Soldier in Abu Ghraib Scandal Gets 8 Years in Jail

[joeunderdog]

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.

snip

Sergeant Frederick's lawyer, Gary Myers, called the sentence "excessive" and said he intended to appeal, according to a pool report from a Reuters correspondent in the court. "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."

The prosecutor, Maj. Michael Holley, showing the court photographs of naked prisoners, bound and hooded, said, "This behavior should not be subjected or imposed on any human being.

"The enemy feeds on morale like we do and this can form a rallying point for enemies now and forever."

http://nytimes.com/2004/10/21/international/middleeast/21cnd-abus.html?hp&ex=1098417600&en=14febe0c799a3fb4&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[flyingfysh]

1. of course, the higher-ups get nothing

the officers and people like Rumsfield get away with it.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

2. I contend the abusive climate was fostered by Bush himself

"You are either with us or against us".

Someone forgot to tell the grunts that they were representing their country- a supposed model of democracy.
Their religously confused and morally challenged Commander in Chief preaches compassion yet, as the candidate from the opposing party painfully points out, he has faith but no deeds.

And again we should ask: Where is Steven Darby?

[hippiechick]

3. Perpetual finger pointers ...

What is with that mentality, so willing to boast and bluff and abuse defenseless people with such bravado, but when they get held accountable, they always blame 'the other guy' .... in both directions, in this case ...

The grunts are blaming the Pentagon, et al ... the Pentagon's blaming the 'over zealous and out of control few' ... nobody's willing to stand up like the 'soldier' they're supposed to be and DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS.


WTF ??? :mad:


:hippie:

[hang a left]

4. Is this that slimeball with the thin mustache that enjoyed

sucker punching poor hooded Iraqis in pile? Piss on him>

:grr:

[Moderator]

5. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=921362


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