Soldier at Center of Iraq Prison Scandal Goes on Trial
By Adam Tanner
FT. HOOD, Texas (Reuters) - U.S. Army Spc. Charles Graner, the accused ringleader of the Iraq (news - web sites) prisoner abuse scandal that outraged the world, goes on trial on
Friday ready to offer a defense that he was just following orders.
Graner and Pvt. Lynndie England, with whom he fathered a child and who is also facing a court-martial, became the faces of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal after they appeared in photographs that showed degraded, naked prisoners.
Graner, 36, a reservist who had worked as a prison guard in the United States, faces 17-1/2 years in prison on charges that include conspiracy to mistreat detainees, dereliction of duty, maltreating detainees and assault.
Prosecutors say they plan to introduce photographs, videos of abuses and testimony from about 10 people in the case, which will last one or two weeks. With Graner's actions documented, his attorneys will argue he was only following orders.
"Spc. Graner received orders from his direct superiors. There is going to be evidence that he complained about the orders. He thought perhaps that they were improper," his lawyer Guy Womack told reporters at Ft. Hood, Texas, on Thursday.
"And he challenged them. He did exactly what you're supposed to do within the law of war. He asked for clarification from his superiors. On every occasion, his superiors told him the orders were lawful," he said.
The government said on Thursday it was dropping four of the 14 charges, but the core of the case remained.
Graner has lived freely on the base pending trial. At a pretrial hearing, he wore military dress uniform and appeared without the mustache pictured in some of the notorious photographs.
Four of seven members of his unit have already pleaded guilty to abuse charges and three have been sentenced to prison. The scandal sparked international outrage and further eroded America's credibility, already damaged by the decision to invade Iraq.
The Bush Administration and military leaders have blamed the abuses on a small group of soldiers and said there was no policy of mishandling prisoners.
On Thursday Senate Democrats criticized President Bush (news - web sites)'s Attorney General nominee Alberto Gonzales at a confirmation hearing for his role in formulating U.S. policies that critics say helped create conditions for prison torture.
Graner's court-martial begins with jury selection. Opening arguments are expected on Monday.
TERMS.
1.ringleader n. 주모자, 두목, 장본인, 혁명 주모자
2.outrage n. 1 불법 (행위), 무도(無道); 난폭, 폭행, 유린, 모욕; 무례, 학대
2 격분, 격노, 분개
vt. 1 <법률도덕 등을> 범하다, 어기다, 위반하다
2 격분시키다
3 폭행하다, 모욕하다, 난폭한 짓을 하다, 학대하다; <여자를> 범하다, 능욕하다(rape)
3.court-martial n. (pl. courts, ~s) 군법 회의; 군법 회의의 심리[판결]
4,degraded a. 타락[퇴화]한; 모욕을 당한; 비속화된
5.reservist n. 예비[후비]군, 재향 군인, 보충병
6.mistreat vt. 학대하다, 혹사하다(maltreat)
7.detainee n. (정치적 이유에 의한 외국인) 억류자, 구류자; 정치범
8.maltreat vt. 학대[혹사, 냉대]하다(abuse)
9.testimony【L 「증거」의 뜻에서】 n. ( pl. nies) 1(법정에서의) (선서) 증언, 공술서 2.증명, 언명, 입증, 고증, 3.(신앙 등의) 고백, 선언
10.clarification n. 1 <액체 등을> 깨끗하게 함, 맑게 함; 정화(淨化) 2 설명, 해명
11.pending a.1 미결정의, 현안의 2 절박한, 임박한
12.pretrial n. 사전 심리[절차] a. 공판 전 회합[절차]의, 공판 전의
13.notorious a. (보통 나쁜 의미로) 유명한, 악명 높은
14.nominee n.1 지명[임명, 추천]된 사람 2 수령 명의자
We face with both sides humanity and order. Which one is our priority?
It will be interesting topic. Let's prepare for debate.
PROS: IT SERVES THEM RIGHT TO RECEIVE THAT PUNISHMENT!! GUILTY!!!
CONS: THEY JUST COMPLIED WITH COMMAND!! NOT GUILTY!!