Higher-ranking officers may face prosecution

The New York Times reports that after the testimony submitted in Spec. Graner's defense on charges of abuse at Abu Ghraib, in which he pointed the finger at officers higher up the chain of command, there may be prosecutions of higher ranking officers. The highest ranking officer to face prosecution for the abuses in Abu Ghraib was Staff Sgt. Ivan Frederick, who plead guilty to charges against him.

But the scandal, which exploded last spring, has led to several Pentagon investigations that have found what one called "personal responsibility at higher levels," not only for failure to supervise and enforce discipline, but also in some cases for condoning and encouraging mistreatment of detainees in cell blocks and during interrogations.

And at Specialist Graner's trial, prosecutors did not deny sworn testimony that military intelligence soldiers, civilian interrogators and some officers asked soldiers to carry out questionable treatment, like striking detainees and having female soldiers point and laugh as male detainees showered.

A lawyer for one of the officers, who did not want to be named before his client is charged, said prosecution seemed more likely now. "Maybe six weeks ago we thought that the worst that was going to happen was a slap on the wrist, and he was not going to be charged," the lawyer said. "Things seem to be moving to the forefront."