England gets 3 years by Abu Ghraib

[webnarc]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/09/27/prisoner.abuse.england.ap/index.html

England gets 3 years for Abu Ghraib

Soldier apologizes for abuse photos, blames former boyfriend

Wednesday, September 28, 2005; Posted: 1:06 a.m. EDT (05:06 GMT)

FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) -- Army Pfc. Lynndie England, who said she was only trying to please her soldier boyfriend when she took part in detainee abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, was sentenced late Tuesday to three years behind bars.

England's sentencing wrapped up the last of nine courts-martial of low-level soldiers charged in the scandal, which severely damaged America's image in the Muslim world and tarnished the U.S. military at home and abroad.

The jury of five Army officers needed about 90 minutes to determine their sentence for England, the 22-year-old from West Virginia who was the most recognizable of the reservists charged after photos of naked detainee in degrading poses became public.

The charges carried up to nine years, but the prosecution had asked the jury to imprison England for four to six years. The defense asked for no time.

None of the lawyers would speak with reporters after the sentence was announced.

England, who was convicted Monday on six of seven counts involving prisoner mistreatment, sat with her eyes forward as the verdict was read, occasionally looking down.

She spent some time with her 11-month-old son, Carter, before shuffling out of the courthouse with her arms and legs in shackles. Her reddened eyes stared straight ahead as she made her way to a waiting van.

England apologized earlier Tuesday for appearing in the photos, saying she did so at the behest of Pvt. Charles Graner Jr., who she said took advantage of her love and trust while they were deployed in Iraq.

"I was used by Private Graner," England said. "I didn't realize it at the time."

She was in several of the best-known photos taken by U.S. guards at Abu Ghraib in late 2003. In one image she held a naked prisoner on a leash, while in others she posed with a pyramid of naked detainees and pointed at one man's genitals while a cigarette hung from the corner of her mouth.

England, speaking in response to questions from a defense lawyer, said she was embarrassed by the photos and apologized to the detainees and their families, as well as to American soldiers who may have suffered in Iraq for her actions.

"I heard attacks were made on coalition forces because of the photos," she said. "I apologize to coalition forces and their families that lost their life or were injured because of the photos."

England's defense contended she is a compliant person who took part in the maltreatment to please Graner, who prosecutors said was the ringleader of the abuse by a group of U.S. troops.

England recounted how her relationship with Graner, 14 years her senior, developed as they prepared for deployment to Iraq with the 372nd Military Police Company in 2003.

"He was very charming, funny and at the time it looked to me like he was interested in the same things I was. ... He made me feel good about myself," she said. "I trusted him and I loved him. ... Now I know it was just an act to lure me in."

Graner and another former guard were also convicted at trial, while six other soldiers struck plea bargains. Graner was sentenced to 10 years.

No officers have gone to trial, though several received administrative punishment.

Graner on Tuesday supported testimony from a defense witness that officers failed to control the guards at the Baghdad prison, creating stressful conditions that disoriented England and led her to take part in the mistreatment.

Graner testified that he, England and others who worked the overnight shift in a high-security section of Abu Ghraib had scant supervision.

"It seems like the junior soldiers were on their own," said Graner, who England has said is the father of her infant. "We had little leadership."

Graner said he told officers about detainee maltreatment, which he claimed was done by order of military intelligence personnel. And at times, he said, military intelligence officers actually were present for the abuse.

"I nearly beat an MI [military intelligence] detainee to death with MI there," he said before Col. James Pohl, the judge, interrupted his testimony.

Stjepan Mestrovic, a sociology professor at Texas A&M University called as an expert witness by the defense, testified that England should be punished lightly because of the "poisonous environment" that existed at Abu Ghraib.

"She was caught up in this chaotic situation like everyone else," said Mestrovic.

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Okay, it was her boyfriends fault.

[Burgold]

I feel bad for her. She is a victim of this. Bloody cowardly of those who declared that a) this wasn't torture, torture is okay if it will save lives, or c) that these were non combatants and didn't fall under the Geneva Conventions so that torture was permissable. She is a pawn.

