CO skipped testifying in his court-martial

[unhappycamper]

CO skipped testifying in his court-martial
he Associated Press
Posted : Friday Oct 19, 2007 5:13:41 EDT

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq — A former U.S. commander at the jail that held Saddam Hussein chose not to testify in his own defense Thursday in the first court-martial on charges of aiding the enemy since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Lt. Col. William H. Steele, 52, faces a life sentence if convicted on charges he allowed high-ranking former regime prisoners use his cell phone for unmonitored calls. It is not known if Saddam was among them.

Steele’s case has raised issues on defining who is considered an “enemy.” The defense maintains that Saddam regime detainees, once in jail and on trial, should be viewed as civilians in U.S. custody.

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Much of the trial has been held behind closed doors, when officials said classified information was discussed.

The only other U.S. officer known to have been accused of collaborating with the enemy since the 2003 start of the war was Capt. James J. Yee, a Muslim chaplain who was linked to a possible espionage ring at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, military prison. He was eventually cleared and given an honorable discharge.

Steele has already pleaded guilty to three other charges — including storing and improperly handling classified information and possession of pornographic material — which carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison, forfeiture of pay and dismissal from the Army.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/10/ap_steele_071018/