U.S. soldier Lynndie England guilty of Iraq abuse(not guilty - conspiracy)

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N26130802.htm

U.S. soldier Lynndie England guilty of Iraq abuse


FORT HOOD, Texas, Sept 26 (Reuters) - A military jury found U.S. soldier Lynndie England guilty on Monday of abusing prisoners at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison in a scandal that caused international outrage.

England, one of a group of reserve soldiers accused of abusing prisoners at Abu Ghraib, was found guilty on six of seven charges, including maltreatment of prisoners. She was found not guilty on a conspiracy count.

[rodeodance]

1. well, that was quick

[merwin]

2. My thoughts exactly

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. This is the second trial. Both sides honed their cases. She's guilty.

You doubted she was guilty? I don't think you did.

[Gregorian]

14. Yeah. What makes Limbaugh so impenetrable?

Wow, some cases must be harder than others. Politically, that is.

[Singular73]

3. Another pawn takes the fall for * and Rummy

[undergroundpanther]

4. This creep

Is a war criminal and it WAS a conspirasy. The asshole who commanded them and taught them torture techiques cut his teeth at Gitmo.
Dammit are people blind or stupid or both?

I think all torturers should be put to death..and if they want to let the hands of thier victims throw the switch.

[Waya]

6. So what she getting?

6 month, 90 days?.....Yea, she is a pawn....and she'll take the fall for the big guys.....but then - she participated - so lock her up.....and forget where ya put the key.

[Laughing Mirror]

33. She could get 10 years, like Graner

Even though the body attached to her leash was still living, unlike the body Sabrina Harmon posed in front of, which was dead, there seemed to be more poses and pictures circulating with Lynndie England in them, so Lynndie, the ugly retarded one, had the most exposure. So she not only takes the fall, but will have the honor of being the soldier the most remembered, the symbol of the Abu Ghraib torture and death prison, not unfortunately Herr Rumsfeld, the one who handed her that leash.

The original Abu Ghraib Seven have all been found guilty, all but Sabrina Harmon, I believe.

I have been wondering whatever happened to Sabrina Harmon, the pretty one, the "thumbs-up over the corpse on ice" photogenic one? She should be coming to trial too someday soon, I think. I'm not sure she is the one responsible for the killing of the corpse she was photographed with, but we have a picture of her as evidence. Will she take the rap for the death as well? Any Sabrina Harmon experts out there?

What about those other pictures, much worse pictures, that the Pentagon has successfully repressed from being released. Will the participants in those come to trial?

Officers from elsewhere in Iraq have come forward with the information that what happened at Abu Ghraib was not the work of a few bad apples just, but was systematic, widespread. The shit, and I'm paraphrasing one of the soldiers, was everywhere.

How will such par for the course torture and abuse be prosecuted on such a wide scale? Will all of these other torturers ever come to trial?

[VLC98]

58. About Sabrina Harman...

According to the BBC website, she was sentenced to 6 months & a bad conduct discharge. I'm surprised more people aren't talking about her considering, as you pointed out, she was photographed with a dead person! Not to mention the fact that she was 27 years old, so presumably less easily led than England. Not that I'm excusing England, just that there seems to be a lot of scapegoating going on.

[Laughing Mirror]

59. She was glowing in those pictures, radiant, All-American pretty

not the kind of face Pentagon wants to put on America's policy of humiliation, death and torture. Ugly ignorant tomboy hilbilly Lynndie England fit the bill much better.

It's all about PR you know.

[renabear]

22. No death penalty for her

I don't believe she should get the death penalty..I am against the death penalty. Lock up yes, but no death penalty. Thanks.

[Warren Stupidity]

23. You are so wrong.

The mildly retarded England thought up sexual humiliation and torture as an interrogation technique all by herself. And, get this, she sneakily used a tripod and a timer to take pictures of her humiliating prisoners so that it looked like there was some sort of conspiracy.

You seem a bit taken aback. Here, have some koolaid. You'll feel better in a moment.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

5. Just seeing

the expression on her face embarrasses me for this country.

[derby378]

8. When can we throw Rummy in the cell with the grunts?

That would be real justice.

[maxsolomon]

9. she the scapegoat, she'll do hard time.

the flip side of the 20 years john walker lindh got.

[MADem]

28. And the only reason he didn't get Ole Sparky is because of his

WALKER name.

Gotta take care of even those distant cousins.

[gratuitous]

10. Thank goodness we got to the bottom of this

I'm sure we're all relieved that the ringleader of this whole operation, a buck private, has been apprehended and found guilty. Nothing more to be done about this. We caught the mastermind, and wouldn't you know it would be a private? We all know how much power and influence they have in the military, but now that the hyrda's head has been cut off, all will once again be sweetness and light in Iraq, and our soldiers can get back to being showered with flowers from a grateful populace!

