Graner defense rests in Abu Ghraib trial

The Washington Times ^ | January 14, 2005 | AP

[rightalien]

FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) -- The defense for Army Spc. Charles Graner rested its case yesterday without the accused ringleader of abuses at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison taking the stand. The jury of four Army officers and six senior enlisted men was expected to begin deliberating after closing arguments today. Spc. Graner's attorneys had indicated earlier that he probably would be the final witness, and that he would offer his version of what occurred in a scandal that stirred outrage against the United States. But defense attorney Guy Womack said the other witnesses provided all the evidence necessary to make the case that military and civilian intelligence agents controlled Abu Ghraib and had ordered Spc. Graner to soften up detainees for questioning. "We came in with a checklist of things we wanted to present to the jury," Mr. Womack said. "Once we accomplished that, there was no reason to continue."

[rightalien]

Our guys are on trial for "abuse" and the "human rights" groups screem for the terrorists's rights. Who's crying for the beheaded, humiliated, dismembered good (best!) people? Please God, help this upside-down, crazy world!

[lilylangtree]

This man is NOT guilty. The guilty parties are mainstream media and liberal leftists like Ready Teddy K and Hitlery Clintoon who want blood from the turnips, the turnips being our military.

[Bobber58]

Graner defense:

"this whole situation woulda looked a lot different
if we coulda found a boat."

[RegT]

Have to disagree with both comments on this thread.

The US uniform should not be soiled by sadistic maltreatment and deviant sexual behaviour, and terrorist depravity should not lower the standard to which soldiers are held.

Graner did great harm to the country and should be punished accordingly.

[BlueLancer]

Well, after 32+ in-court hours, the panel has been out for findings deliberations since 11:30. From all of the testimony, I don't think his "I was just following orders" defense is going to fly. His direct supervisor, SSG Frederick, who has already pled guilty and been sentenced, testified that no orders to mistreat or humiliate the prisoners had been passed down the chain of command by anyone, and that there were clear, written "rules of engagement" for the treatment and "softening up" of detainees. Finally, all testimony has indicated that the detainees involved were not "intelligence assets", but rather thieves and muggers, guilty of robbery, burglary, and assaults .. as well as one female prostitute who was housed there, who was forced to disrobe for Graner to take nude photographs of her. There was also testimony that Graner had a habit of basically doing what he wanted to, disregarding orders with regard to his uniform, unauthorized badges and patches, and appearance while on duty.

So, regardless of my personal feelings, it would appear that Graner did violate the charged specifications of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. As a result, it's one of those, "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time" situations.

[IonInsights]

Graner did great harm to the country and should be punished accordingly.

Agreed.

[dighton]

Great seeing you back! Thanks for the close-up look.

[BobS]

It seems to me that they were given an order. They were let loose in an open-ended situation without supervision. So the night shift creatively found dirty panties and dog-leashes to entertain the prisoners with. What are bored people supposed to do? Watch CNN?

[Poohbah]

This man is NOT guilty.

Fortunately, the United States Army will make that determination, not you.

I find it fascinating that some "conservatives" think that the military should be a free-for-all, and that orders that are not to one's liking should be disobeyed.

[Constitution Day]

Thanks very much for the update!
I will check back tonight when I get back from hearing a lecture by Ed Bearss.

[aculeus]

Your insight is appreciated.

[BlueLancer]

A shift headed by a Staff Sergeant is NOT unsupervised. Additionally, there was a lot more than women's panties and dog-leashes involved ... not the least not being able to follow and obey a standing "rules of engagement".

[L,TOWM]

We are supposed to be better than the 14th century barbarians we are fighting. We are also supposed to have a professional military.

If you were locked up for a DUI, I am pretty sure you would scream to the mountaintops if you were forced to disrobe and climb on top of a bunch of naked guys -- I know I would have gone berzerk and probably would have needed to be put down or hospitalized. Most sane American men would.

Why do think Iraqi common criminals have to put up with that which we would not tolerate, were it happening in our own county's lock-up?

[DugwayDuke]

CNN is reporting guilty on all but one charge.

[BlueLancer]

Basically, he was found guilty of all Charges and Specifications .. five Charges and 10 Specifications. One Charge and Specification .. the one pertaining to dereliction of duty for willfully failing to protect detainees from abuse, cruelty, and maltreatment .. had 25 specific acts of dereliction and he was found guilty of 17 of those specific acts. For another Specification for which he was charged with aggravated assault with a means or force likely to produce death or grievous bodily harm, he was found not guilty of that, but guilty of assault consummated by a battery.

We're in for a long night here for the sentencing proceedings.

[BlueLancer]

See also ... Graner Found Guilty in Iraq Prisoner Abuse

[BobS]

I knew a couple of SSGTs that lost stripes for feats they created that were unrelated to abuse, sex, or substances. One sold black-market ciggies on a local economy for fun and profit. The other sold unknown cars for fun and profit:) Never underestimate creative talents:)