Posted on 01/14/2005 3:01:58 PM PST by West Coast Conservative
FORT HOOD, Texas - Army Spc. Charles Graner Jr., the reputed ringleader of a band of rogue guards at the Abu Ghraib prison, was convicted Friday of abusing Iraqi detainees in a case that sparked international outrage when photographs were released that showed reservists gleefully torturing prisoners.
Graner, the first soldier to be tried on charges arising from the scandal, was convicted of all five charges and faces up to 17 1/2 years behind bars.
The jury took less than five hours to reach the verdict.
The verdict came after a five-day trial in which prosecutors depicted Graner as a sadistic soldier who took great pleasure in seeing detainees suffer. He was accused of stacking naked prisoners in a human pyramid and later ordering them to masturbate while other soldiers took photographs. He also allegedly punched one man in the head hard enough to knock him out, and struck an injured prisoner with a collapsible metal stick.
The jury of four Army officers and six senior enlisted men rejected the defense argument that Graner and other guards were merely following orders from intelligence agents at Abu Ghraib when they roughed up the detainees.
Graner, a 36-year-old reservist from Uniontown, Pa., was convicted of conspiracy, assault, maltreating prisoners, dereliction of duty and committing indecent acts.
Each count required that at least seven of the 10 jurors to agree for conviction.
Heard it on MSNBC and Fox.
Good.
If an Muslim did that to American prisoners, he would have received a hero's welcome.
Good. His arrogance was despicable.
So?
What was done was disgusting and wrong and consequences are being meted out, as they should be.
He was making a game out of something deadly serious. His actions were not designed to get information from these terrorists.
I would repsect him if they were designed to get information and not be part of a grand old time.
Following orders does not mean you do not have to be responsible for your actions. We learned that at the Nuremburg Trials, albeit that this abuse isn't as bad as what the Nuremburg Trials were for.
Taking pictures did him in.
Amazing how efficient these Military Courts are. Perhaps because they aren't paid by the hour? IMO he deserves the book.
The damage this shmuck and his buddies did to the war effort merits stiff punishment.
Oh I agree, my point is exactly that we have different standards than they do. So despite this, all the anti-American types who tried to paint the US in a bad light because of this can kiss my tuckus.
Good bye to bad rubbish.
Especially since the orders were coming from Graner, the ringleader, to the others. If you're implying higher ups "ordered" this nonsense, you are flat out wrong.
Will the Left. say it is "Too Harsh of a Penalty"
What will the ACLU do ??
Very good.
BTT
We're in for a long night here for the sentencing proceedings.
What should he get for a sentence?
My vote:
Reduction to E-1, Total Forfeitures, Dishonorable Discharge, 2 years confinement.
I was thinking 5 years ... but I gave him a discount for serving in a combat zone.
Especially since there were signs posted in the confinement area AND standing orders that no cameras were to be allowed in the confinement area.
Especially since there were signs posted in the confinement area AND standing orders that no cameras were to be allowed in the confinement area.
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