[Qibing Zero]

24. Ha. The sarcasm is so sad and so true. =/ nt

[Laughing Mirror]

35. She was not only a private, she was a clerk

They are always the worst of the bad apples in any torture camp, aren't they? Only the harshest harshest punishment be meted out to them.

[bullimiami]

11. ok. so prisoner abuse and torture is a crime. why are bush, cheney....

rummy etc etc etc not charged?

[Stinky The Clown]

12. Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse case goes to jury (MSNBC)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9492624/

Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse case goes to jury

FORT HOOD, Texas - Prosecutors in Pfc. Lynndie England’s prison abuse case portrayed her in closing arguments Monday as an eager participant with a “sick” sense of humor, while defense attorneys described her as a weak-minded pawn trying to appease a sadistic boyfriend.

A jury of Army officers began deliberations on Monday afternoon. England, one of the most visible figures in the Abu Ghraib scandal, faces up to 11 years in prison if convicted on seven counts of conspiracy and maltreatment of detainees at the Iraq prison in 2003.

Jurors heard competing descriptions of the 22-year-old reservist from Fort Ashby, W.Va., during closing arguments.

more .......

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Note on the story, above

The story says it is with the jury, but the headline and the news on MSNBC are reporting she was convicted on 7 of 8 charges.

[superconnected]

15. It's the privates fault your honor.

meanwhile the real criminals go free.

Yes she deserves time, but I don't think she's the brain behind anything.

[iamjoy]

27. Exactly - She's A Dumb Kid

I don't think of her as a sadist, she does not appear to be smiling in the leash picture. That makes me think there was something to the defense claim that she was pressured by her boyfriend. It also makes me think that on some level she knew what she was doing was wrong. Regardless, I don't think that is a good excuse for what she did. There are certain codes of conduct a service person is supposed to follow. She did not. She violated every standard of decent behavior.

All said, I will be ticked off if she gets a worse sentence than the boyfriend. And it still seems outrageous that the real people behind this are not brought to justice.

[regnaD kciN]

29. Somehow, 'Lynndie England' and 'brain'...

...don't really seem to go together.

(Which does not exonerate her, IMHO, any more than all those low-level perpetrators of atrocities through the ages, whose eternal excuse has always been "but I was only following orders." It does, however, suggest that those up the chain of command should be facing more time in Leavenworth than she does.)

[Richard D]

16. Lynndie England found guilty

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050926/ts_nm/iraq_abuse_verdict_dc

[DemInDistress]

17. Good for her........

I hope she rots in jail......................

[classysassy]

18. Well

that conviction should help recruitment.

[Leilani]

19. She was cleared on 1 count of conspiracy

& found guilty on another count of conspiracy.

And she faces up to 10 yrs in prison.

[Richard D]

20. Only?!?!?!?!

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[0007]

25. How come we don't see any of these guys going to trial?

Why is it all about this halfwit bitch and her boy friend?



The real perverts are here in this photo

[daleo]

26. Exactly, good reminders.

She is just a bit player. Rummy is the head.

[marions ghost]

34. So now in these Dark Ages

it has been officially decreed that Pvt. Lynddie England will continue to be the Prime Scapegoat for Abu Ghraib. She SHOULD have a LOT of company in prison, but our system of 'justice' (military or otherwise) operates in favor of those at the top.

It is all too easy for those who have much to hide to crucify Lynddie England. Even some here on DU are willing to funnel all their disgust and anger onto one individual--with an extra dash of 'burn the witch' mentality. Easier than facing the fact that the system is corrupt.

Thanx for the photo reminder, 0007.

[ElectroPrincess]

30. Yeah, that's hardly compassionate ...

She might have been on the "I wanna fit in with my boyfriend" smarmy. HOWEVER, she didn't think this stuff up all by herself. She was led. Sure she enjoyed it in a sick juvenile sort of way, BUT she is NOT the *true evil* behind the prisoner abuse.

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. hmm so when is her Lt standing trial

how abuot her company commander? Perchance the batalion comander, hells bells when is Ricardo Sanches facing the music, how about Feith, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Chenney, Bush?

She is guilty but she was obeying orders and the privates are paying for the war crimes from the top.

[Stockholm]

32. Since when is an army a bottom-up organisation?

As usual the real culprits get away. Military justice is an oxymoron just like military intelligence.

[saigon68]

36. Military JUSTICE is to JUSTICE

The same as military MUSIC is to MUSIC

ie; CRANK IT UP MR SOUSA

[Stockholm]

37. Ahh from Word of honour ? n/t

[AtTheEndOfTheDay]

40. Lots of cute one liners in the Army.

My online name is one in fact. I think Colin Powell popularized it with the politicians. Another is "shit rolls down hill".

