U.S. Military Hearing Opens of Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners
The U.S. Military is conducting a hearing to determine whether four U.S. reservists abused Iraqi prisoners at a POW camp in Iraq.
The hearing is a military version of a grand jury proceeding. The hearing officers will decide whether to recommend to senior military officials that a trial be commenced. Their recommendation is not binding.
The four - Spc. Timothy Canjar, 21; Shawna Edmondson, 24; Master Sgt. Lisa Marie Girman, 35, and Staff Sgt. Scott A. McKenzie, 38 - are all from the 320th Military Police Battalion, based in Ashley, Pa.
They are alleged to have punched and kicked several Iraqis, breaking one man's nose, while escorting a busload of prisoners to a POW processing center at Camp Bucca in May in Umm Qasr. The soldiers have said they acted in self-defense.
....The list of allegations, obtained by The Associated Press, included kicking and hitting the prisoners in the groin, face, abdomen, and head, and holding prisoners and encouraging others to kick them.
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