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Lynndie England: I Wasn't Ordered to Abuse Detainees
NewsMax ^ | 5-16-04

Posted on 05/16/2004 9:32:23 AM PDT by jmstein7

The female GI who is at the center of the storm over allegations of mistreatment at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison has told military investigators that she received no specific orders to abuse detainees.

A transcript of her May 5 military interview obtained by the New York Times shows England was asked, "Did anyone ever give specific orders of how to 'break' detainees?"

"No," England answered point blank. Instead she told probers that military intelligence merely encouraged them to keep doing whatever they were doing to soften prisoners up - "that we were doing a good job."

If true, England's admission suggests that the idea to use sexual humiliation to break Iraqi prisoners originated with the accused MPs - and not with higher-ups on site or at the Pentagon.

A lawyer for Specialist Charles Graner seemed to echo England's comments, telling the Times that the orders his client was following were usually general in nature.

"Most are not specific. Some are pretty clear. The exact wording, it's hard to say," attorney Gary Womack told the paper.

Neal Puckett, the lawyer for Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski who oversaw Abu Ghraib, said the testimony by England and others would complicate any legal defense attempting to pin blame on higher-ups.

"I think they are going to have a hard time demonstrating that they were instructed, that they were to specifically to strip these guys naked and pile them up on the floor," Puckett told the Times.

Court records of interviews with other suspects in the Iraqi prison abuse scandal show that military intelligence officers might have authorized interrogation tactics that included sleep and food deprivation and intimidation with muzzled dogs.

But the same witnesses said none of the orders sanctioned hitting Iraqi detainees, building naked pyramids or having them photographed while simulating sex acts.


TOPICS: Front Page News
KEYWORDS: charlesgraner; iraqabuse; iraqipow; lyndieengland
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To: LoudRepublicangirl; GraniteStateConservative
General Taguba reported that *low-level* intelligence types were involved and he found no evidence of any orders or policy being employed with the perverts.

The idiotic media cannot follow from point to point, or they don't wish to, so they took the Graner's defense attorney's spin and ignored the facts assembled to date for context.

41 posted on 05/16/2004 12:37:12 PM PDT by cyncooper
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To: jmstein7

42 posted on 05/16/2004 12:38:06 PM PDT by Mike Bates (Irish Alzheimer's victim: I only remember the grudges.)
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To: MizSterious

"I'm starting to get angry with the President. Not for the alleged abuse, but for not vigorously pointing out what is obvious to us--that a little humiliation is not torture, and that a wearing women's panties on one's head would be far preferable than losing that same head by some clumsy and inept beheader. If the President doesn't start fighting back (and not with these mild denials), much more is lost than just the next election. If Kerry is elected, I have no doubt whatever that it will mean the end of our free country."

FWIW, Secty of State Powell has made comments and demands of Arab leaders to show balance and condemn the killing of Nick Berg...

The fact is, the media would have a field day if Bush or Rummy tried to downplay it. They would (falsely) talk of a coverup. In these matters IT IS UP TO WE THE PEOPLE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE BIASED MEDIA!

It is time, past time, to send sharply worded letters to editors on this matter, accusing them of abject bias,
telling them that the oil-for-food corruption and billion dollar bribes is a real scandal, media fake photo reporting is the real scandal, etc.


43 posted on 05/16/2004 12:41:10 PM PDT by WOSG (http://freedomstruth.blogspot.com - I salute our brave fallen.)
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To: JellyJam
She's so gonna end up in porno.

From what they've said about some of the video portions that weren't released, she already has.

44 posted on 05/16/2004 1:00:58 PM PDT by highlander_UW (A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel. - Robert Frost)
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Which major presidential candidate once said this? But of course, John F. Kerry on Meet The Press, 18 April 1971
45 posted on 05/16/2004 1:09:55 PM PDT by CounterCounterCulture (Remember, name and town, name and town, if you wish to opine)
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To: Thud

ping


46 posted on 05/16/2004 1:28:22 PM PDT by Dark Wing
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To: Smartass
The whole mess is getting foggy. English first speaking on her own, and then through family, and now spinning through an attorney,

Lynndie England is not "now" speaking through an attorney. There were no less than five attorneys purporting to be representing her last week. Four appeared on the tube Monday night, though they all noted they had not met or spoken to her yet, they had talking points assembled. The fifth man I saw on LKL two nights later.

