Abu Ghraib’s unapologetic abuser
The former Army specialist thinks the Abu Ghraib prisoners got what they deserved.
Lynndie England isn’t repentant, said M.L. Nestel in The Daily. The former Army specialist sprang to global infamy eight years ago after she was photographed abusing inmates at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison. In one shot, she held a detainee on a dog leash. In another, she was shown grinning from behind a pile of naked bodies. England, 29, thinks the prisoners got what they deserved. “[They were] trying to kill us,” she says. “You want me to apologize to them? It’s like saying sorry to the enemy.” England has struggled to find work after a stint in prison and a dishonorable discharge from the military. “I put out applications everywhere. I can’t get McDonald’s, Burger King. It’s the felony.” Charles Graner, her former lover and the ringleader of the Abu Ghraib abuses, refuses to recognize their 7-year-old son, Carter. “You could say I did love Graner. Now, I can’t stand the thought of him.” She’s still haunted by the idea that the photos might have caused American casualties in Iraq. “I think about it all the time—losing people on our side because of me coming out on a picture.” But England has few regrets about what happened at Abu Ghraib. “If going through that whole ordeal is what was supposed to happen to me to have Carter then that’s how some things are.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Why is Bluey such a cultural phenomenon?
In the Spotlight Kids are obsessed — but parents get just as much out of the show, if not more
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Is it actually economical to fly basic economy?
The Explainer Airlines have placed so many restrictions on basic economy, you may wonder if it's even worth the savings anymore
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
So bad, so good: the best worst movies
The Week Recommends These films are as enjoyable as they are terrible
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published