BATMAN
03-23-2006, 09:59 AM
http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2006/03/21/PH2006032100856.jpg
An Army dog handler received six months behind bars for using his snarling dog to torment Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib, but the sentence did not set a clear standard for other soldiers, observers said.
Sgt. Michael J. Smith, 24, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was ordered Wednesday to serve 179 days in prison.
Military jurors found that Smith let his unmuzzled Belgian shepherd threaten three detainees at the prison, conspired with another dog handler to try to frighten prisoners into soiling themselves and directed his dog to lick peanut butter off other soldiers' bodies.
Smith also must forfeit all pay during his prison term, will be reduced to the rank of private and receive a bad-conduct discharge. He had faced up to 8 1/2 years for his conviction Tuesday on five of 13 counts.
Jean Alward, a senior associate with the advocacy group Human Rights First, said Smith's sentence was comparable to those of some Abu Ghraib guards.
"Our soldiers shouldn't be forced to sort out what methods of interrogation are permissible by watching who gets convicted of what," Alward said. "The rules need to be clear in advance, and senior commanders and civilian leaders who intentionally muddy those rules must be held accountable."
Smith was the 10th low-ranking soldier convicted in the Abu Ghraib scandal, in which prisoners also were beaten, sexually humiliated and forced to assume painful positions while being photographed.
Other punishments have ranged from no prison time for former Spc. Megan M. Ambuhl to 10 years for former Cpl. Charles A. Graner Jr. Many of the defendants have claimed they were following orders aimed at preparing prisoners for interrogation.
Smith's sentence surprised Eugene R. Fidell, president of the National Institute of Military Justice, in Alexandria, Va., who said he thought Smith would get years, not months, of confinement.
"I think people around the world are going to be scratching their heads at that sentence," Fidell said. "The conduct of which this soldier was convicted is highly offensive, and if this is all one gets - it's not impunity, but it's getting real close."
Prosecutor Maj. Matthew Miller told jurors at Wednesday's hearing that a prison term of less than three years would undermine the message of disapproval that Smith's conviction should send.
"Every soldier must understand that individual acts of misconduct have strategic implications," Miller said. "This is a global war on terror. It is a global battle for the hearts and minds of people all over the world."
The defense had argued that Smith should serve no jail time and instead be returned to his family and his unit. Capt. Scott Rolle told the jury that although Smith made mistakes at Abu Ghraib, he was also a hero for saving the lives of other U.S. soldiers during a mortar attack.
http://www.cbsnews.com/images/2006/03/21/imageMDMH10103210222.jpg
An Army dog handler received six months behind bars for using his snarling dog to torment Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib, but the sentence did not set a clear standard for other soldiers, observers said.
Sgt. Michael J. Smith, 24, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was ordered Wednesday to serve 179 days in prison.
Military jurors found that Smith let his unmuzzled Belgian shepherd threaten three detainees at the prison, conspired with another dog handler to try to frighten prisoners into soiling themselves and directed his dog to lick peanut butter off other soldiers' bodies.
Smith also must forfeit all pay during his prison term, will be reduced to the rank of private and receive a bad-conduct discharge. He had faced up to 8 1/2 years for his conviction Tuesday on five of 13 counts.
Jean Alward, a senior associate with the advocacy group Human Rights First, said Smith's sentence was comparable to those of some Abu Ghraib guards.
"Our soldiers shouldn't be forced to sort out what methods of interrogation are permissible by watching who gets convicted of what," Alward said. "The rules need to be clear in advance, and senior commanders and civilian leaders who intentionally muddy those rules must be held accountable."
Smith was the 10th low-ranking soldier convicted in the Abu Ghraib scandal, in which prisoners also were beaten, sexually humiliated and forced to assume painful positions while being photographed.
Other punishments have ranged from no prison time for former Spc. Megan M. Ambuhl to 10 years for former Cpl. Charles A. Graner Jr. Many of the defendants have claimed they were following orders aimed at preparing prisoners for interrogation.
Smith's sentence surprised Eugene R. Fidell, president of the National Institute of Military Justice, in Alexandria, Va., who said he thought Smith would get years, not months, of confinement.
"I think people around the world are going to be scratching their heads at that sentence," Fidell said. "The conduct of which this soldier was convicted is highly offensive, and if this is all one gets - it's not impunity, but it's getting real close."
Prosecutor Maj. Matthew Miller told jurors at Wednesday's hearing that a prison term of less than three years would undermine the message of disapproval that Smith's conviction should send.
"Every soldier must understand that individual acts of misconduct have strategic implications," Miller said. "This is a global war on terror. It is a global battle for the hearts and minds of people all over the world."
The defense had argued that Smith should serve no jail time and instead be returned to his family and his unit. Capt. Scott Rolle told the jury that although Smith made mistakes at Abu Ghraib, he was also a hero for saving the lives of other U.S. soldiers during a mortar attack.
http://www.cbsnews.com/images/2006/03/21/imageMDMH10103210222.jpg