Alberto Gonzales, and David Addington) describes torture as that which is equivalent to "the pain accompanying serious physical injury, such as organ failure, impairment of bodily function, or even death."
8/			Abu Zubaydah waterboarded 83 times, "confesses" Iraq-Zarqawi link	FBI's Robert Mueller decides not to participate in CIA interrogation
8/7				CIA doubts al-Libi: "Terrorism: Credibility of Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi and the Information He has Provided While in Custody."
8/		Cheney cites al-Libi's "confession"
8/20			Doug Feith's team meets with George Tenet to override CIA objections to Iraq-Al Qaeda ties
9/4			Porter Goss (R) & Nancy Pelosi (D) briefed by CIA (Jose Rodriguez?) on enhanced interrogation; told waterboarding was not used
9/11	Ramzi bin al-Shibh captured, purportedly as a result of intelligence gained through torturing Abu Zubaydah.
9/16			Doug Feith's team meets with Scooter Libby and John Hannah to criticize CIA objections to Iraq-Al Qaeda
9/16			JTF 170 Gitmo attend training at JPRA's SERE school.
9/19			CIA issues "Iraqi Support for Terrorism" focused on Palestinians, not Al Qaeda
9/25			Jim Haynes, John Rizzo, David Addington, Jack Goldsmith, Patrick Philbin, Alice Fisher visit Gitmo and Charleston (Padilla) and Norfolk (Hamdi) brigs.
9/26	Canadian engineer Maher Arar arrested at JFK and sent to Syria for torture
9/27			Richard Shelby (R) and Bob Graham (D) briefed by CIA on enhanced interrogation, waterboarding not mentioned
10/1			CIA issues National Intelligence Estimate (NIE)
10/			Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri captured. Held and interrogated in Dubai for a month then handed over to US custody.
10/		Bush cites al-Libi's "confession" in Cincinnatti
10/2			CIA's Jonathan Fredman tells GTMO interrogators "If the detainee dies you're doing it wrong."
10/11			GTMO cmdr Major Gen. Dunlavey memo to James Hill, SoComm seeks enhanced interrogation tactics for GTMO
10/23			Bybee writes 48-page memo, "Authority of the President Under Domestic and International Law to Use Military Force Against Iraq" justifying a war of aggression in defiance of U.N. Charter
11/			Afghan detained in Kabul freezes to death in CIA custody.
11/23			Abuse of Mohammed al-Khatani begins.
11/27			Haynes prepares action memo for Rumsfeld
12/2			Rumsfeld first memo for enhanced interrogation at GTMO
12/3	Habibullah tortured to death at Bagram
12/9	Dilawar tortured to death at Bagram - basis for film "Taxi to the Dark Side"
12/			CIA memo prohibits some tactics but not if “reasonably required” or if specifically hq approved CIA stops taping interrogations.
2003
1/				CIA OIG starts investigation of detainee interrogation.
1/				Judge Leonie Brinkema grants Moussaoui right to interview Ramzi Bin-al-Shibh by video.
1/			Pat Roberts is briefed on torture, along with staff director and minority staff director of Committee; Jay Rockefeller did not attend briefing.
1/15				After having three-times orally warned Jim Haynes that Gitmo interrogation techniques "could rise to the level of torture," Alberto Mora drafts memo and threatens to sign it unless techniques stopped. Techniques stopped. Rumsfeld rescinded general approval of illegal tactics and orders Haynes to set up DOD Working Gp.
2/1		Tenet tells Powell of "new" revelation by al-Libi
2/4			CIA briefs Pat Roberts on waterboarding of Abu Zubaydah and al-Nashiri
2/5		Colin Powell cites al-Libi's "confession" at UN	Jane Harman and Porter Goss briefed on interrogation methods and torture tape w/ waterboarding of Abu Zubaydah and al-Nashiri
2/6			Alberto Mora and John Yoo meet re: torture
2/10			Harman writes letter advising against the destruction of the tape.