[nelms]

I feel bad for her. She is a victim of this. Bloody cowardly of those who declared that a) this wasn't torture, torture is okay if it will save lives, or c) that these were non combatants and didn't fall under the Geneva Conventions so that torture was permissable. She is a pawn.

Feel bad for her? She's a grown woman. She is not a victim. She is being held accountable for her actions.

[Burgold]

What about those who ordered her. I don't think this was done in a void. Can't believe every officer was unaware or ignorant of this. Remember the Rummsfield instructions on how certain actions could be gotten away with and not be considered torture? Who deserves prison her or the guys higher up who approved and looked the other way or both? The chain was cut off at the last link. She is a victim.

[SkinzRool]

Feel bad for her? She's a grown woman. She is not a victim. She is being held accountable for her actions.

She deserves a medal not a prison sentance! Those terrorist A-holes get a slap on the wrist for chopping American heads off with machetes yet our troops get prison sentences for taking pictures. Any American who thinks that is fair should be ashamed of themselves.

:bsflag:

[nelms]

She deserves a medal not a prison sentance! Those terrorist A-holes get a slap on the wrist for chopping American heads off with machetes yet our troops get prison sentences for taking pictures. Any American who thinks that is fair should be ashamed of themselves.

:bsflag:

Come on, there was nothing noble she or her scumbag boyfriend were doing. What they did was perverted and embarrassing to our country. I'm all for our military doing whatever it takes to protect our soldiers lives over in Iraq. If that means some harsh interrogation of Iraqi prisoners/terrorists, then so be it. But, that's not what she or her boyfriend were doing.

[SkinzRool]

Come on, there was nothing noble she or her scumbag boyfriend were doing. What they did was perverted and embarrassing to our country. I'm all for our military doing whatever it takes to protect our soldiers lives over in Iraq. If that means some harsh interrogation of Iraqi prisoners/terrorists, then so be it. But, that's not what she or her boyfriend were doing.

I couldn't disagree with you more. I for one am glad that those pictures were posted for all those terrorist F@%$ to see. They didn't kill any of them like they did to us, they just embarassed them. And as far as "harsh interrogation", our country is arresting those who have done that too, just look at Guantanamo. :mad:

[seamus]

The problem is we didn't know if they were guilty of any crimes or not because they had no trial.

[Sarge]

IF they had been doing this to get info, then I'd say she should have gotten a medal. But it was pretty much determined they were doing all that stuff for fun

The real question is, where is that fat assed female general that ran the place, and why isn't she going to jail?

[China]

She should have to serve her time in Abu Ghraib.

[Thiebear]

There is no chance the following people didnt know this was going one...

Team

Team leader

Squad leader

Platoon leader

1st Sergeant

Company Commander

if they didnt they werent doing their jobs...

Then maybe the battalion/brigade leaders/s1/s3....

No way private/corporals/sergeants go under unless scapegoat is the only response....

[nelms]

IF they had been doing this to get info, then I'd say she should have gotten a medal. But it was pretty much determined they were doing all that stuff for fun

The real question is, where is that fat assed female general that ran the place, and why isn't she going to jail?

Thank you Sarge, you said exactly what I was trying to say.

I could care less what the terrorists or the rest of the world thinks about our interrogation methods. We need to do whatever we have to do to protect American soldiers and innocent Iraqi citizens. But, it was determined that this was just some perverted fun that a few soldiers were having. And if there are higher ups that knew this was going on and did nothing, they deserve to go to jail too.

[NoCalMike]

This is just another case where the low-level person is paraded around by the media, and we all pretend like the problem is officially solved, all the while the people who ordered her,had overseen this, and who were aware of it, keep silent and the bigger fish to fry get away with it.

It isn't a coindidence that similar practices were popping up in several detention centers.

[JimboDaMan]

There is no chance the following people didnt know this was going one...

Team

Team leader

Squad leader

Platoon leader

1st Sergeant

Company Commander

if they didnt they werent doing their jobs...

Then maybe the battalion/brigade leaders/s1/s3....

No way private/corporals/sergeants go under unless scapegoat is the only response....

The expression I like for that situation is that those people you named were either responsible...or irresponsible.