[Changleen]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4982455,00.html

FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) - A military judge on Wednesday threw out Lynndie England's guilty plea to prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib, saying that he was not convinced that she knew that her actions were wrong at the time she committed them.

Col. James Pohl entered a plea of not guilty for England to a charge of conspiring with Pvt. Charles Graner Jr. to maltreat detainees at the Baghdad-area prison.

The action came after Graner testified at England's sentencing hearing that pictures he took of England holding a naked prisoner on a leash at Abu Ghraib were meant to be used as a legitimate training aid for other guards.

When England pleaded guilty Monday, she told the judge she knew at the time that the pictures were taken purely for the amusement of the guards.

Pohl said the two statements were unable to be reconciled.

``You can't have a one-person conspiracy,'' the judge said before he declared a mistrial and dismissed the jury of five men and one woman.

So whose fault was all this then? Not high command apparantly, and not the people who actually did it? Another classic case of *poof* vanishing justice. Well done to all involved for setting such a great example to the rest of the world.

 

[Zark]

Sounds like some broke out the "jump to conclusions" mat a little quick

Give the courts time. You might see this get real interesting. No plea bargain now and the evidence is pretty damaging.

 

[Changleen]

Sounds like some broke out the "jump to conclusions" mat a little quick

Give the courts time. You might see this get real interesting. No plea bargain now and the evidence is pretty damaging.

Yes, you're right. I've been reading more and it appears she's going to be retried and hung out to dry. Good. Still, it should have been Rumsfield.

 

[Damn True]

I caught a bit of a report about it this evening in the car. Apparently her supervisor (the guy who recently got 10 years) is saying she acted under orders from him.

However, that alone cannot absolve her. The requirement is that a soldier follow any LAWFUL order given by a superior. Rumsfield didn't give said order, the clown that is in jail did.

 

[Damn True]

 

[Changleen]

IHowever, that alone cannot absolve her. The requirement is that a soldier follow any LAWFUL order given by a superior.

Good job all US soldiers are trained lawyers then.

Rumsfield didn't give said order, the clown that is in jail did.

And our survey said:
http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2004/12/26/us_disclosures_signal_wider_detainee_abuse/
http://sify.com/news_info/fullstory.php?id=13477076
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/military_0604.pdf