3/1	Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and al-Hasawi captured			"ideological disagreements" separate Iraq-Al Qaeda, no confirmation of Zarqawi in Iraq
3/6			Khalid Shaikh Mohammed waterboarded 183 times to "confess" to Al Qaeda-Iraq
3/14			Yoo memo to Haynes re: illegal tactics
3/19		Bush invades Iraq with "shock and awe" bombing in Baghdad
4/16			Rumsfeld approves 24/25 recommended tactics, some illegal, and says will approve other tactics at request
4/2?	Muhammed Khudayr al-Dulaymi of Iraq secret police captured		Cheney's office suggests waterboarding to find WMD's or Iraq-Al Qaeda link via Doug Feith/Harold Rhode?	Charles Duelfer rejects
4/				JAGS & Mora protest
5/14		John Yoo memo says president can do anything he wants in time of war
6/				Amnesty Int’l report re: abuse in Iraq
6/26		Bush denounces all forms of torture	In response, Tenet requests and gets memo approving of water-boarding--giving the program "top cover."
7/	Joe Wilson reveals Niger uranium lie	Bush tells Scooter Libby to investigate	Libby and others leak Wilson's wife's identity to Judith Miller, Robert Novak, and other reporters
7/13			CIA Directorate of Intelligence, Khalid Shaykh Muhammed: Preeminent Source on Al-Qa'ida created.
8/18			Maj.Gen. Miller sent to Iraq to upgrade interrogation, with template from GTMO
9/14			Lt. Gen. Sanchez memo approved illegal tactics in Iraq
10/7				ACLU first FOIAs documents pertaining to detainee interrogations.
10/12			Sanchez memo revised
11/				ICRC report on Abu Ghraib and states that ICRC issued warnings of abuse, including “a broad pattern ... and a system of” abuse, to highest level officials and others since start of war in Iraq in April 2003
12/			Jack Goldsmith tells Rummy he will withdraw 3/14/03 opinion on torture but tells DOD tactics ok
2004
1/9		Cheney repeats al-Libi lie to Rocky Mountain News
1/				ICRC warns Rice, Powell & Wolfowitz re: abuse at GTMO and in Iraq
1/31				Taguba appointed to investigate Abu Ghraib
2/				ICRC report on abuse in Iraq Taguba report
3/			CIA "withdraws" al-Libi story
3/19			Goldsmith memo for illegal transfer of non-pows from Iraq
4/28	Hamdi and Padilla argued before SCOTUS		Paul Clement assures the Court that we don't torture.	60 Minutes breaks Abu Ghraib story and proves he's wrong.
5/7		Cheney irate, calls Helgerson to his office		CIA IG John Helgerson issues still-secret report finding torture and no proof it stopped attacks
5/	pictures of abuse at Abu Ghraib disclosed	Admin. says only “a few bad apples”	Cambone admissions before Sen. Levin’s Committee
6/3			Tenet announces his resignation; John McLaughlin resigns as well.	SOUTHCOM Commander James Hill traces source of abusive techniques used on al-Qahtani to SERE training.
6/8				Condi Rice and Colin Powell confont Gonzales over torture memos
6/15			Steven Bradbury replaces Goldsmith and issues new torture memos in 5/05	Goldsmith informs Ashcroft he will withdraw Bybee Memo and resigns. This effectively leaves the CIA with no legal protection for the water-boarding it had already done.
6/22		Cheney tells Sen. Pat Leahy to "go f**k yourself" on Senate floor
6/23		Bush denies GTMO torture: "I have never ordered torture."
6/28				Supreme Court rules in Hamdi v Rumsfeld that detainees at GTMO were entitled to legal due process
7/7				Alberto Mora, general counsel for the US Navy rejects Yoo memos; soon forced to retire
7/				ICRC report to Bush re: system of torture, cruel and degrading treatment at GTMO
8/				Final Report of Indep. Panel to Review DOD Detention Ops
9/22		Bush appoints Porter Goss to head CIA
10/				sense of Cong. res. against torture and cruel treatment
11/			CIA's Steven Kappes resigns; Jose Rodriguez replaces him as Deputy Director of CIA for Operations. Rodriguez is reported to be the person who ordered the terror tapes' destruction.
12/30			Gonzales blocked second Levin memo assessing waterboarding as torture	OLC publishes Daniel Levin's memo rejecting "good reason" exception for torture
2005
2/14		Alberto Gonzales sworn in as Attorney General		New Yorker's Jane Mayer exposes "extraordinary rendition"
5/10			Steven Bradbury memo says waterboarding is not torture	Jim Comey objected strongly and repeatedly
5/30			Bradbury memo to CIA Rizzo re: CAT art. 16
7/				State Dept lawyer Philip Zelikow writes memo opposing OLC memos on legality of torture
10/				Senate approves McCain amend.
11/1			CIA starts moving detainees from the countries in question.	Dana Priest reveals the use of black sites in Europe.
