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Justice isn't always pretty.

By The Armorer on January 11, 2008 | | Comments (12)

Let this be the end of it, then, for Lieutenant Colonel Jordan, the only officer convicted at Courts Martial for an Abu Ghraib offense (and that not related to the detainee abuse). He has essentially been cleared. From my reading of it, I would say justice has been served. Too bad that justice sometimes folds, spindles, and mutilates those who get caught up in it. As I said in my initial post on the subject:

If he's guilty, send him to visit us here in Leavenworth. And if he offers up testimony dam(n)ing his highers - I say "Bring it on!"

If he's innocent - send him back to work.

Welcome back to work, Colonel.

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12 Comments

By MajMike on January 11, 2008 8:30 AM
my retirement papers get dropped TODAY.
 
By John of Argghhh! on January 11, 2008 8:37 AM
Welcome to the Grey Legion, MajMike!
 
By Maggie on January 11, 2008 9:08 AM
MajMike - Why is this announcement in this post? Just want to make sure I'm getting it. Is it just random or are you making a statement about the post?
 
By Oldloadr on January 11, 2008 9:16 AM
MajMike, don't forget to smile real pretty for your shiny new blue ID card pic. By the way, make sure you find yourself a mentor who is already retired to help you with the transition. Otherwise you may have trouble coping with some of your new responsibilities, e.g. getting the active duty's way in the commissary... ;)
 
By MajMike on January 11, 2008 10:20 AM
as it happens, it IS specifically regarding this post... i had been fence sitting, 20 year letter carefully creased and folded and sitting in my pocket for a goodly long while now. this pretty much seals my decision. investigation fumbled the ball by not following some fairly self evident threads (even the ones handed to them on a silver platter). prosecution fumbled the trial by granting immunity to others in exchange for testimony (those others who should actually have been sitting in the defendant's seat right alongside himself). but of course, such testimony wasn't sufficient to gain conviction on himself on the major charges.
 
By John of Argghhh!~ on January 11, 2008 10:39 AM
I wondered how you were going to react to it, MajMike. I kinda figured it would be something along these lines. I would have liked another scalp, but I want the scalps taken properly, so to speak.
 
By MajMike on January 11, 2008 11:04 AM
after all the other charges were disposed, and conviction only on the one count, i'm sure that a cold hard look at it, in isolation (which is what Rowe would have done) i can see the logical conclusion that Rowe reached. and to that extent only, i can reconcile myself to Rowe's final disposition of it. doesn't mean i have to continue in service in the same Army with that other person who now has the option of continuing his service. some others who had not a shred of evidence pointing at them have at least had the bare decency to resign over the appearance or implication of potential dereliction. others who were granted immunity in order to testify continue in Active duty, and have been promoted and given positions of increased COMMAND responsibility. others, with nothing tying them to the situation other than the routine execution of their advisory duties, have been removed from promotion lists. unsatisfactory resolution all the way around.
 
By Consul-At-Arms on January 11, 2008 11:28 PM
IIRC, Lt.Col. Jordan was in the chain-of-command of the MI element at AG, whereas most of the misbehavior seems to have accomplished by the MP element. I've quoted you and linked to you here.
 
By Trias on January 12, 2008 9:24 AM
Does this outcome mean the events of Abu Ghraib have been totally legally gotten away with by the people involved?
 
By MajMike on January 12, 2008 12:44 PM
Counselor: there's much more to the back story than that. i'll drop you a line on your blog post if you really want to hear it.
 
By MajMike on January 12, 2008 12:46 PM
aaarggghh, i don't have such a login. ask John for my e-mail addy
 
By Consul-At-Arms on January 13, 2008 4:53 PM
@MajMike, Please feel free to comment at my web log. I'd be interested in the backstory of this case. I've been following it in the press for the past couple of years, since the story broke right after I redeployed from OIF1. v/r, CAA
 
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