Family Backs Reservist in Iraq Prison Case

AP ^ | May 4, 2004 | Gavin McCormick

[Rastus]

Family Backs Reservist in Iraq Prison Case Tue May 4, 8:05 PM ET By GAVIN McCORMICK, Associated Press Writer

FORT ASHBY, W.Va. - Family members of an Army reservist photographed with naked Iraqi prisoners said Tuesday she was merely a "paper-pusher" who was in the "wrong place at the wrong time."

Pictures of Spc. Lynndie England, 21, and other soldiers have sparked an international outcry over the U.S. military's handling of Iraqi war prisoners.

In one photo, England is shown making a thumbs-up gesture behind a pyramid of naked Iraqi men; in another, cigarette dangling from her lips, she points to a hooded and naked prisoner.

"It's ridiculous," said Destiny Goin, 21, who has lived with England's extended family since high school and considers herself England's sister.

"It's her picture that you see more than anyone else's, and she really wasn't involved. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Unlike six other members of the 372nd Military Police Company based in Cumberland, Md., England has not been charged but she is being detained at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Goin said England has been restricted to base and has not been given access to legal counsel.

A spokeswoman at Fort Bragg referred calls to an Army spokesman in Virginia, who did not immediately return phone calls.

Goin said England and the six soldiers who have been charged are "scapegoats — that's what they're being used for."

England was trained to be a "paper pusher" who helped process prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad, said Goin and England's brother-in-law James Klinestiver. She was in the area where the photos were taken to visit friends in the 372nd who served as guards, the two said.

Goin and Klinestiver said the family is furious with the comments of President Bush (news - web sites), who said he was "disgusted" by the photographs.

"He doesn't know what these guys are going through," Klinestiver said. Referring to Bush's limited National Guard service during the Vietnam War, he added, "How can you make decisions for our military unless you've served yourself?"

[Rastus]

"How can you make decisions for our military unless you've served yourself?"

Seemed to work out for FDR. Maybe we should dissolve the civilian government, though, and let the military run the show. Would you like that, Mr. Klinestiver?

[spetznaz]

Maybe they want GW to say he was pleased with the photos or something! Serioulsy though, what did the family expect the president to say? Those photos were simply disgusting, and they went against the good we are trying to do in the ME.

[Rastus]

I'm just trying to understand how they can say England wasn't involved. So, she just innocently walks in on this depravity, and her response is a big thumbs-up? Isn't she lying on top of the "human pyramid" in one shot? She has a strange way of showing she's not involved.

[GovernmentShrinker]

I guess now we know where Ms. England picked up her value system . . . and it wasn't from the military.

[steplock]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1129959/posts

[deadhead]

"In one photo, England is shown making a thumbs-up gesture behind a pyramid of naked Iraqi men; in another, cigarette dangling from her lips, she points to a hooded and naked prisoner. "

" She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Despicable, Spc. Lynndie England. A disgrace!

[jaz.357]

WE NEED THE NAME OF THE GUY(S) WHO TOOK/SUPPLIED AND RELEASED THE PHOTOS!

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION TO THE DNC?

[tuckrdout]

I guess the family would rather have Kerry, since he too committed atrocities in war.

I will tell you one thing. I am FURIOUS at their daughter! Her actions as well as those of her friends, puts every American around the world in mortal danger! Instead of defending this silly twit, why don't they act as parents should, and tell her she was very, very wrong to do what she did? Why aren't they ashamed of her?

Shame on them.

[Parmy]

It might not be a bad idea when one considers the treachery of Rep. Jim McDermott of my state, Washington. Include Ted Kennedy, Carl Levin and others.

I say this with tongue-in-cheek, but here we have the kettles in Congress calling the pots, the military, black.

In addition, we have our people coming back, not only dead, but with parts missing. All because we are not doing the job to win.

As far as this putting our soldiers in danger, we are well past that. As far as making their job harder, how much harder could it get?

