Lynndie England Strikes Again

Here's more news from the shame of the U.S. Army, Lynndie England.

FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) -- Four months after she tried without success to plead guilty, Army Pfc. Lynndie England plans to fight charges she played a key role in abusing detainees at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison, her lawyer said.

The 22-year-old reservist, who appeared in several graphic photos taken inside Abu Ghraib in 2003, goes on trial here this week on two counts of conspiracy, four counts of mistreating prisoners and one count of committing an indecent act.

She will be the last of a group of junior enlisted soldiers charged with abuses at the notorious prison to have their cases resolved. Two have been convicted at trial, while six others made plea deals and received prison sentences of up to eight years. Most were members of the Maryland-based 372nd Military Police Company.

A final hearing is scheduled Tuesday to resolve any last-minute motions, with jury selection and opening statements to follow on Wednesday. The trial is expected to conclude by the end of September.

In May, England entered into a plea agreement that eventually fell apart, but this time around "there's not going to be a deal," said Capt. Jonathan Crisp, her lead defense lawyer.

Crisp said he plans to base much of his defense on England's history of mental health problems that date back to her early childhood.

If she was competent to enlist in the Army, she's competent to stand trial. She knew she didn't belong at Abu Ghraib, and there's not a doubt in my mind that she knew that was she was doing was illegal and immoral. One of the things that nobody seems to understand about the rule of law is that you are liable for your actions, even if you didn't know they were illegal. Lynndie England is liable, and even if she's dumb as a sack of hammers, she knew right from wrong. She should be given the maximum possible sentence for all her crimes.