Critics say light sentence for soldier in Iraqi death may tarnish U.S.

[bigtree]

Critics say light sentence for soldier in Iraqi death may tarnish U.S.

Posted: 01/25/2006 07:00:31

DENVER (AP) -- An unexpectedly light sentence for an Army interrogator who once faced life in prison for the death of an Iraqi general could tarnish the government and hurt human-rights efforts around the globe, critics said.


Mowhoush, the former commander of Saddam Hussein's air defenses, surrendered to the Army on Nov. 10, 2003, in hopes of seeing or securing the release of his four sons.


Sixteen days later, Mowhoush died after Welshofer covered him in a sleeping bag, straddled his chest and put his hand over the general's mouth, already covered by the bag.


Late Monday, a military jury ordered a reprimand and forfeiture of $6,000 in pay, and restricted him to his home, office and church for two months. The sentence will still be reviewed by Fort Carson's commander, Maj. Gen. Robert W. Mixon. (but cannot be increased or made more harsh by him)


Critics say Welshofer's case and others like it could endanger Americans whose captors might use them to justify inhumane treatment.

http://www.abc15.com/news/morenews/index.asp?did=24271

[acmejack]

1. Ya think?

I'm not sure it can be tarnished further.

[wtmusic]

2. We are now officially animals

Unreal. A wristslap for suffocating someone.

"You've got to give them enough room to make mistakes without treating them like criminals."

Last time I checked, suffocating someone was a crime, not a "mistake".

[bigtree]

3. the original charge was plain murder

got whittled down by his peers . . . time of war, and all that . . .I'm thinking of the effect on the hostages and future captives.