Close Your Eyes and Think of England

Abu Ghraib abuse pinup gal Lynndie England has been "found guilty at Fort Hood court in Texas of one count of conspiracy, four counts of maltreating detainees and one count of committing an indecent act. She was acquitted on a second conspiracy count."

She faces up to nine or 10 years in jail (reports differed). Via Ireland Online:

"The accused knew what she was doing," said Captain Chris Graveline, the lead prosecutor.

"She was laughing and joking….She is enjoying, she is participating, all for her own sick humour," he went on.

Captain Jonathan Crisp, England's lawyer, claimed that she was only trying to please her soldier boyfriend, then-Cpl Charles Graner Jr, who was labelled the abuse ringleader by prosecutors.

"She was a follower, she was an individual who was smitten with Graner," Mr Crisp said, adding: "She just did whatever he wanted her to do."

More here.

Wait, weren't gross-out comedy kings the Farrelly Brothers the root cause of Abu Ghraib?

Reason did the Lynndie Hop a while back.

And in terms of the "just following orders defense," it's worth recalling the Simon Wiesenthal, the legendary Nazi hunter who helped shred such self-serving exculpation, died recently. Tributes here and here.