Weighing Up The Risks

What may Iraqi insurgents and Al-Quada operatives risk if they are captured by American forces?

... the use of dogs to intimidate prisoners ... being forced to engage in simulated oral sex and other sex acts ... forcing naked male detainees to wear women's underwear...

What can American soldiers expect if they do this?

Specialist Charles Graner was found guilty on January 14, 2005 of all charges, including conspiracy to maltreat detainees, failing to protect detainees from abuse, cruelty, and maltreatment, as well as charges of assault, indecency, adultery, and obstruction of justice. On January 15, 2005, he was sentenced to ten years in federal prison.

Staff Sgt. Ivan Frederick pled guilty on October 20, 2004 to conspiracy, dereliction of duty, maltreatment of detainees, assault and committing an indecent act in exchange for other charges being dropped. His abuses included making three prisoners masturbate. He also punched one prisoner so hard in the chest that he needed resuscitation. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, forfeiture of pay, a dishonorable discharge and a reduction in rank to private.

Jeremy Sivits was sentenced on May 19, 2004 by a special court-martial (less severe than "general"; confinement sentence limited to one year) to the maximum one-year sentence, in addition to being discharged for bad conduct and demoted, upon his plea of guilty.

Specialist Armin Cruz of the 325th Military Intelligence Battalion was sentenced on September 11, 2004 to eight months confinement, reduction in rank to private and a bad conduct discharge in exchange for his testimony against other soldiers.

Sabrina Harman was sentenced on May 17, 2005 to six months in prison and a bad conduct discharge after being convicted on six of the seven counts. She had faced a maximum sentence of 5 years.

Megan Ambuhl was convicted on October 30, 2004, of dereliction of duty and sentenced to reduction in rank to private and loss of a half-month’s pay.

Lynndie England was convicted on September 26, 2005, of one count of conspiracy, four counts of maltreating detainees and one count of committing an indecent act. She was acquitted on a second conspiracy count. England had faced a maximum sentence of ten years, but was sentenced on September 27, 2005, to 3 years. She received a dishonorable discharge.

What can American soldiers expect if they are captured by Iraqi insurgents and Al-Quada operatives?

THE bodies of two US soldiers kidnapped south of Baghdad before being tortured and killed were recovered, as an insurgent group led by al-Qaeda in Iraq said it had slit their throats.

What can the Iraqi insurgents and Al-Quada operatives expect if they do this?

"We announce good news to the Islamic nation from the battlefield ... The two crusaders taken hostage have been executed by having their throats cut," the (Mujahedeen Shura Council, an al-Qaeda in Iraq-led insurgent coalition) message on an Islamist site said.

-- Nick