First U.S. Military Intelligence Soldier Convicted in Abu Ghraib Abuse

[pinto]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A U.S. Army specialist broke down in tears Saturday as he admitted abusing inmates at Abu Ghraib prison, receiving a lighter sentence in return for his testimony against others charged in the scandal.
Spc. Armin Cruz, 24, was the first Military Intelligence soldier convicted in the Abu Ghraib scandal, and his trial came as the investigation into the abuses appeared to move beyond the Military Police who have so far been at the case's center.

"There is no way to justify it," Cruz, from Plano, Texas, said after pleading guilty to conspiracy to mistreat subordinates and mistreatment of prisoners at the grim, walled prison in western Baghdad last October. "I accept full and complete responsibility."

Cruz, who had been assigned to the 325th Military Intelligence Battalion, was sentenced to eight months confinement, reduction in rank to private and a bad conduct discharge.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBQ5TN30ZD.html

ed: last word of headline snipped for space, "case"

[saracat]

1. Are the broadcast media covering this?

or are they too busy trying to cover george's ass with the hurricaine or hunting for forged docs?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

4. It's also on Salon: He "liberated Iraq," & made naked prisoners do things

http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2004/09/11/prison/index.html

Prosecutors accused Cruz of forcing naked prisoners to crawl along the floor and later handcuffing the men together.

Cruz, who bit his lips incessantly during the proceedings, denied he either ordered or directed the prison guards to abuse prisoners.

His lawyer, Stephen P. Kranes, maintained Cruz was suffering from untreated post-traumatic stress syndrome after a mortar attack. Kranes described Cruz as "a war hero who earned a Bronze Star, gained a Purple Heart, was injured in a mortar attack" and contributed to "liberating Iraq."

However, the chief prosecutor, Maj. Michael R. Holley, told the court that Cruz made a conscious decision to participate in the abuses and must pay for that decision. "He chose to degrade these men, to mock them like animals," Holley said.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. It's predictable --

The Officers will get the Elevator, and the Enlisteds will get the Shaft.

--bkl

[unslinkychild1]

3. Is this the same shithead who did the tv interview

and claimed he wasn't part of it? That he was only passing by or something? That he was "indifferent"?