England Boyfriend Described As Abu Ghraib Abuse "ring-leader"

by Justin Cole
FORT BRAGG, North Carolina, Aug 5 (AFP) - A US Army investigator told a hearing on Thursday for Private Lynndie England, accused of mistreating Iraqi inmates at Abu Ghraib prison, that her boyfriend had been singled out as a "ring-leader" of the abuse.
Two army investigators were among the witnesses testifying Thursday on the third day of the hearing to determine whether England, the 21-year-old army reservist notoriously photographed holding a naked Iraqi prisoner on a leash, should face a court-martial.
England, who is pregnant with the child of her boyfriend, Corporal Charles Graner, faces 19 charges in connection with the abuse at Abu Ghraib and could be sentenced to up to 38 years in prison.
Graner is also facing charges in connection with the prison scandal which embarrassed the US military authorities in Iraq and sparked worldwide outrage.
Army special agents Manora Iem and Tyler Pieron, who investigated the abuse allegations at Abu Ghraib, testified by telephone at the hearing on Thursday.
Iem said he had interviewed Iraqis who had been victims of abuse, which occurred at the prison near Baghdad in late 2003.
During interviews "they had described a soldier who fit the description of Specialist England," Iem said, adding that mistreatment "started usually during the evening time," when Graner, England's boyfriend, was in charge of the cell block.
Pieron said he had spoken with Private Joseph Darby, who has been credited with bringing the abuse at Abu Ghraib to the attention of his superiors, resulting in a military investigation and crackdown.
"It was my impression talking to Darby, that Graner was the ring-leader of the abuse," said Pieron. "I believe Darby was afraid of him (Graner)."
Another witness on Thursday was Captain Brent Fitch, a legal adviser to the military intelligence commander at Abu Ghraib, Colonel Thomas Pappas.
Fitch said that on a visit to the prison one day he had seen a detainee naked in his cell. He said he was very concerned but a guard reassured him that it was only because the prisoner's clothes were being washed.
Fitch said he cautioned the guard however saying "if the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) ever sees this it would not be good news."
Fitch also said he saw one or two requests a week concerning the use of interrogation techniques which went beyond the normal rules of engagement.
The so-called "exception of policy memos" could only be signed off by a few senior officers including Colonel Pappas and Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, the commander of US military forces in Iraq, he said.
Fitch also discussed the use of dogs at Abu Ghraib, saying he had reviewed letters signed by Sanchez which said "dogs must be muzzled and under the control of the handler."
Fitch said he had seen pictures however of US military dogs threatening inmates and detainees with dog bites.
At the end of the hearing, expected later this week, judge Colonel Denise Arn will determine if England should face a court-martial.
England's lawyer, Richard Hernandez, has said his client is being made a "scapegoat" for the army and that senior officers at the jail encouraged rough treatment and abuse of detainees in order to soften them up for interrogations.