Bizarre (yet obvious).

47 posted on 05/16/2004 1:30:08 PM PDT by cyncooper
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To: cyncooper
Sounds like take a number and get line. From what I have
read, she might be positioning for a plea bargain!
Although, military law differs from civilian civil and
criminal law.
48 posted on 05/16/2004 1:57:59 PM PDT by Smartass ( BUSH & CHENEY IN 2004 - Si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: jmstein7

When all is said and done with this story, I belive the root of this evil will fall at the feet of one pathological, redneck prison guard.


49 posted on 05/16/2004 2:10:46 PM PDT by Beckwith
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To: TomGuy

They weren't ordered, but who told them they were "doing a good job"? Do you suppose it was BG Karpinski?


50 posted on 05/16/2004 2:17:14 PM PDT by arasina (So there.)
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To: jmstein7
Click for Leavenworth, Kansas Forecast

Looks like a lovely day in Kansas.

51 posted on 05/16/2004 2:22:04 PM PDT by Lil'freeper (The enemy's gate is down!)
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To: GraniteStateConservative

Who said that anything in this article absolved military authorities? The chain of command that allowed this to happen are still responsible.

The point of this article is contradicting the exploiters, like Sen. Levin, Sen. Kennedy, etc. that this was 'systematically directed'.

I am not sure why you think these are staged photos.


52 posted on 05/16/2004 2:44:04 PM PDT by gogipper
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To: alnick
I hope so, especially after Kennedy likened the US Military to Saddam Hussein.

A new political TV ad:

A shot of Ted Kennedy uttering these words followed by a shot of England doing her thing. Next, horribly graphic shots of Saddam's torture sessions, followed by Nick Berg's and Daniel Perl's executions with a vice over identifying them a such. No other politicians mentioned in the ad. Paid for by (Add name of independent grassroots organization here).

That should take care of the issue for a while. (Mileage may vary)

53 posted on 05/16/2004 2:44:15 PM PDT by Dec31,1999 (Capital punishment saves lives.)
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To: cyncooper

that *low-level* intelligence types were involved

They were "low" alright.


54 posted on 05/16/2004 2:47:57 PM PDT by LoudRepublicangirl (loudrepublicangirl)
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To: alnick
I hope so, especially after Kennedy likened the US Military to Saddam Hussein.

A new political TV ad:

A shot of Ted Kennedy uttering these words followed by a shot of England doing her thing. Next, horribly graphic shots of Saddam's torture sessions, followed by Nick Berg's and Daniel Perl's executions with a vice over identifying them a such. No other politicians mentioned in the ad. Paid for by (Add name of independent grassroots organization here).

That should take care of the issue for a while. (Mileage may vary)

55 posted on 05/16/2004 2:51:15 PM PDT by Dec31,1999 (Capital punishment saves lives.)
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To: Dec31,1999

Sorry 'bout the double post. I hate when that happens....


56 posted on 05/16/2004 2:55:15 PM PDT by Dec31,1999 (Capital punishment saves lives.)
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To: jslade

"There will always be an England..."


57 posted on 05/16/2004 3:48:24 PM PDT by sheik yerbouty
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To: gogipper

Because there's a photo showing them being staged-- with 8 people around them.


58 posted on 05/16/2004 4:33:37 PM PDT by GraniteStateConservative (...He had committed no crime against America so I did not bring him here...-- Worst.President.Ever.)
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To: jmstein7

Interesting take in The Village Voice:


http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0419/goldstein2.php


59 posted on 05/16/2004 5:16:34 PM PDT by Indie (We don't need no steenkin' experts!)
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To: gogipper
I think that its very convenient for the criminals like England to claim the photo's were staged remember there are 1 million "framed and innocent" people in our prisons. Perhaps FReepers shouldn't bring out the tissue's for common criminals like England.... unless the new conservatism is "criminal's rights"
60 posted on 05/16/2004 5:53:46 PM PDT by newfarm4000n (Taxes for social security is theft)
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