11/6				NYT Doug Jehl exposes DIA rejection of al-Libi "confession"
11/		Addington & Cheney continue to advocate for illegal tactics	CIA destroys terror tapes from High Value Al Qaeda Detainees. CIA destroys torture tapes depicting torture of Abu Zubaydah and al-Nashiri. DoJ tells Judge Brinkema it has no audio or video tapes.
12/14				House approves McCain amend.
2006
1/3		Bush signs the Appropriations Bill, issuing a signing statement "interpreting" the McCain amendment restricting torture.
5/5		Porter Goss resigns as DCI; General Michael Hayden replaces him.
5/23			US rejects charges by Amnesty International that it is torturing prisoners at GTMO
6/29				Supreme Court in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld rules Article 3 applies to al Qaeda.
7/		Bush Exec. Order re-authorizing unlawful tactics, Bradbury had reviewed and approved a draft
7/7				Gordon England memo requires milt. to follow Geneva common art. 3
7/24			Steven Kappes returns to CIA as Deputy Director.
9/5				new DOD Directive on interrogation
9/6		Bush admits to secret detention program for High Value Detainees with "tough" treatment		new Army Field Manual 2-22.3
9/26			GOP Senate passes the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which approves torture	Senator Obama denounces Act
10/6				ICRC visits High Value Detainees at Gitmo.
10/25		Cheney says waterboarding was a "no-brainer for me"
10/28		Bush denies that Cheney meant waterboarding
2007
2/				ICRC report re: “High Value Detainees” and illegal tactics
9/14			CIA announces Michael Sulick will return to lead Directorate of Operations.
9/17		Bush nominates Michael Mukasey, who signed off on a warrant based on the torture testimony of Abu Zubaydah, to be Attorney General.
9/25			John Rizzo's nomination to be CIA General Counsel withdrawn.
9/30			Jose Rodriguez (purported to be the person that ordered the destruction of the tapes) retires.
10/6		Bush defends CIA tactics as not torture
11/2			Cheney Counsel Shannen Coffin leaves, with little notice.
2008
1/16			John Rizzo, acting General Counsel for the CIA, testifies before HPSCI about torture tape destruction. Jose Rodriguez refuses to testify without immunity.
1/30			Mukasey states waterboarding not used.
2/5			Michael Hayden admits to waterboarding of three detainees at Annual SSCI Threat Assessment briefing.
4/11		news report says Cheney & Rice authorized waterboarding
12/15		Cheney tells Jonathan Karl waterboarding "was appropriate" and not torture
12/18		Cheney tells Washington Times waterboarding was not torture
2009
2/4		Cheney tells Politico waterboarding prevented attacks
3/15		Cheney tells John King waterboarding prevented attacks
4/6				NYRB posts the Red Cross report on high value detainees.
4/17				Obama releases torture memos; pressure grows to impeach Judge Bybee
4/21				Senate Armed Services Committee releases declassified Inquiry into the Treatment of Detainees in US Custody.
4/21				McClatchy's Jonathan Landay first suggested the Bush Administration used torture to intentionally extract false confessions linking Al Qaeda (and 9/11) to Iraq, to give Bush a false "casus belli" to invade Iraq. Paul Krugman called it the "Grand unified scandal"
5/10		Cheney tells Bob Schieffer it wasn't torture and was approved by Bush
4/22				Senate Intelligence Committee releases declassified Narrative Describing the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel's Opinions on the CIA's Detention and Interrogation Program
5/13				Lawrence Wilkerson says torture was "not aimed at pre-empting another terrorist attack on the U.S. but discovering a smoking gun linking Iraq and al-Qa'ida"

Non-timeline data:

• Maj. Paul Burney, a psychiatrist sent to Guantanamo in the summer of 2002, told the Senate "a large part of the time we were focused on trying to establish a link between al-Qaeda and Iraq and we were not successful in establishing a link between al-Qaeda and Iraq. The more frustrated people got in not being able to establish that link … there was more and more pressure to resort to measures that might produce more immediate results."
• Army Lt. Col. Brittain Mallow told McClatchy's Jonathan Landay, "I'm aware of the fact that in late 2002, early 2003, that (the alleged al Qaida-Iraq link) was an interest on the intelligence side.... That was something they were tasked to look at." He said he was unaware of the origins of the directive, but a former senior U.S. intelligence official has told McClatchy that Cheney's and former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's offices were demanding that information in 2002 and 2003. The official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the matter, requested anonymity.