NYT: High-Ranking Officers May Face Prosecution in Iraqi Prisoner Abuse

[DeepModem Mom]

High-Ranking Officers May Face Prosecution in Iraqi Prisoner Abuse, Military Officials Say
By KATE ZERNIKE

Published: January 17, 2005


FORT HOOD, Tex., Jan. 16 - The Army reservist accused of being the ringleader of the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison failed to convince a jury he was following orders when he mistreated detainees, but higher-ranked officers still may be prosecuted, military officials and lawyers for the officers say.

The reservist, Specialist Charles A. Graner Jr., who was sentenced here on Saturday to 10 years in prison, could offer no witnesses or evidence to prove that higher-ups authorized the treatment seen in the photographs that set off the abuse scandal: naked detainees leashed and crawling, or forced to masturbate, simulate oral sex or stack in a pyramid.

But the scandal, which exploded last spring, has led to several Pentagon investigations that have found what one called "personal responsibility at higher levels," not only for failure to supervise and enforce discipline, but also in some cases for condoning and encouraging mistreatment of detainees in cell blocks and during interrogations.

And at Specialist Graner's trial, prosecutors did not deny sworn testimony that military intelligence soldiers, civilian interrogators and some officers asked soldiers to carry out questionable treatment, like striking detainees and having female soldiers point and laugh as male detainees showered....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/17/national/17abuse.html

[aquart]

1. Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure.

Wanna buy a bridge, cheap?

[saigon68]

2. You are right NOTHING will happen to these Military Criminals

They are getting ready for another invasion as we speak. The Islamic Man will be killed in Vast numbers soon by the "CHRISTIAN CRUSADERS"

[struggle4progress]

10. Rove is stalling to fend off calls for a special prosecutor.

[two gun sid]

3. It might happen.....

although, they will only prosecute officers that were directly responsible for the supervision of Graner and Pals. No major figures involved in authorizing torture will be touched. None of the 'contractors' that encouraged torture will be brought to justice. This is complete bullshit and a total sham.

George W. Bush needs to be brought to the Hague and tried as a war criminal.

[UL_Approved]

4. Prosecution depends upon who gets pissed off

If some people who can get this thing to come out get pissed off, then the fur will fly and the whole scam will fall apart.

This is unlikely, but not out of the realm of possibility.

[gademocrat7]

5. Rumsfeld and company

This entire debacle should have Rummy and company on trial. Can justice be served in this country ever again???

[BloodBType]

6. BULL!

You'd have to be living in La La land to think Rumsfeld and his cronies will ever be prosecuted. Never going to happen.

[Jo March]

7. Not if we work our asses off to make it happen

and don't just roll over like we have done before.

There is power in numbers, my friend, and we have the numbers. We are getting organized. If that doesn't strike fear in the heart of *, his cronies and the freeps and bots that follow him, then they are way more stupid than I give them credit for.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. deleted

[gratuitous]

8. Uh oh, I'd better stand up

Because monkeys are going to come flying out of my ass first.