Interrogation Chief at Abu Ghraib to Face Charges (Col. Steven L. Jordan)

[Barrett808]

Interrogation Chief at Abu Ghraib to Face Charges
By ERIC SCHMITT
Published: April 25, 2006

WASHINGTON, April 25 — The Army plans to charge Lieut. Col. Steven L. Jordan, the former head of the interrogation center at Abu Ghraib prison, with dereliction of duty, lying to investigators and conduct unbecoming an officer, the officer's lawyer said Tuesday.

Colonel Jordan would be the highest-ranking officer at Abu Ghraib to face criminal charges in connection with the abuses at the prison. Ten low-ranking soldiers who served at the prison outside Baghdad have been convicted.

To date, the highest-ranking officer convicted in relation to any of the prisoner abuses in Iraq and Afghanistan is Capt. Shawn Martin of the Army, who was found guilty last March of kicking detainees and staging the mock execution of a prisoner. He was sentence to 45 days in jail and fined $12,000. Other more senior officers have been reprimanded, fined and relieved of command.

Samuel Spitzberg, a former Army lawyer who served as Colonel Jordan's attorney in Baghdad in 2004, said a military lawyer for the Military District of Washington had alerted him to the impending charges, but that he had not seen the exact details. Mr. Spitzber, an assistant district attorney in Albany, N.Y., said he expected to return to active duty to defend the officer again.

"We've not had an opportunity to review the evidence, and look forward to doing that and determining whether there is a direct link with the abuses at Abu Ghraib," Mr. Spitzberg said in telephone interview.

(more)

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/25/us/25cnd-abuse.html

[ThomCat]

1. It's about damned time an officer was charged.

Now let's hope his trial leads to evidence against the people above him.

[atreides1]

3. He'll probably get a slap on the wrist

Remember the army Warrant Officer who murdered an actual POW, an Iraqi general who surrendered?

All that man got was a fine and house arrest, this is a lite Colonel, if he gets more then a nudge and a wink it'll surprise everyone.

[babylonsister]

2. Don't be surprised if he only gets a slap on the wrist; that's their

MO. If no one is found guilty, or a far lesser degree of guilt, nothing wrong has been done.

[Selatius]

4. Read the message in my signature

Also, "I was just following orders" doesn't fly anymore.

[Disturbed]

5. Rumsfeld must be called to testify.

Rumsfeld Shouldn't be Fired, He Should be Indicted
by Matthew Rothschild

“Secretary Rumsfeld has publicly admitted that . . . he ordered an Iraqi national held in Camp Cropper, a high security detention center in Iraq, to be kept off the prison’s rolls and not presented to the International Committee of the Red Cross,” the report noted. The Geneva Conventions require countries to grant the Red Cross access to all detainees. “

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0418-24.htm

The Constitution of the USA. Recently it has been found out that even more detainees were "ghost detainees". The fact that Rumsfeld has not been charged speaks volumes. If Congress wishes to garner any respect they should move forward with Rep. Rangle's Impeachment Declaration of Rumsfeld.

The US, Govt., Congress, and the Justice Dept no longer abide by the Geneva Convention or the Constitution of the USA.

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. Army Plans to Charge Abu Ghraib Officer

April 26, 2006, 4:41 AM EDT

WASHINGTON -- A high-ranking Army officer will be criminally charged in connection with the abuse of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, his attorney says.

Lt. Col. Steven L. Jordan is expected to be charged by Friday by the Army with dereliction of duty, conduct unbecoming an officer, lying to investigators and other crimes, according to his attorney, Samuel Spitzberg. Jordan would be the highest-ranking officer to face charges in connection with abuse of prisoners at the facility.

The Washington Post and The New York Times reported about plans to charge Jordan on their Web sites Tuesday.

"We're thankful that decision has finally been made, and we look forward to finally reviewing the evidence and making some decisions," Spitzberg told the Post.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-abu-ghraib-officer,0,5295029.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines


Wow, we're up to a Lt Col. Let me know when we start charging Generals, then we can talk about high-ranking.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Army officer to face Abu Ghraib abuse charges

Army officer to face Abu Ghraib abuse charges
Lieutenant colonel would be highest-ranking official to be charged

Updated: 8:11 a.m. ET April 26, 2006
WASHINGTON - A high-ranking Army officer will be criminally charged in connection with the abuse of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, his attorney says.

Lt. Col. Steven L. Jordan is expected to be charged by Friday by the Army with dereliction of duty, conduct unbecoming an officer, lying to investigators and other crimes, according to his attorney, Samuel Spitzberg. Jordan would be the highest-ranking officer to face charges in connection with abuse of prisoners at the facility.

The Washington Post and The New York Times reported about plans to charge Jordan on their Web sites Tuesday.

“We’re thankful that decision has finally been made, and we look forward to finally reviewing the evidence and making some decisions,” Spitzberg told the Post.
(snip/...)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12023429/from/RSS/

[Nickster]

8. But, but, but....Donny Rumsfeld told me it was just a few low level bad

apples? He didn't lie to me did he?

[HereSince1628]

9. Believe me, for Rummy a light colonel is a LOW level apple.

So is any General who disagrees with him.

Every BushCo crime needs some scapegoats, looks like they've achieved that.

[babylonsister]

10. He'll probably get a scolding and walk away, thus

sweeping the whole sorry experience under the rug.

[underpants]

11. If he doesn't lose rank this is just window dressing

the most money they can take from him under UCMJ is one month's pay (at least it is for NCO's and enlisted). If they don't bust him down, or kick him out, this is just for show. I would guess that this will get only a passing mention anyway.

[orleans]

12. is this when the truth will come out about rummy? n/t

[Roland99]

13. Not a chance in hell.

[orleans]

14. (oh come on...get my hopes up just a little...) n/t

[Roland99]

15. Then your hopes will be dashed and next thing you know....

you're in therapy sitting next to a terrorist (sponsored by a commie, lib Dem)


;)

[Up2Late]

16. U.S. colonel faces abuse charge over Abu Ghraib (NYT/IHT)

(This news came in connection with a new report by 3 U.S. Human Rights groups, link below)

U.S. colonel faces abuse charge over Abu Ghraib

By Eric Schmitt The New York Times

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2006
WASHINGTON The U.S. Army plans to charge Lieutenant Colonel Steven Jordan, the former head of the interrogation center at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, with dereliction of duty, lying to investigators and conduct unbecoming an officer, a lawyer for the officer said.

Jordan would be the highest-ranking officer at Abu Ghraib to face criminal charges in connection with the abuses at the prison. Ten low-ranking soldiers who served at the prison outside Baghdad have been convicted.

Jordan was the last major figure from Abu Ghraib whose status remained unresolved two years after the graphic accounts and photographs of prisoners being abused and sexually humiliated became public. Other more senior officers have been reprimanded, fined and relieved of command.

The highest-ranking officer convicted in relation to the prisoner abuses in Iraq and Afghanistan is Major Clarke Paulus of the Marine Corps, who was found guilty in 2004 of dereliction of duty and the maltreatment of a prisoner who was found dead at a marine-run jail in Iraq. Paulus was discharged from the military but did not serve any jail time.

(more at link)

<http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/04/26/news/abuse.php>

Human Rights Watch press release and links to the report at link below)
<http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/04/26/usint13268.htm>

[WhiteTara]

17. I'll be impressed when they indict

Cambone and Miller and Rumsfeld.

[Barrett808]

18. Fingers crossed. n/t

[Barrett808]

19. Former Head of Interrogation at Abu Ghraib Charged

Former Head of Interrogation at Abu Ghraib Charged
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2253357