Posted on 05/12/2004 7:21:05 AM PDT by NYC Republican
Army Pfc. Lynndie England, seen worldwide in photographs that show her smiling and pointing at naked Iraqi prisoners, said she was ordered to pose for the photos, and felt "kind of weird" in doing so.
In an exclusive interview with Brian Maass of Denver CBS station KCNC-TV, England also confirmed that abuses worse than those depicted in the photos were carried out at the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad, but she declined to discuss them.
England, 21, repeatedly insisted that her actions were dictated by "persons in my higher chain of command."
In the photos, England is seen smiling, cigarette in her mouth, as she leans forward and points at the genitals of a naked, hooded Iraqis. Another photo taken at Abu Ghraib shows her holding a leash that encircles the neck of a naked Iraqi man lying on his side.
"I was instructed by persons in higher rank to stand there and hold this leash and look at the camera," she said.
England said the actions depicted in the photos were intended to put psychological pressure on the Iraqi prisoners.
"Well, I mean, they [the photos] were for psy-op reasons," she said "And the reasons worked. I mean, so to us, we were doing our job, which meant we were doing what we were told, and the outcome was what they wanted. They'd come back and they'd look at the pictures, and they'd state, 'Oh, that's a good tactic, keep it up. That's working. This is working. Keep doing it. It's getting what we need.'"
England, an Army reservist from West Virginia who is four months pregnant, is now stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The interview was taped Tuesday at Fort Bragg.
England is among seven soldiers from the 372nd Military Police Company who face charges for allegedly degrading and humiliating Iraqi prisoners. One soldier, Spc. Jeremy C. Sivits of Hyndman, Pa., will face a court-martial in Baghdad next week.
"To all of us who have been charged, we all agree that we don't feel like we were doing things that we weren't supposed to, because we were told to do them. We think everything was justified, because we were instructed to do this and to do that," England said.
She told KCNC she was looking forward to having her baby and hopefully one day putting the abuse scandal behind her.
Which is why the pictures were taken with personal cameras, right?
And notice how these "persons in higer rank" remain mysteriously unidentified.
You are right, a lying disgrace. Someone the media will believe.
We were told yesterday that the procedure is, first you inform the person giving the orders that it is not a legal order. If they continue, you refuse. That is the way it's done and everyone in the military knows it.
We out here knew that no soldier has to obey an illegal order and has a duty to report it, but we didn't know they actually have a step by step procedure for it. (Although, we SHOULD have guessed the military would have a very organized way even for refusing an order)
ok... i can go along with that. showing someone a picture that makes them uncomfortable and more willing to talk is definately better then torturing them. then why not stage the pictures... use actors or something. placing hooded prisoners in naked heaps and, if true, sodomizing them is simply not the American way and, IMHO, any US soldier who didn't question such an order shouldn't be there. never should we lower ourselves to their level...we are above that.
Better yet... simply photo the prisoners without hoods, in US custody and broadcast their faces around the world! sticking something in their bums is way too OBLish and foolish. those cowards wear way too many hoods anyway, much like the kkk idiots.
She has FOUR lawyers that I've seen on tv. They appeared Monday night before they even met her. Yesterday they were supposed to speak with her for the first time. Amidst the news yesterday I never did hear if the meeting took place. I assume it did. Naturally the lawyers had plenty to say before even talking with their client. No agenda there. Oh, no.
Well said. I agree.
She's like Hillery.
Congress: "Where's the Whitewater docs."
Her highness: I don't know. Can't find them. Don't remmember.
Congress: WHat?
Her highness: I don't know, jello you know. I don't remmeber.
Congress: all right.
.
.
.
(Some years later.)
.
.
Her highness: Hello Congress? This is the queen. I found them! They were sitting here on the table in the library all along. hehehe... Imagine that. I must have missed them. bye...
Well, General Taguba, author of the now infamous "Taguba Report" said yesterday this group of 7 came up with this on "their own volition".
The higher ups in supervisory capacity are being cited for not supervising and training these perverted dunces.
but isn't that power moot now that the photos have been sold or leaked? the soldiers involved are being personally held accountable and are being punished publically. what a great day for Islam! the infidels are fighting amoung themselves and there are many willing to aid in adding fuel to the fire.
LOL! Was the guy standing in his hometown for this interview? Maybe in his own doorway?
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