This Just Keeps Getting Uglier

Some of the information that is trickling out in regards to the Abu Ghraib abuses isn't going to help those accussed on the crimes.

For example: Pennsylvania Soldier, Girlfriend Accused In Iraqi Prisoner Abuse

Spc. Charles Graner is one of the soldiers seen smiling and posing for photos standing over naked Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison.

Before the Army Reserve called him up for active duty, Graner worked as a prison guard at Greene Correctional Institution. According to records obtained by NBC 10, Graner was accused of abusing his ex-wife in the past. Employment records also showed a less-than-stellar record, but unlike in Iraq, he was never accused of mistreating prisoners in Pennsylvania.

The Army has accused Graner, 35, of abusing prisoners. Also in trouble is Graner's girlfriend, Army Pfc. Lyndie England, who was seen posing in many of the photos with him. England is from West Virginia and is now pregnant with Graner's child.

These facts raise a number of issues--not the least of which is that given that he is a prison guard the idea that he had no idea what he was doing was wrong is rather dubious, shall we say.

James Joyner notes this story from the NY Post: Leash Girl's Sex Pix

Shocking shots of sexcapades involving Pfc. Lynndie England were among the hundreds of X-rated photos and videos from the Abu Ghraib prison scandal shown to lawmakers in a top-secret Capitol conference room yesterday.

"She was having sex with numerous partners. It appeared to be consensual," said a lawmaker who saw the photos.

And, videos showed the disgraced soldier - made notorious in a photo showing her holding a leash looped around an Iraqi prisoner's neck - engaged in graphic sex acts with other soldiers in front of Iraqi prisoners, Pentagon officials told NBC Nightly News.

"Almost everybody was naked all the time," another lawmaker said.

Many members of Congress left the 45-minute viewing session early, thereby missing the porno performance by England, but there were enough other images of torture, humiliation and intimidation to sicken anyone.

"It was pretty disgusting, not what you'd expect from Americans," said Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.). "There was lots of sexual stuff - not of the Iraqis, but of our troops."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who also characterized the photos as "disgusting," agreed, noting, "It's hard to believe that this actually is taking place in a military facility."

Utterly amazing--and I must concur with Feinstein.

Certaily if England was engaged in the above-described activities, it makes these statements somewhat less credible

Before the pictures of England's sex romps were shown to Congress, the 21-year-old reservist from West Virginia tried to portray herself as a reluctant participant who was just following orders.

"I didn't really, I mean, want to be in any pictures," England told a Denver TV station.

"I was instructed by persons in higher rank to 'stand there, hold this leash, look at the camera,' and they took picture for PsyOps [psychological operations]," she told KCNC-TV.

England acknowledged "it was kind of weird" when she was photographed smiling, with a cigarette in her mouth, as she leaned forward and pointed at the genitals of a naked, hooded Iraqi at Abu Ghraib prison.

England has refused to identify who gave her the orders, saying only that they came from "persons in my chain of command."

One thing is for sure: this as been ugly, and continues to get uglier.

Meanwhile, the BoGlo got a tad over-zealous in the photo department.

Posted by Steven Taylor at May 13, 2024 10:22 AM | TrackBack