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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Sivits to Serve Jail Time for Iraqi Abuse |
| 2004-05-19 |
| A special court martial Wednesday sentenced Spc. Jeremy C. Sivits to a maximum penalty of one year in prison, reduction in rank and a bad conduct discharge for his role in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse case. Sivits apologized to the Iraqi people. "I'd like to apologize to the Iraqi people and those detainees," Sivits said, breaking down in tears as he made his statement. "I should have protected those detainees, not taken the photos. I have learned huge lessons, sir. You can't let people abuse people like they have done." His lawyer, 1st L. Stanley Martin, had appealed to the judge, Col. James Pohl, to be lenient, saying Sivits could be rehabilitated and had made a contribution to society in the past. Sivits, who pleaded guilty to three abuse charges, took pictures of naked Iraqi prisoners being humiliated at Abu Ghraib prison. He told the court he saw one U.S. soldier punch one Iraqi in the head and other guards stomp on the hands and feet of detainees. He also recounted that prisoners were stripped and forced to form a human pyramid. "I wanted to help the people of Iraq," Sivits said. "You've got to stand up for what's right. I'm truly sorry for what I've done." Prosecutors had asked the judge to impose the harshest sentence despite Sivits' willingness to provide details about the crimes of other defendants, saying that Sivits himself knew that abuse was banned by the Geneva Conventions. Defense witnesses testified to what they said was his good character. Sgt. Dennis Boyd, who has known Sivits for four to five years, said he was "good work, good soldier, good kid. He was the `go-to guy,' the one to get the job done, and the one I could trust." Sivits pleaded with the judge to allow him to remain in the army, which he said had been his life's goal. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #11 He will probably serve twice the time that an "honor murderer" can expect in Pakistan or Jordan. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-05-19 10:58:34 PM |
| #10 He pleads guilty, gets one year and a book and movie deal. More will follow. |
| Posted by: Johnnie Bartlette 2004-05-19 1:46:00 PM |
| #9 Garner is the real scumbag behind the scandal, and is trying to gain public support by pointing his finger at the Bush Administration. Sivits crime was staying silent, and he's getting off light. You're an employer, and he shows up with an application. Are you gonna hire him? In a couple of months, yes. Some ignorant LLL boss will hire him for a job, or he'll get into a union somewhere. Sivits name forgotten when Garner and the others are convicted. |
| Posted by: Charles 2004-05-19 12:49:04 PM |
| #8 If he got "only a year" for providing testimony against the others, what are they going to get? Seems like when the other trials are said and done, the whiners, though not satisfied, will have come of the conclusion that it is time to find something else to whine about. This is because people will be tired of listening if the other culprits are handed 5-10 year sentences. |
| Posted by: BigEd 2004-05-19 11:07:07 AM |
| #7 #5 - You got that right. Just ask Jeff Stone nee Gillooly about the prospects for employment when your name's been shown all over the press. (Incidentally that was among my very favorite names to hear Tom Brokau try to pronounce. I'll bet Tom was a) glad that Olympic knee-bashing story ended, and b) bummed that he hadn't changed his name to Stone sooner.) |
| Posted by: eLarson 2004-05-19 10:56:26 AM |
| #6 Ahem... "I should have protected those detainees, not taken the photos." The lesson is NOT "don't get caught", son. Although taking happy snaps of your crime-in-progress probably wasn't the smartest thing to do... |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-05-19 10:36:16 AM |
| #5 One year and a dishonorable discharge is just the start for this boy. His name's been in all the papers, connected with some pretty disgusting behavior. You're an employer, and he shows up with an application. Are you gonna hire him? Do you want to be known to your customes as someone who hires lowlifes? |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-05-19 10:36:05 AM |
| #4 cs ...I agree with you 100%. I just am sorry he was first. |
| Posted by: B 2004-05-19 10:29:38 AM |
| #3 "That's not going to appease those who are looking for a crucifiction." B, NOTHING will satisfy those people. But Sp4 Sivets got exactly what the UCMJ calls for with his crime. You can't up the punishment just because the trial is high profile. Before the trolls show up, this was NOT a 'quickie' trial for the military. The military doesn't have the court backload that civilian courts do. Since he was pleading guilty the trial could have convened anytime after he made that decision. The fact they held it in Iraq was probably for show but the speed of the trial is about right. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2004-05-19 10:28:39 AM |
| #2 It's too bad he was first. That's not going to appease those who are looking for a crucifiction. Didn't the people in the Pentagon see The Passion? Those who were outraged by the inhumanity of AG want to see someone tortured and hung to prove just how civilized they believe themselves to be. One year and a BCD won't satisfy their blood lust. It will encourage them to call for more heads on a platter. |
| Posted by: B 2004-05-19 9:38:25 AM |
| #1 One down. |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-05-19 9:08:42 AM |