Today's Wall Street Journal has a brief but informative editorial [subscription required] for those on the left who continue to insist that there was some directive from the "highest levels of government" for the "torture" at Abu Ghraib prison.

Private First Class Lynndie England -- infamously pictured with an Abu Ghraib detainee on a leash -- pleaded guilty before a military court Monday. Her words were another blow to those alleging the scandal had anything to do with "systematic" prisoner abuse or with "torture" designed to extract information. Here's how she responded under oath:

Judge James Pohl: "You feel by doing these things you were setting conditions for interrogations ... if you embarrassed these guys?"

Ms. England: "No, sir."

Judge Pohl: "So, this was just a way to embarrass them?"

Ms. England: "Yes, sir."

In other words, Judge Pohl asked Ms. England directly whether she had been softening up detainees for questioning, as proponents of the so-called "torture narrative" have claimed. Ms. England denied it, and she also denied that her behavior was related to orders of any kind. "I had a choice, but I chose to do what my friends wanted me to do," she said. As for the others who participated, "They did it for their own amusement."

There was no systematic abuse. There was no torture. Those who committed crimes are paying the price -- as it should be.

Maybe this will stop the slander, by those on the left, of American troops.

Maybe, but not likely.