Convicted Soldier Unrepentant in Court: Dog Handler at Abu Ghraib

[Generic Other]

Scoffs at 'Soft and Cuddly'
By DAVID DISHNEAU, AP

FORT MEADE, Md. (March 22) - An Army dog handler convicted of tormenting Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison with his snarling animal was unrepentant, telling a court-martial jury that soldiers aren't supposed to be "soft and cuddly."

Sgt. Michael J. Smith, 24, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was found guilty Tuesday of six of 13 counts. A judge later dismissed one count, and Smith could face up to 8 1/2 years in prison. His sentencing hearing was set to continue Wednesday.

Smith told the court-martial jury that he wished he had learned in basic training how to better avoid getting into trouble with superiors. Soldiers who do not "end up in a heap of trouble," he said.

Prosecutors said Smith let his unmuzzled black Belgian shepherd Marco bark and lunge at several prisoners for his own amusement. One of the photographs that exposed the Abu Ghraib scandal shows his dog straining on its leash, just inches from the face of a cowering prisoner.

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[Mabus]

1. Did you see the poll results?

What do you think of Sgt. Michael Smith's unrepentant attitude?
I think he's right 50%
I think he's wrong 29%
I have mixed feelings 21%
Total Votes: 26,932
Note on Poll Results

edited to add excerpt:

Smith was found guilty of maltreating three prisoners, conspiring with another dog handler in a contest to make detainees soil themselves, dereliction of duty, assault and an indecent act. The assault charge was dismissed.

The indecency conviction was for Smith directing his dog to lick peanut butter off the genitals of a male soldier and the breasts of a female soldier.

Smith expressed remorse for that action. "It was foolish, stupid and juvenile. There is nothing I could do to take it back. If I could, I would," Smith said.

The trial of the other dog handler, Sgt. Santos A. Cardona, 31, of Fullerton, Calif., is set for May 22.

He regrets the indecency charge but doesn't regret his little contest to make detainees shit in their pants. Maybe we should allow dogs to torment him to see how many times he can shit in his pants during his incarceration.

[Generic Other]

2. AOL should have asked whether he was an embarassment to human race

I would have for sure picked that answer.