FORT HOOD, TEXAS - A military judge has declared a mistrial in the case of U.S. army reservist Lynndie England, who pleaded guilty to abusing detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.What's the worst part about this story?
Col. James Pohl, who was hearing the case at the Fort Hood, Texas, military base, said he was not convinced the reservist knew her actions were wrong at the time.
-That she didn't know it was wrong?
-That a judge thinks she didn't know it was wrong? That the judge thinks it matters?
-That the charges might now be dropped?
Fuck. Rage prevents intelligent commentary. Read the rest of the article - it's almost funny the lame excuses the defense offers. And, to be clear, while these troops definitely belong in jail, the conduct of the officer corps in this matter has been awful - hell, certain Secretaries and Undersecretaries for Defense should be at the dock, too.
3 comments:
I was under the impression that the rejection of her guilty plea meant that she'll now go to court martial? I don't profess to actually understand this whole process (they mention a military judge here - but doesn't court martial actually involve a panel of judges?), but that's what they said on the news last night.
Oh crap:
"But Graner said he had looped the leash around the prisoner's shoulders to coax him out of a cell and it slipped up to his neck. He then asked England to hold the leash while he took photos."
Oh! It was just to coax him. Well, shit, nevermind, I guess it's ok then...
I don't claim to understand it better than anyone else, but the article did seem to indicate it was now up to the judge's discretion as to whether or not a new trial was ordered.
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