Abu Ghraib Dog Handler Sentenced

An Army dog handler was sentenced Wednesday to six months behind bars for using his animal to torment prisoners at Abu Ghraib.

Sgt. Michael J. Smith, 24, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was sentenced the day after a military jury convicted him of five charges that involved maltreatment of prisoners, conspiring with another dog handler in a contest to try to frighten detainees at the Iraqi prison into soiling themselves and directing his dog to lick peanut butter off other soldiers’ bodies.

He could have been sentenced to as much as 8 1/2 years in prison.

Smith was also demoted to private and will receive a bad-conduct discharge.

Under military law, Smith will be required to forfeit all pay during his prison term, said Lt. Col. Bobbi Davis, a military legal expert.

Prosecutors said Smith let his unmuzzled Belgian shepherd lunge at cowering Iraqis for his own amusement.

The defense argued that Smith believed he was following orders to soften up prisoners for interrogation.

Smith appeared unrepentant when he addressed the jury Tuesday, shortly after he was convicted. “Soldiers are not supposed to be soft and cuddly,” he said, adding that he wished he had gotten his orders in writing.

Nine other soldiers have been convicted of abusing detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison. Among the abuses was photographing prisoners in sexually humiliating poses.

In closing arguments, prosecutors urged the jury to send Smith to prison for at least three years, suggesting that his actions could undermine U.S. standing in the world.

“Every soldier must understand that individual acts of misconduct have strategic implications,” said Maj. Matthew Miller, a prosecutor. “This is a global war on terror. It is a global battle for the hearts and minds of people all over the world.”