Abu Ghraib dog handler found guilty of abuse

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. Army dog handler was found
guilty on Tuesday of abusing detainees at Baghdad’s notorious
Abu Ghraib prison and faces up to eight years and nine months
in prison, an Army spokeswoman said.

The sentencing hearing for Army Sgt. Michael Smith, 24, was
set to begin later today, Lt. Col. Shawn Jirik said.

Smith was charged with using his dog to harass and threaten
inmates at Abu Ghraib in order to make them urinate and
defecate on themselves in 2003 and 2004.

His lawyers said he was unfairly lumped in with others on
the night shift who physically abused detainees or allowed
their dogs to bite them, and was acting at the request of
interrogators and prison authorities.

Disturbing photos of dogs barking and growling at inmates
were seen around the world in the abuse scandal, which cut into
Washington’s efforts to win support for its war in Iraq.