Abu Ghraib Back in the News.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/21/international/middleeast/21cnd-abus.html?hp&ex=1098417600&en=14febe0c799a3fb4&ei=5094&partner=homepage wrote:
U.S. Soldier in Abu Ghraib Scandal Gets 8 Years in Jail
The highest-ranking Army reservist accused in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal was sentenced to eight years in prison at a court-martial in Baghdad today for sexually and physically abusing detainees. The judge, Col. James Pohl, also sentenced the reservist, Staff Sgt. Ivan L. Frederick II, to a reduction in rank to private, to forfeiting his pay and to a dishonorable discharge from the Army...
Sergeant Frederick's lawyer, Gary Myers, called the sentence "excessive" and said he intended to appeal, Reuters reported. "We will seek to try to achieve a sentence reduction," he said.
Mr. Myers said that while Sergeant Frederick was right to be punished, a degree of responsibility had to be borne by the military establishment. "Punish him, yes," Mr. Myers said. "But please try to understand the defense's point of view that there is corporate responsibility," Mr. Myers said, adding that the hearing had shown that the sergeant "has no abhorrent tendencies."
Sergeant Frederick, a military police officer, is the third American soldier to be convicted for his part in the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal. Five soldiers are still due to face courts-martial...
At the first day of the hearing, on Wednesday, the sergeant admitted charges of conspiracy, dereliction of duty, maltreatment of detainees, assault, and committing an indecent act in three incidents in October and November of last year. Under the plea agreement he denied other allegations.
The three incidents included piling naked prisoners into a pyramid, which became notorious when photographs of the scene published in April caused worldwide outrage. Asked if another soldier was laughing as he stomped on the prisoners' hands and feet, Sergeant Frederick told Colonel Pohl, "Sort, of, sir."
"You could have stopped it?" Colonel Pohl asked.
"Yes, but I didn't," Sergeant Frederick replied...
Was the first one English's case?
Anyways, this is intgeresting in many ways. The primary one being if there is going to be an aggressive dealing with the "corporate resposibilities?" I know immediately after the event there was a re-evaluation of CIA interogation tactics, but I think they fell quickly from the front headlines, to the back page, to not at all. Will this re-invigorate intelligence reform? I doubt it. Especially not now. Which brings me to point number two.
Its two weeks before Nov. 2nd election. This has to be the singularly ugliest moment in Iraq, and its on the front pages of every paper. How much does this affect the election? Perhaps not at all, because it has a distant feel to it right now, and most people's memories of the experience are about as long-term as the paper's ability to keep it on the front page. But, this could be picking at an old would?
I don't know. The whole thing irritates me that they argue about individual choice in an institution that builds its members up specifically not to make independant decisions in times of action. That and my specualtion about power hierachies and socio-economic class. I really was upset when this came out, and am shocked it fell off my radar. I also can't believe it apparently fell of Kerry's, because it really is an ugly moment that represented alot more in the scheme of out national approach to Iraq and the Iraqi people.
-Dolce
