Lynndie England has had to plead guilty. Her crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people, with no sense of the moral implications. If you’ve been told all your life that the people you are now fighting are dogs, then what are you going to do?
The real criminal here is the culture that she was brought up in, and the grossly inadequate training given to her for the job she had to do.
But the real England story is that, unwittingly, she became the talent in one of the most powerful ad campaigns in recent history, and it hardly cost a dime to produce.
May 12 2004: KCNC-TV Reporter: “There is a photograph of you holding an Iraqi prisoner on a leash. How did that come about?”
Lynndie England: “I was instructed by persons in higher rank stand there — hold this leash, look at the camera. They took a picture for SI-OP and that’s all I know.”
One of the pictures shows her in camouflage gear looking disinterestedly at a naked Iraqi prisoner lying on the floor at Abu Ghraib prison. You’ve all seen it. The world has seen it. He’s on a leash. He’s like a pet dog. She doesn’t care that he’s naked
In that symbolic pose, the true attitude of America to the rest of the world became evident. Mr bin Laden couldn’t have created a more hard-hitting poster for his Jihad if he’d spent his entire fortune on top Madison Avenue persuaders.
The true cost of that picture is not the revulsion felt all over the world, but the consequences of it. That picture was the beginning of the end of Brand America. That picture can be tasted now in every Coke sold East of the Atlantic seaboard. It can be tasted in every Royale. It’s the hood ornament on every gas guzzling SUV exported. It’s everywhere in every American product sold globally.
No wonder Brand America is a tough sell these days. I’m glad. Life was never about what you physically possess, it’s about what you mentally and morally possess.
Ms England is guilty of only one thing – being born into the wrong culture; a culture that cares only about itself, and gives not a sod for what happens to the other 6 billion inhabitants of this planet.
That’s why places like Booman’s, DKos and all the rest are so important. Because you DO care…
Very thoughtful diary.
From the woman’s background in a trailer park, deprived of oxygen at birth, sent into the pit of hell unprepared and untrained, it’s hard to place too much blame on her as an individual. You allude to the greater cultural context of her personal history.
There’s another sinister image of America. US Marines land in Somalia today looking for militants. What country is going to be immune to the US’ war on terrah?
Thanks Sybil for your kind words. I had a longer reply that was lost when my machine was taken over for a while by grey hats – sorry. Now I can’t remember what I said (/senior moment)
Thanks for the diary and the sentiment, which I share. Having the American government speak about spreading democracy is incredibly transparent hypocrisy. But the downfall began much earlier than Abu Ghraib. It’s been years in the making.
Thanks (having problems with DHCP client today so getting I’m disconnected)
Sure it started earlier. I was trying to point out that the picture became a trademark which then made people around the world understand what Brand America was – what it really meant to THEIR lives.
And you said it far more succinctly and using fewer words than I use to order a pizza.
All props!
As a collector of bizarre and wonderful nicks, I must add yours to my collection 😉
I’m not as forgiving or understanding of the individual as you are, but that’s not the point here. You’re right, those photos showed the stark reality of America’s attitude toward the world. I’ve been reading that the mistrial came about as her ex said he had ordered her to pose in that situation for a training video? I’m having a hard time wrapping my little mind around that, if it’s true.
… and generalizing your statement on All American culture.
England had previously been warned not to stray, she was out of bounds. England disobeyed a specific order, she had no business for nighttime visits to the torture barracks. It was her love affair with Graner that let to her participation and alleged crimes.
I have no compassion for all US service men/women, who took part in rape, torture and murder at Abu Ghraib.
See my earlier comment in diary — Judge Changes England Plea to Not Guilty
Adaptation of Hieronymous BoschThe Garden of Earthly Delights: Right Panel, Hell: about 1504
liberally altered and modified for Abu Ghraib Prison memorial
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
… will be the key. Sadly, I am less and less convinced that many would feel the shame and outrage “if they only knew the full story”. Even when it’s been told, people shrug and move on about their own lives (which, the way things are now, often leave no time for reflection and no room for outside worries).
However, being good consumeristic, materialistic capitalists, once the bulk of us realize the potential economic damage that has been done, and is still occuring, just maybe things will start to turn around. Maybe.
I also don’t give England a pass, although she is definitely one of the lowest on the totem pole and is basically a scapegoat.
Thanks for writing this.
Also to Oui
I agree that England will be punished and she may deserve it in law.
But I think you will also agree that the culpability of the ill-educated is lesser than those who should be fully morally aware of what they are doing.
I want to agree with you and I am usually compassionate, but the crimes of Abu Ghraib are horrendous, and punishment should go up to where the buck stops. Definitely in the Oval Office.
Statement made:
England is on low end of totempole …
however, relative to US domestic abuse for imprisonment and capital punishment, when measured by international standards.
Remind me of England, after we banish the death sentence for minors, the mentally retarded, and do a fair system of defending the poor and minority groups in court in all fifty States.
See ACLU reports and “I don’t want another kid to die” [pdf file]
Today I heard on BBC radio, the Iranian issue and the imprisoned bloggers. The appeal has been heard by the Iranian president, who apparently ordered their release from prison. A statement referred to unacceptable practises in the Iranian judicial system and abuse of civil and human rights. Iran wants to banish all torture and offenses that resemble the US standards of Abu Ghraib, such as hooding of prisoners, harashment during interviews and deprivation. The story is not yet in the press media, and will probably not be covered. Could be a high content of domestic consumption or overture to the EU talks.
It must be easier for a terror state like Iran to meet the standards set by the United States under the regime of Bush | Cheney | Gonzales. Horrific world we live in.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
All you said is true. It is a horrific world. The horror of it is that it is perpetrated or continued by people in power. The fact that the unempowered are the instruments of such policies is extremely sad. I too find it hard to be compassionate, but one should always seek to be fair.
And that fairness is debated here. As it should be.
If only it was debated generally and publically.
Most of what we talk about here or seek to point out elsewhere is about just that. “Why isn’t anyone paying attention?”