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| Iraq |
| Abu Ghraib officer cleared |
| 2008-01-11 |
| The Army has thrown out the conviction of the only officer court-martialed in the Abu Ghraib scandal, bringing an end to the four-year investigation and drawing complaints from human rights activists of a Pentagon whitewash. Lt. Col. Steven L. Jordan was cleared this week of any criminal wrongdoing by Maj. Gen. Richard J. Rowe, commander of the Military District of Washington. Jordan was instead given an administrative reprimand, a blot on his record. Barring any startling new information, the decision means no officers or civilian leaders will be held criminally responsible for the prisoner abuse that embarrassed the U.S. military and inflamed the Muslim world. Jordan, 51, of Fredericksburg, Va., was acquitted at his court-martial in August of charges he failed to supervise the 11 lower-ranking soldiers convicted for their roles in the abuse, which included the photographing of Iraqi prisoners in painful and sexually humiliating positions. But he was found guilty of disobeying an order not to talk about the investigation, and the jury recommended a criminal reprimand, the lightest possible punishment. Maj. Kris Poppe, Jordan's attorney, said he argued that Jordan "faced these very serious charges for a long period of time, that he had been found not guilty of any offense related to the abuse of detainees, and that he had a stellar record." Rowe agreed. "In light of the nature of the offense that Jordan had been found guilty of committing and the substantial evidence in mitigation at trial and in post-trial matters submitted by defense counsel, Rowe determined that an administrative reprimand was a fair and appropriate disposition of the matter," Joanna P. Hawkins, a military spokeswoman, said in a statement. Eugene R. Fidell, a Washington lawyer who specializes in military law, said the decision was not at all surprising. If disobeying an order had been the only charge against Jordan, the matter almost certainly would not have gone to a court-martial, Fidell said. |
| Posted by:lotp |
| #4 So as long as you don't try to stall the investigation, it is OK to put panties on muzzies' heads......... |
| Posted by: USN,Ret. 2008-01-11 14:03 |
| #3 Jordan was instead given an administrative reprimand, a blot on his record. Kiss them eagles goodbye, Mr. RIF... |
| Posted by: mojo 2008-01-11 10:38 |
| #2 Barring any startling new information, the decision means no officers or civilian leaders will be held criminally responsible for the prisoner abuse Gee, down in Albuquerque, six months later, the guards at the city/county lockup didn't haze the prisoners, but beat the hell out of them, sending several to the hospital. The guards were fired and faced criminal charges. The supervisors and the management above the shift paid no price for the acts of these people. And American public wasn't drowned in 24/7 news coverage of the affair. Could have it been because all the people above were Donks? No, that would be too cynical. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-01-11 08:54 |
| #1 yeah just ruined his career over bullshit |
| Posted by: sinse 2008-01-11 06:50 |