Thoughts? Abu Ghraib guard’s case to be reviewed

[CommunityEditor]

The military’s highest court will review the case of former Army Cpl. Charles Graner Jr., the only service member still imprisoned for detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

The Feb. 12 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces comes nearly a year after the former guard’s attorney petitioned the court for review.

Graner was sentenced in 2005 to 10 years in prison for his role in the Abu Ghraib scandal. He was portrayed as the ringleader of the abuse and was charged with knocking out a detainee and stacking naked detainees in a human pyramid, among other infractions.

Do you think Graner should get out of prison based on the fact that the president had approved enhanced interrogation techniques?

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/02/army_graner_022810w/

[eggshells]

The military’s highest court will review the case of former Army Cpl. Charles Graner Jr., the only service member still imprisoned for detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

The Feb. 12 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces comes nearly a year after the former guard’s attorney petitioned the court for review.

Graner was sentenced in 2005 to 10 years in prison for his role in the Abu Ghraib scandal. He was portrayed as the ringleader of the abuse and was charged with knocking out a detainee and stacking naked detainees in a human pyramid, among other infractions.

Do you think Graner should get out of prison based on the fact that the president had approved enhanced interrogation techniques?

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/02/army_graner_022810w/

No.

1- 'stacking naked detainees in a human pyramid' is not covered under the 'enhanced interrogation techniques'.

2-Graner is a symbol to the US Govt. A symbol to the Iraqi people that the US knows that a bad thing happened and the US has done its best to correct the problem. If the govt sets him free, what are they telling the Iraqi people?

[MCGYVER]

Screw the Iraqi people! Graner F'd up, we get it, he get's it. He's been punished now let's move forward. Again, this is politics entering military decisions. How many child molestors have gotten less time than Graner? Plenty. Let's have some perspective here folks. The guy was (maybe still is) a dirtbag of a Soldier. Well he's far from alone in that category and he has paid his dues (as far as I'm concerned).

QUIT WORRYING ABOUT WHAT OTHERS WILL THINK AND JUST DO THE DAMN RIGHT THING!

[eggshells]

Screw the Iraqi people! Graner F'd up, we get it, he get's it. He's been punished now let's move forward. Again, this is politics entering military decisions. How many child molestors have gotten less time than Graner? Plenty. Let's have some perspective here folks. The guy was (maybe still is) a dirtbag of a Soldier. Well he's far from alone in that category and he has paid his dues (as far as I'm concerned).

QUIT WORRYING ABOUT WHAT OTHERS WILL THINK AND JUST DO THE DAMN RIGHT THING!

He's a symbol, not just a man who got caught up in a bad time. If he was not a symbol, I believe what you want to happen, would happen. He would probably get set free with no fanfare or press coverage.

The problem with symbols, whether those symbols are people, places, events, whatever, is they are not easily handled and rarely do they offer simple solutions. And, more often then not, involve some sort of (hopefully) skilled diplomacy to keep the uproar at a minimum.

Should he go free? I personally don't think 5 years for torture is enough. His sentence was 10 years...he did the crime, do the time. Even with 'early parole' (i don't know if the military does that), he would still serve 8 years, right?

I far as I'm concerned, he hasn't paid enough dues.

[RONALD45]

He's a symbol, not just a man who got caught up in a bad time. If he was not a symbol, I believe what you want to happen, would happen. He would probably get set free with no fanfare or press coverage.

The problem with symbols, whether those symbols are people, places, events, whatever, is they are not easily handled and rarely do they offer simple solutions. And, more often then not, involve some sort of (hopefully) skilled diplomacy to keep the uproar at a minimum.

Should he go free? I personally don't think 5 years for torture is enough. His sentence was 10 years...he did the crime, do the time. Even with 'early parole' (i don't know if the military does that), he would still serve 8 years, right?

I far as I'm concerned, he hasn't paid enough dues.

I agree Granger is a "symbol" who should serve his time, HOWEVER there are a heck of a lot more "symbols" as you call them who put events into motion in this case that will NEVER be held accountable due to their positions and connections (a certain EX DEFENSE SECRETARY comes to mind). So if we hold Granger accountable, then we should be holding them all accountable.

[TJMAC77SP]

Should he go free? I personally don't think 5 years for torture is enough. .

Torture. All other arguments aside, you truly believe he 'tortured' those prisoners? Jesus Christ folks let’s get a grip on reality. Did you violate the UCMJ? Yes. Should he have been punished? Yes.

Did he torture? PUT THE KOOL AID DOWN !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kenny10]

Torture. All other arguments aside, you truly believe he 'tortured' those prisoners? Jesus Christ folks let’s get a grip on reality. Did you violate the UCMJ? Yes. Should he have been punished? Yes.

Did he torture? PUT THE KOOL AID DOWN !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd rather be stripped naked and put in a pyramid than have my fingernails ripped out, beaten and waterboarded, among many other things

[TJMAC77SP]

I'd rather be stripped naked and put in a pyramid than have my fingernails ripped out, beaten and waterboarded, among many other things

Hell, most of the stuff those bozos did resembled frat hazing. It was unprofessional and should have been punished but torture................BULLSHIT !!!

[MCGYVER]

I agree, unprofessional? Absolutely. Degrading? Absolutely. Torture? Only in the imagination of the softest of individuals who have never heard, read or seen examples of true torture.

[RONALD45]

Only in the imagination of the softest of individuals who have never heard, read or seen examples of true torture.

Or served in the Armed forces which would include most lawyers, judges, members of Congress, members of Cabinet, and certain elements at the highest levels of our government.

[eggshells]

Torture. All other arguments aside, you truly believe he 'tortured' those prisoners? Jesus Christ folks let’s get a grip on reality. Did you violate the UCMJ? Yes. Should he have been punished? Yes.

Did he torture? PUT THE KOOL AID DOWN !!!!!!!!!!!!!

The question that was orginally posed was, 'Should he be released?'

I say again, No.

He did the crime, do the time. Abuse of a prisoner, detainee abuse, torture- whatever. He was sentenced to 10 years, he should serve 10 years. He's only served 5 years so far. He should at least do 80% of the sentence before he starts asking to get out.

BTW- wasn't he the guy that got Lynndie England pregnant?

[TJMAC77SP]

The question that was orginally posed was, 'Should he be released?'

I say again, No.

He did the crime, do the time. Abuse of a prisoner, detainee abuse, torture- whatever. He was sentenced to 10 years, he should serve 10 years. He's only served 5 years so far. He should at least do 80% of the sentence before he starts asking to get out.

BTW- wasn't he the guy that got Lynndie England pregnant?

It is the 'whatever' that prompts me to argue with your posts. There is a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE gap between abuse of a prisoner and torture. Speeding....vehicular manslaughter.....whatever.

Anyway, yes he was allegedly the father of England's baby