Is it the End of the Abu Ghraib Scandal?

In the end both Charles Graner and Lynndie England served prison terms. While Lynndie only served eighteen months, Graner  served a prison term of  six and a half years. Lynndie, who became pregnant while at Abu Ghraib, now has a child by Charles Graner. Graner, however, married fellow soldier at Abu Ghraib, Megan Ambuhl.

Charles Graner has a long history of abusing other human beings. Reports of razor blades placed in friends’ food, beating his ex-wife, and beating prisoners in a US facility seem to be his MO. His ability to induce someone like Lynndie to abuse the prisoners at Abu Ghraib is not uncommon. Graner is a likely candidate for a particular placement by his superiors to Abu Ghraib precisely because of his sociopathic past actions. If Rumsfeld and Miller wanted such interrogation tactics to begin, they would need willing soldiers besides the compliant sorts of Lynndie England. They needed a ring leader, who was not particularly conscientious of what constitutes human dignity and goodness. 

Factor in that war is hell and they were placed in a facility that previously implemented hellish torture on prisoners rounded up under orders of Saddam Hussein and the factor of absent leadership to reel in such chaotic behavior, one has the makings of a madhouse. Close proximity of the prisoners and guards without relief or guidance exasperated the situation. A complete objectification and utilitarian sadistic mindset may exist in Graner, except for the statement he apparently made about his beginning trepidation when first encountering the abuse. Lynndie, psychologically, does not have the strong desire for power but does have the capacity for being seduced into acts, maybe she otherwise, if left to her own devices, would not have done. No one knows for sure. Having been imprisoned themselves, was justice served?

Neither may be able to find employment in the near future. They both have records and both are internationally known. There are those “others” that were involved in a more high ranking level who are either lucratively employed or enjoying life long pensions from federal monies.(the tax paying citizen).

The scandal continues and will continue as long as we are willing, as voting citizens, to allow our government, our private contractors, and law system to continue on their merry way down some other insidious path without moral direction. We have set the path to allow Rome to burn with only a few diligently standing by with buckets of water.