Iraqi abuse: Soldier gets 8yrs

2004-10-22 13:02

Iraq - The highest-ranking United States soldier charged in the Abu Ghraib prison case was sentenced to eight years in prison, the severest punishment so far in the scandal that broke in April with the publication of photos and video showing Americans humiliating and abusing naked Iraqis.

Staff sergeant Ivan "Chip" Frederick's civilian attorney, Gary Myers, called the sentence "excessive" and argued on Thursday that the military command was at fault for failing to train his client, a veteran military policeman and a corrections officer in civilian life, and for failing to address the horrid conditions at the prison on the western outskirts of Baghdad.

The abuses occurred at a time when American intelligence officers were under strong pressure to gather as much information as possible on the burgeoning insurgency, which threatens the entire US mission in Iraq. Since then, the insurgency has spread throughout Sunni Muslim areas of the country, engulfing regions, which were relatively safe for Americans and other Westerners only a few months ago.

Rebel bastion of Fallujah

US Marines clashed with insurgents in the rebel bastion of Fallujah overnight. Hospital officials reported that eight people were killed and two wounded in the fighting. There was no confirmation from the US command. The US military said on Friday that "combat operations" have not begun and American forces have not entered the city.

Attacks across Iraq have increased by about 25% since the beginning of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month that began last weekend, with mostly car bombs and strikes on civilians rather than direct assaults on US forces, Pentagon officials said. US and Iraqi authorities want to curb the violence in order to hold elections in January.

Besides his prison sentence, Frederick, 38, of Buckingham, Virginia, was reduced in rank to private, ordered to forfeit pay and given a dishonourable discharge under a plea agreement that requires him to testify against others charged with abusing Iraqi detainees. All military verdicts are subject to appeal.

Maltreatment of detainees

Frederick pleaded guilty on Wednesday to conspiracy, dereliction of duty, maltreatment of detainees, assault and committing an indecent act.

He's an adult capable of making decisions," the prosecutor, Major Michael Holley, said. "He's an adult and capable of telling, as we learned, the difference between right and wrong. How much training do you need to learn that it's wrong to force a man to masturbate?"

Frederick admitted that what he did was wrong but told the court on Wednesday that when he complained to his superiors, "they told me to do what MI told me to do," referring to military intelligence.

His company commander, Captain Donald Reese, testified on Wednesday in a video hook-up from the United States that Abu Ghraib was "a dangerous place" subject to frequent mortar attacks and with Iraqi guards who "were not to be trusted."

- AP