Credit Guy Womack (no relation) for even further lowering the bar on the bullshit we can expect from defense attorneys. As lawyer for Charles Graner, the alleged ringleader of the Iraq prisoner abuse scandal, Womack yesterday offered a defense that managed to be at once offensive, incredible and troglodytic. From Reuters:

Graner's attorney said piling naked prisoners into pyramids and leading them by a leash were acceptable methods of prisoner control. He compared this to pyramids made by cheerleaders at sports events and parents putting tethers on toddlers.

"Don't cheerleaders all over America form pyramids six to eight times a year. Is that torture?" Guy Womack, Graner's attorney, said in opening arguments to the 10-member U.S. military jury at the reservist's court-martial.

Outrage was registered in all the expected outposts, but what of the slander to cheerleaders? Surely the Pyramid Defense doesn’t do the spirit industry any favors. I contacted Sheila Noone, editor of American Cheerleader magazine, for her thoughts.

From: Sheila Noone
Date: Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:25:18 PM America/New_York
To: guy cimbalo
Subject: Re: Inquiry

Guy:

Thanks for even thinking of us.

Everything a cheerleader does on the field is done for a positive response and to build spirit. With this tasteless analogy, Mr. Womack has trivialized the problem of Army misconduct and insulted the 4 million cheerleaders who work so hard to be taken seriously as athletes and student leaders.

Please call if you would like to discuss this more.
Best,

Sheila Noone
Editorial Director
American Cheerleader & Cheer Biz News