A Different Drummer

The assholes who got busted red handed playing weird redneck pseudo homoerotic asshole games with prisoners in Iraq started today. I'm not going to say too much about this, because I will end up saying something stupid and nasty that I regret later.

But.

This was too good not to mention. The lawyer representing aforementioned assholes has an interesting angle on how to justify what happened.

"The soldier denies conspiracy to mistreat prisoners and assault, in incidents shown in photographs of naked prisoners posed in piles.

Guy Womack, attorney for Specialist Charles Graner, said US cheerleaders often formed human pyramids.

"Is that torture?" he asked, opening Spc Graner's defence on Monday."

And its a theme he seems to want to develop further:

"Another photo featured Pte Lynndie England, who has since had a child with Graner, leading a prisoner on a leash.

Mr Womack said tethers were "a valid tool" when dealing not only with prisoners, but also with children.

"You've probably been at a mall or airport and seen children on tethers; they're not being abused," he argued."

This seriously has to be the some of the most bat-shit insane logic ever employed in a court room. By this logic, because people in relationships have sex all the time, I can go and fuck a 6 year old. Or a comatose hospital patient. Or, more accurately, a prisoner who I am guarding.

If this works and the guy gets off not guilty, it is a complete puch to the testicles of the US legal system. The worst thing is, I can somehow see it happening. If this guy comes out of this not guilty, it will be a Rodney King style injustice - and perhaps the Baghdad version of the LA Riots should follow.