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Defense Rests in Charles Graner Trial; No Testimony By Graner

By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 03:41:31 PM EST
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Charles Graner did not take the stand after all in his trial on charges he abused Iraqi Abu Ghraib prisoners. Why did his lawyer change his mind about putting him on the stand/

"We came in with a checklist of the things we wanted to present to the jury," said a statement from Graner's lawyer, Guy Womack. "Once we accomplished that, there was no reason to continue. We presented all the evidence we wanted."

Today's chief witness for the defense was former soldier Megan Ambuhl, who also pleaded guilty to abuse and also was romantically involved with Graner. Closing arguments are tomorrow.

Update: Graner told reporters today he feels great.

"I feel fantastic," Graner told reporters. "I am still smiling."

He must be the only one.

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    Defense Rests in Charles Graner Trial; No Testimony By Graner | 8 comments (8 topical)
    Re: Defense Rests in Charles Graner Trial; No Test (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 04:37:55 PM EST
    That Graner is one lean, mean, romantically-involvin' machine. Poor Lynddie, left holding the baby. I see that BB, somewhere down below, seems to be saying that Graner's position (why, this was just hijinks, folks, like cheerleader pyramids) is phony. Good thing he didn't testify to it, then. If I read BB correctly, Graner was torturing the prisoners, not helping them while away the time with some innocent prank. I agree with that. Didn't he tell one of them, "Well, I believe in torture, and I am going to torture you..."? Or was that Chip Frederick? But it seems that BB thinks torturing prisoners is "pretty much" taken for granted in the Army, and a good thing. I trust that's neither correct nor a reflection of the typical military mind. (I'm relieved to find out my worst fears of organized football are based on nothing more substantial than some psychopathic right-wing radical's poisonous ideas of what might excuse horrible crimes, though.)

    Re: Defense Rests in Charles Graner Trial; No Test (none / 0) (#2)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 05:24:26 PM EST
    Graner was taking orders from above. He's an Ivan Demjanjuk who deserves to be punished, but the real story is tracking those orders up the chain of command to find out where they originated from. The next tier to prosecute would be: BG Janis L. Karpinski, Commander, 800th MP Brigade COL Thomas M. Pappas, Commander, 205th MI Brigade LTC Steven L. Jordan, Former Director, Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center and Liaison Officer to 205th Military Intelligence Brigade Mr. Steven Stephanowicz, Contract US Civilian Interrogator, CACI, 205th Military Intelligence Brigade Mr. John Israel,Contract US Civilian Interpreter, CACI, 205th Military Intelligence Brigade From the Taguba Report: I find that there is sufficient credible information to warrant an Inquiry UP Procedure 15, AR 381-10, US Army Intelligence Activities, be conducted to determine the extent of culpability of MI personnel, assigned to the 205th MI Brigade and the Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center (JIDC) at Abu Ghraib (BCCF). Specifically, I suspect that COL Thomas M. Pappas, LTC Steve L. Jordan, Mr. Steven Stephanowicz, and Mr. John Israel were either directly or indirectly responsible for the abuses at Abu Ghraib (BCCF) and strongly recommend immediate disciplinary action as described in the preceding paragraphs as well as the initiation of a Procedure 15 Inquiry to determine the full extent of their culpability.

    Re: Defense Rests in Charles Graner Trial; No Test (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 14, 2005 at 02:15:22 AM EST
    Defendants in the CCR war crimes suit [filed in Germany on behalf of 4 Iraqis tortured at Abu Ghraib] include: Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, former CIA Director George Tenet, Lt. General Ricardo S. Sanchez, Major-General Walter Wojdakowski, Brig.-General Janis Karpinski, Lt.-Colonel Jerry L. Phillabaum, Colonel Thomas M. Pappas, Lt.-Colonel Stephen L. Jordan, Major-General Geoffrey Miller, and Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence Stephen Cambone. --

    Re: Defense Rests in Charles Graner Trial; No Test (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 14, 2005 at 06:18:02 AM EST
    Paul in LA has listed a pretty complete group. That's the chain of command who should be answering prosecutor questions imho.

    Re: Defense Rests in Charles Graner Trial; No Test (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 14, 2005 at 06:20:16 AM EST
    With regard to Graner. I suspect he is going to do time and that wherever he goes, he is going to be one ruthless and brutal sob. Hey, Cliff or Jim, you guys have daughters? This guy probably shares your political views. Make a wonderful son in law.

    Re: Defense Rests in Charles Graner Trial; No Test (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 14, 2005 at 06:49:47 AM EST
    Let's state the obvious here! Charles Graner didn't take the stand in his own defense because he couldn't survive cross examination! This neanderthal will hopefully do 10 - 15 years in the brig!!

    Re: Defense Rests in Charles Graner Trial; No Test (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 14, 2005 at 07:06:30 AM EST
    Where is Janis Karpinski. I'd sure like to hear her story in her own words. Graner should be severely punished but it really bugs me that this is the optimum outcome for all above mentioned collaborators. I wonder if Karpinski is the missing link (seems so from Taguba)? Why can't the defense call her as a witness?

    Re: Defense Rests in Charles Graner Trial; No Test (none / 0) (#8)
    by desertswine on Fri Jan 14, 2005 at 08:06:06 AM EST
    So far, I believe, no one over the rank of sergeant has been charged with anything.

    Defense Rests in Charles Graner Trial; No Testimony By Graner | 8 comments (8 topical)