'She Was Following Orders'

As more photographic evidence of Iraqi prisoner abuse emerges, the question of who was in charge of Abu Ghraib prison remains unanswered. Were American soldiers who physically and sexually degraded prisoners acting independently or under orders from supervisors in the Army? Seven reservists assigned to Abu Ghraib from the 327th Military Police company, based near Cumberland, Md., have been charged with offenses related to the alleged abuse like conspiring to mistreat detainees and failing to protect prisoners. They include Spc. Jeremy Sivits, 24; Spc. Megan Ambuhl, 29; Pfc. Lynndie England, 21; Spc. Sabrina Harman, 26; Cpl Charles Graner, Jr., 35; Sgt. Javal Davis, 26; and Staff Sgt. Van Frederick, 37. All of the soldiers have been separated from their unit and are being held in Baghdad, except Pfc. England, 21, who is pregnant and being detained instead at Fort Bragg, NC.

Harvey J. Volzer, the attorney representing Ambuhl, who faces charges of conspiring to mistreat detainees and dereliction of duty for failing to protect prisoners, recently traveled to Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq to gather evidence for Ambuhl's upcoming trial and got a firsthand look inside the notorious prison. He also spoke with some of the detained and allegedly abused Iraqis. Volzer talked to NEWSWEEK's Julie Scelfo about the abuse allegations and the conditions at Abu Ghraib. Excerpts:

NEWSWEEK: What is your client's alleged involvement in the abuse?

Harvey J. Volzer: My client wasn't alleged to have done anything other than be there. I guess she was following orders to be there.

Does your client appear in any of the photographs?

Her boots are in one photograph. That's about it....The place where all these activities occurred is very tiny. If you're there, you're going to see what's going on. If you're Pvt. England or these two specialists, what in the hell are you supposed to do? You know that Military Intelligence is telling the people above you what to do...I feel sorry for the women. I don't think there's much they could have done to control their situation. England looks like she's a tiny little thing.