British soldier in Iraq case followed orders-lawyer

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1982629.htm

OSNABRUECK, Germany, Jan 19 (Reuters) - A British soldier accused of abusing and sexually humiliating Iraqi prisoners had only been following orders to work them hard, the man's lawyer told a military court on Wednesday.

The defence began cross-examining witnesses at the trial of Corporal Daniel Kenyon and lance corporals Darren Larkin and Mark Cooley a day after published photos appeared to show naked detainees being forced to simulate anal and other sex acts.

Accusations against the soldiers emerged when staff at a photo lab in Britain showed police photos taken by a fourth soldier, Fusilier Gary Bartlam. He was found guilty of a series of offences last week.

The case echoed the Abu Ghraib scandal involving U.S. soldiers at a prison in Iraq.

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[JohnyCanuck]

1. Remember when we were patronizingly assured by the

Brits that they were the kindler, gentler occupiers - not at all like those crazy, out of control Yanks who really had no clue about how to go about the winning hearts and minds stuff?

Britain Rocked by Pictures of Apparent Iraq Abuse

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's newspapers published pictures on Wednesday of Iraqis apparently being abused by British soldiers under "Shame" and "Shock" headlines, in echoes of the Abu Ghraib scandal as a court martial rocked the country.

Some of the front-page pictures showed naked Iraqi prisoners appearing to be forced to simulate anal and other sexual acts, while in another a soldier had his fist raised above a bound detainee who had a net over his torso.

"They are pictures to make us sick with shame," said the top-selling Sun tabloid, as newspapers and opposition politicians warned of long-term damage to the image of Britain's military hours after the court martial of three soldiers began.

The Times said the pictures would "provoke outrage in the Arab world and sully the reputation of the British Army."

More at: www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7363093

[Larkspur]

2. The Nuremberg Trials said that "following orders" was not a valid

defense for German and Nazi soldiers. It shouldn't apply to US and UK soldiers as well.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[rachelbirds]

4. Of course

he did!!