[ElectroPrincess]

41. My personal favorite is ...

"Payback is a Mother F**ker." <eg>

[0007]

38. FUCKING A bring on the marching band and let Ms England

lead the parade.

[rainbow4321]

39. England: "I was used by Pvt. Graner"

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/092805dntswengland.9c97ae81.html

Army Pfc. Lynndie England apologized Tuesday for posing for the notorious abuse photos at Abu Ghraib prison, saying she did it at the behest of the soldier boyfriend she loved and trusted but who ultimately betrayed her.

England, convicted Monday of prisoner mistreatment, directed blame for her conduct toward Pvt. Charles Graner Jr. during her unsworn statement to jurors who will determine her punishment.

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

Her defense has contended that she took part in the detainee maltreatment to please Graner, who prosecutors have labeled the ringleader of the abuse by a group of U.S. troops.

[Domitan]

42. Lynndie England sentenced to 3 years in prison

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1164731

RT HOOD, Texas (Reuters) - Lynndie England, the U.S. soldier pictured holding a leash to a naked Iraqi inmate at Abu Ghraib prison in a scandal that prompted global outrage, was sentenced on Tuesday to three years in prison and given a dishonorable discharge.

In sentencing testimony just hours before, England, who had faced a maximum nine years behind bars, apologized for her actions and said she remained an American patriot.
.
.
The former West Virginia chicken factory worker blamed her involvement on Charles Graner, the abuse ringleader and father of her child.

"I was embarrassed because I was used by Private Graner; I didn't realize it at the time," she said, sometimes pausing at length to gather her thoughts. "I trusted him and I loved him."

England's mother showed up briefly with the 11-month-old baby in the military courtroom for the first time, and the Army reservist talked at length about how the child, who bears a striking resemblance to Graner, had changed her life.

[wakeme2008]

43. Good I would have like more

but three is OK by me.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

44. Maybe she'll get led around naked on a leash

[hunter]

51. I'm sure you'll see her naked somewhere when she gets out...

:eyes:

[Jack_DeLeon]

52. And that will be quite the atrocity...

[tocqueville]

45. I don't feel sorry for her, she should have known better...

BUT

the real culprits are still free

[rodeodance]

48. she is a lost soul-looking up to another (male) soldier-for love,

acceptance-whatever. She obviously has little self-esteem.
She did wrong but I hope she can turn herself around over the next few years.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

55. Yeah it's all the man's fault

:sarcasm:

[SpiralHawk]

46. Shit rolls downhill

In this case from The Big Crapper himself at the top of the Turd Heap. By rights, the Torture Buck must ultimately stop on Bush's rarely used desk.

[Fluffdaddy]

47. "Shit rolls downhill" and always have. Only the enlisted gets hit

[DinahMoeHum]

50. "If you are doomed to eat shit, you may as well bring your own fork"

so said writer Joe Bageant from "Mash Note To The Girl With The Leash"

http://www.unipeak.com/gethtml.php?_u_r_l_=aHR0cDovL2NvdW50ZXJwdW5jaC5vcmcvYmFnZWFudDA2MTMyMDA0Lmh0bWw=


:evilfrown:

[ElectroPrincess]

49. Yes, we're safe from all the toadies, but NOT their leaders /eom

[thecodewarrior]

53. Blackwater

will hire her, or Carlye Group, somebody from skull and bones will make sure she is taken care of

[charlottelouise]

54. Nah, she's disposable

I think it's unlikely that she'll be taken care of; that would require some sense of loyalty at the top of the pyramid. No, she's guilty, the case is closed and Pvt. England can just go back to the chicken factory.

[Dr Fate]

56. This solves nothing, n/t

n/t

[tjcrowe]

57. She absolutely deserves to be punished

But it's depressing to see that no one with a rank higher than PFC seems to be getting more than the proverbial slap on the wrist.

Of course, officers cost a lot more time and money than enlisted men; there's a disincentive to jail them or discharge them.

Does anyone know what happened to the person in charge of Abu Ghraib?

[RedCloud]

60. Will this be like My Lai?

What me lie?

Those who blame Jane Fonda for treason quickly forget that William Calley was the poster boy for unacceptable massacres in Viet Nam. (Yes I used the plural on massacres. The second hand sources I have from many who were there, said it happened very frequently.)
He helped galvanize a generation of war protesters and peace lovers
Now Bush has his convenient scapegoat. Gee the people who let folks in New Orleans drown somehow have a sympathetic ear for prisoners of wars held illegally and tortured.

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mylai/mylai.htm