Article

2005-09-20 Iraq-Jordan

Lynndie England Plans to Fight Abu Ghraib Charges

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Posted by Steve 2005-09-20 08:57|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Didn't fully understand the consequences of waiving her right against self-incrimination? Uh, it's of course possible (anything is) but sure as hell not likely. She hoped to come clean, spread the blame and dodge catching hell by talking about it to authorities after being caught. Alot of folks think it's like when they were little kids - authorities will simply forget about it and leave them be with a little tonguelashing. Doesn't work that way though despite the unreasonable expectations and foolish hopes.

Posted by MunkarKat 2005-09-20 09:41|| 2005-09-20 09:41|| Front Page Top

#2 Remember not to compare this too closely to a civilian trial. The purpose of the military justice system is primarily to "maintain good order and discipline in the military".

This means the entire system is weighted less towards what you would expect in a civilian court, and more to what a typical soldier expects and demands from military discipline. Homicide is not the worst offense, often getting less punishment than desertion at times, and sometimes garnering less prison time than something like forced homosexual sodomy.

Morality and timing are far more important--offenses are very situational.

Were I her defense attorney, my arguments would be threefold. First that there had been "a breakdown in her NCO chain of command", a strongly mitigating circumstance to any enlisted personnel on her jury.

Second, that she had no training in how to deal with prisoners of war, and that "non-military personnel" were directing and interfering with enlisted people in the prison. This would appeal to officers in a way similar to the NCOs.

Third would be a purely emotional pitch based on the fact that she is a new single mother, tied in with her no longer being of any value or detriment to the military, not impacting in any way on the morale of our forces, or even that of our allies or enemies. Her exoneration and dismissal will simply return her from whence she came, instead of incurring additional expense to the military in a waste of food and a wool blanket.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-09-20 11:51|| 2005-09-20 11:51|| Front Page Top

#3 Only a true whacko would try to fight charges when they have sufficient evidence on film. Unless they draft the entire ACLU/DNC.MoveOn staff I canât think of a military jury that will see her side of the story and exonerate her. But hey she might be able to squirt some tears and get some sympathy from a military court.

Posted by Cyber Sarge">Cyber Sarge 2005-09-20 12:18|| 2005-09-20 12:18|| Front Page Top

#4 As I recall, England didn't report directly to Graner, and England's immediate superior officer(s) had directly ordered her to stay away from him. But she snuck out at night to play anyway. I don't see what kind of defence she can work up to make that information go away, regardless who led the games.

Posted by trailing wife 2005-09-20 19:34|| 2005-09-20 19:34|| Front Page Top

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