Maybe I missed it

[jhetley]

Has the army (or any other service) charged even _one_ officer in the Abu Ghraib abuse investigation? Even for sleeping on duty?

As I have mentioned before, based on my own military experience, I find the description of a PFC as a "central figure" in _anything_ military rather . . . boggling. Way back when, a PFC or Specialist had about enough operational leeway to wipe his or her own ass without command supervision....

Comments

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

I believe, though I'm operating on memory thirty years rusted, that one reason they are prosecuting the EM and NCO ranks first is that after sentencing, they _can_ be compelled to testify. Article 31 no longer applies.

The convicted soldiers could only be prosecuted further if new crimes, not covered by plea bargains, etc, came out in the testimony.

IANAJAG

[wcg.livejournal.com]

That is entirely possible Jim. Can't try someone twice for the same offense. So getting the troops into court first means that they can't invoke Article 31 on the stand.