getting away with murder

Jury Orders Reprimand, No Jail for Soldier
FORT CARSON, Colo. - A military jury has recommended that an officer once facing up to life in prison for the interrogation death of an Iraqi general be given only a reprimand, a decision that drew applause from soldiers.

Initially charged with murder, Chief Warrant Officer Lewis Welshofer Jr. now faces no jail time, the forfeiture of $6,000 in salary and what amounts largely to a barracks restriction for 60 days.
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Welshofer was convicted Saturday of negligent homicide and negligent dereliction of duty for stuffing the Iraqi general headfirst into a sleeping bag and sitting on his chest.
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Prosecutors had described Welshofer as a rogue interrogator who became frustrated with Iraqi Maj. Gen. Abed Hamed Mowhoush's refusal to answer questions and escalated his techniques from simple interviews to beatings to simulating drowning, and finally, to death.
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David Danzig, spokesman for New York-based Human Rights First, said he was shocked by what the thought was a too-lenient sentence.

"My concern is that it suggests the United States doesn't take these kinds of issues seriously. There's no indication anything more will be done to account for the death of this detainee who was in U.S. custody."

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What kind of message are we sending to the Iraqis when we do something like this? This is sure to win the hearts and minds of the people! $6000 and 60 days?!?! I guess we're showing what we think an Iraqi life is worth!