I will say this, I and the prople I know 'don't care'. We want to win. I have already been involved with winning the 'hearts and minds' a long time ago. It doesn't work. It takes generations to do that.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I'm ashamed of her, and I don't even know the girl. The whole episode is distasteful and a setback for the military.

[buffyt]

WASHINGTON POST PLANNING TO UNLEASH MORE PRISONER ABUSE PHOTOS, NEWSROOM SOURCES TELL DRUDGE... DEVELOPING...

The pictures obtained by The Post include shots of soldiers simulating sexually explicit acts with one another and shots of a cow being skinned and gutted and soldiers posing with its severed head. There are also dozens of pictures of a cat's severed head....

Other photographs show wounded men and dead bodies. In one, a dead man is lying in the back of a truck, his shirt, face and left arm covered in blood. His right arm is missing. Another photograph shows a dead body, gray and decomposing. A young soldier is leaning over the corpse, smiling broadly and giving the "thumbs-up" sign.

And in another picture a young woman lifts her shirt, exposing her breasts. She is wearing a white band with numbers on her wrist, but it is unclear if she is a prisoner.

Another photograph of a naked man with a dark hood over his head, handcuffed to a cell door. And another of a naked man handcuffed to a bunk bed, his arms splayed so wide that his back is arched...

A picture shows a soldier holding a leash tied around a naked man's neck in an Iraqi prison....

[Congressman Billybob]

The "family" usually say that their progeny "did nothing" and "is a scapegoat." It is the same with this woman's family, as with the usual gangbanger in an urban area.

Americans are going to be killed precisely because of a more vigorous resistance -- engendered by Spec. English. Also, no member of the military can poissibly be so dumb as to think this is acceptable behavior.

Therefore, the military should bring this stupid broad up on charges, slap the smile off her face, the cigarette out of her mouth, and send her up for hard time. And the details of her punishment should be broadcast to all the world.

And if her family doesn't like that, they can pound sand. IMHO.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Honesty Problems with Kerry and Gorelick: Pin the Truth on the Democrat."

[bayourod]

She looks like a fun babe to me. Thanks for disclosing her name

[RobbyS]

Now you know why discipline in the schools is not what it should be. Parents refused to hold their children accountable even when they get caught red-handed. These people are in deep denial.

[Rastus]

I agree with you to an extent. The media is overplaying this, and I'm a little skeptical of Muslim outrage when there seems to be no Muslim outrage for, say, the Israeli mother and her five children (one unborn) gunned down the other day. Outside of FR and various conservative blogs, I've heard nothing about that event.

Also, I am not entirely sure this should have gotten out to the public. I'm not suggesting a cover-up, but it should have been swiftly dealt with by the military without being splashed all over. It really does hurt the war effort, and it slimes the vast majority of our troops who would never do something like this.

Still, it's out now, and it just seems to get worse as it gets rolling along. Seen Drudge in the last hour or so? He's got some a preview of more to come in tomorrow's news.

[mystery-ak]

You're exactly right...my 1sgt hubby, just back from Iraq, agrees with you...she disgraces the uniform.

*wrong place at the wrong time*.....PLEASE!, no one forced her to pose in those photos.

[commish]

You want to get really sick?

Pentagon Report on Abuse

Spc. England is in the report, as are descriptions of the photos taken, including some of the ones the post is set to release.

[John Lenin]

I was never in the military and I think the girl should be in jail, she sure looked like she enjoyed it to me. I have no sympathy for the little twit, hang her !

As I read in another post Micheal Moore said he had some people working with troops in Iraq I think we found out what they were doing. This is too stange to be happening all at once.

[deadhead]

"she disgraces the uniform."

Yes she did, she disgraced her uniform. I have family serving in Iraq. These morons involved in this piss me off so much. Our Military is the best. A few bad ones do not taint all, and that message needs to get out there. Shame on all involved in this.

My thanks and blessings all our other troops in Iraq.

Colleen

[deadhead]

My thanks and blessings all our other troops in Iraq.

Should be: My thanks and blessings to all our other troops in Iraq.