Iraq Abuse Trial Set to Begin May 19

Note that they are rushing the trial of the man with the camera first.

Baghdad - In an extraordinary gesture to address outrage over the abuse scandal, the military is permitting broad public access to the trial and will invite the Arab news media.

The policeman, Specialist Jeremy Sivits, who American officials contend took some of the photographs of Iraqi prisoners that captured the abuse as it unfolded, is one of seven American soldiers to face criminal charges and the first to receive a trial date. There were indications that Specialist Sivits had reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in exchange for leniency at sentencing.

At a briefing with an American military lawyer, an Iraqi reporter demanded to know why Mr. Sivits was not being turned over to an Iraqi court.

"It will be a trial with a United States judge," the American lawyer said.

The Iraqi reporter asked, "No Iraqi participation?"

"No," the American official answered. "This is a United States military courts-martial."

It seemed likely that Specialist Sivits' trial, and that of the other American soldiers facing charges in the case, would generate strong emotions in Iraq and around the Arab world. General Kimmitt alluded to that when he said that although the trial would be "open and transparent," the defendants would be presumed innocent.