Trial Opens for 2nd Abu Ghraib Dog Handler

[Roland99]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PRISON_ABUSE_DOGS?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) -- Prosecutors at the court martial of an Army dog handler said Tuesday he was part of a crew of corrupt soldiers who enjoyed tormenting detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

Maj. Matthew Miller said in his opening statement that Sgt. Santos A. Cardona harassed prisoners for "nothing more than the entertainment of the accused and the enjoyment of the other corrupt cops serving on the night shift at Abu Ghraib."

But defense attorney Harvey Volver said Cardona, a 32-year-old military policeman from Fullerton, Calif., followed the law and obeyed orders at a time when the Pentagon was pressing for intelligence and the chain of command at the prison was broken.

...

Cardona is charged with assault, dereliction of duty, maltreatment of detainees, conspiracy to maltreat detainees and lying to investigators in late 2003 and early 2004. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 16 1/2 years in prison.

And still no accountability by Rumsfeld, Ashcroft, Gonzales, Chertoff.

[Rex]

1. A trial for torturing 'terrorists' happens before

said 'terrorists' gets a fair trial. What do they get? Indefinite incarceration with no due process. I'm ashamed of my country.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Army Says Dog Handler Acted Without Sanction

(Very short article....)

Army Says Dog Handler Acted Without Sanction
From Times Wire Reports
May 24, 2006

The abuse and sexual humiliation that occurred at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison in 2003 and 2004 was the work of "corrupt cops" who acted for their own enjoyment and without the sanction of their commanders, according to the military's opening statement in the court-martial at Ft. Meade of a U.S. Army dog handler.

Military prosecutor Maj. Matthew Miller said Sgt. Santos A. Cardona allowed his dog to bite a detainee at the prison and participated in a game with another dog handler in which they used their dogs to frighten detainees until they soiled themselves.

"This case is about cops who were trained better and who knew better and decided to abuse detainees for fun and games on the night shift at Abu Ghraib," Miller said.
(snip/)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-briefs24.4may24,1,5835237.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

[saigon68]

3. Here is THE CRIMINAL "IN ACTION"

[Roland99]

4. Ironic thing is using dogs as weapons is sort of what kicked off hatred...

toward the US. Sayid Qutb was attacked by dogs in an Egyptian prison where those in charge had been trained by the CIA.

[saigon68]

6. So true

apparently general miller has now changed his tune.

[Eugene]

5. AP: Witness: Army dog handler acted properly

Posted on Wed, May. 24, 2006

Witness: Army dog handler acted properly

DAVID DISHNEAU
Associated Press

FORT MEADE, Md. - A key prosecution witness in the prison abuse trial
of an Army dog handler testified the defendant acted properly when he
let his animal bite a detainee at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

Former Staff Sgt. Ivan L. "Chip" Frederick II was a key government
witness Tuesday in the court-martial of Sgt. Santos A. Cardona. Prosecutors
have portrayed Cardona as part of a small crew of corrupt soldiers who
enjoyed tormenting detainees. The court-martial continues Wednesday.

In testimony augmented by photographs, Frederick said he saw Cardona's
Belgian shepherd, Duco, bite detainee Mohammed Bollendia twice after the
prisoner attacked former Cpl. Charles A. Graner Jr. in a prison hallway.

<snip>

Frederick and Graner are serving prison terms for their leading roles
in the Abu Ghraib scandal.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/14651350.htm