So, the first Court Martial trial in Iraq will be .....black corporal?

[keithyboy]

Will this be the first and only trial? If he is guilty, he should be tried, but i just find it interesting that this is first and most widely publicized trial on this abuse.

[markus]

1. Hopefully, many of these lower level folks won't get to trail

because they'll make a deal to testify against higher ups.

Hey, that's how its supposed to work for other orgaznied criminal enterprises. Why should it be any different for the BFEE?

If they don't plan it that way, I hope these guys defense attorneys start demanding to depose people all the way up to the CiC.

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. Jeremy Sivits is white.

His court martial is the first scheduled -- May 19 public trial in Baghdad.

[Qanisqineq]

3. am I misunderstanding the question?

Are you saying SPC Sivits, the first to be court martialed, is a black corporal? I saw a picture of him earlier, a specialist not a corporal, and he was not black.

[keithyboy]

4. I'm asking the question. the photo of Sivits in my paper looks

like a black man (fair-skinned). Either way, the first trial should be of one of the top brass to set the example. If it begins down in the ranks, the morale of the troops will be devastated.

[Qanisqineq]

6. I saw a pic on MSNBC earlier

he definitely looked white to me. :shrug: I think the morale of the troops will be more affected if NO brass are punished.

[LagaLover]

7. They need to punish those who committed offenses

ALL of them. Every single MF, all the way up and down the chain.

[Qanisqineq]

9. I completely agree

100%.

[BiggJawn]

5. Really? I hadn't noticed.

Honestly. Guess that's one good thing about not seeing TV on the weekends, I didn't know until you told us that he is Black.

And Lyndie England is a white cracker. And she's in the "hopper", too, so your point is???? SOMEBODY had to be first...Even if it should be the unit commander, but that's not the way our glorious Army works...

[0007]

8. I'm colored blind

Whatcha trying to say baby?

[Loonman]

10. Does it matter?

Really?

[Jim__]

11. Is anyone familiar with court martials?

Are the rules of evidence, etc different than in civilian trials? I am curious as to whether or not the accused will be allowed to claim and introduce evidence that they were following orders. Or, can the "judges" not allow such evidence claiming that they are not obliged to follow illegal orders?

I'm hoping that at these trials the truth can come out; but, I have my doubts.