Posted on 05/04/2005 8:01:51 AM PDT by SmithL
FORT HOOD, Texas - The reputed ringleader in the Abu Ghraib scandal said he was unhappy that Pfc. Lynndie England pleaded guilty to mistreating Iraqi detainees at the Baghdad-area prison in 2003.
In a handwritten note given to reporters Tuesday, Pvt. Charles Graner said he wanted England to fight the charges.
"Knowing what happened in Iraq, it was very upsetting to see Lynn plead guilty to her charges," wrote Graner, who was scheduled to testify Wednesday at England's sentencing hearing. "I would hope that by doing so she will have a better chance at a good sentence."
Graner continues to argue that he and the other Abu Ghraib guards were following orders from higher-ranking interrogators when they abused the detainees.
England, 22, pleaded guilty Monday to seven counts of mistreating prisoners. She told the court that the physical beatings and sexual humiliation were done for the guards' entertainment and took responsibility for the smiling, thumbs-up poses she struck for photographs that made her the face of the prisoner abuse scandal.
In one of the photos, England held a leash looped around the neck of a hooded, naked prisoner. Another showed her next to nude prisoners stacked in a pyramid, while a third depicted England pointing at a prisoner's genitals.
Her lawyers sought leniency Tuesday from the Army jury of five men and one woman that will determine her punishment.
A school psychologist from Mineral County, W.Va., who worked with England when she was a child testified that she was oxygen-deprived at birth, speech impaired, and had trouble learning to read.
Thomas Denne said England's learning disabilities were identified when she was a kindergartner, and though she made progress in school, she continued needing special attention.
"I knew I was going to know Lynndie England for the rest of my life," Denne said.
When asked by judge Col. James Pohl whether England knew right from wrong, Denne said she had a compliant personality and tended to listen to authority figures.
Rick Hernandez, a defense lawyer, said the psychologist's testimony helped England by establishing that her ability to reason was lower than that of her comrades.
"She is clearly in a different mental capacity... than any of the others accused," he said.
Capt. Chris Graveline, the lead prosecutor, told jurors in opening statements that England and a half-dozen other soldiers in the 372nd Military Police Company took great pleasure in humiliating the prisoners.
Graveline said England and Graner, believed to be the father of England's infant son, knew it was wrong to mistreat the detainees and take the photos, "but they did it anyway for their own amusement." The prosecution rested its case without calling any witnesses.
The charges carry up to 11 years in prison. Prosecutors and the defense reached an agreement that caps the sentence at a lesser punishment; the length was not released. She will get the lesser of the military jury's sentence or the term agreed on in the plea bargain.
Four other Abu Ghraib guards and two low-level military intelligence officers have entered guilty pleas in connection with the scandal, with sentences ranging from no time to 8 1/2 years. Spc. Sabrina Harman, a former Abu Ghraib guard, is scheduled to go to trial at Fort Hood next week.
The Libs have to have something to demagog in order to camouflage their irrelavance, and Abu Ghraib is it.
While this soldier is apparently guilty, it is I think a miscarriage of justice that her superiors including the female commanding general weren't tried as well. The officers had the ultimate resposibility and didn't oversee their troops.
These soldiers are a disgrace to the uniform. They're getting what they deserve. I've been pretty impressed with how the court proceedings have been going, but I wonder why Gen. Karpinski hasn't been called to account for how this could happen under her watch.
That should be your primary concern.
But nothing will happen to Ms. General, only the cannon fodder will be punished.
Isn't Graner the guy who took the pictures?
BTW has she been place in a room with a pistol and a single round yet, no.
Guess her buddy Claudia Kennedy has finally convinced her COOS training has taken affect.
My question is that if whe was brain damaged, how did she get accepted into the Army? Clearly most of our soldiers are bright and well trained. How did she get in, or is this an act to get a lighter sentence? She doesn't even look like she could pass the height requirement!
And Graner wants her to fight the charges? He's the one who got her in to this and left her pregnant. Whatta guy!
I heard on ABC radio that the Judge hasn't decided whether to accept her Guilty plea.
Hmmm, really? This is interesting.
Of course. 'Twas ever thus. And of course, soldiers are never supposed to question orders...unless they're supposed to question orders. Maybe we could attach a lawyer to each platoon to advise the poor bastards.
Thanks for the link! There's more to this than meets the eye. To look at this over-simplistically, a commanding officer is like a parent. When your kid screws up, the parent is responsible for keeping control of that child. The parent is liable for the child's misbehavior. These people were not children, however it is up to the higher ups to enforce good behavior, and discipline those who fail to follow the rules.
Really, they should just give these people a dishonorable discharge, and be done with it. I also have a feeling that if Lynndie England resembled Paris Hilton, rather than a dark haired version of Linda Hunt, their idiotic coverage would have taken on a different tone.
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