GIs probed in 'premeditated' Iraq rape, killings

liberalogic said:
I think that we should prosecute them ourselves in order to show the Iraqis that we stand behind our commitment to justice and fairness. I don't see the "danger" in turning them over to the Iraqis, but I think it's our job to make it right.

As for the "support the troops but not the war" statement, I COMPLETELY agree with you. It's quite hypocritical. How can you support the people doing the job if you don't support the job itself?

At the beginning, when we initially invaded, I could not support the troops because I thought it was the wrong choice to invade. At this point, I can say that I do because I just want them to create some stability and get the hell out of there. I support them because I support the mission of fixing what we've already broken.

But the initial "I support the troops, but not war" catchphrase simply came from liberals who did not want to seem "unpatriotic." They compromised their own opinions by making this politically correct statement.

The danger in turning them over to the Iraqis sets a precedent that could snowball, and IMO, is not worth the risk.

During peacetime, our troops are subject to the laws of the country they are in. That's why the MEUs take along a lawyer and lots of cash. During a time of war, the conduct of US troops in an occupied country falls under US military jurisdiction.
 
If we assume that the GCM finds em guilty........

If the Judge has the stones.........

If the Court of Military Appeals doesn't set it aside..........

The death penalty is on the table and there is no reason to give over to the Iraqis.

Edited to add: IF found guilty and the judge doesn't have the stones to sentence to death....... We could dishonorably discharge them incountry and leave em to thier own devices.
 
pegwinn said:
If we assume that the GCM finds em guilty........

If the Judge has the stones.........

If the Court of Military Appeals doesn't set it aside..........

The death penalty is on the table and there is no reason to give over to the Iraqis.

Edited to add: IF found guilty and the judge doesn't have the stones to sentence to death....... We could dishonorably discharge them incountry and leave em to thier own devices.

Peg, I totally agree with this. I hope that it's not what it seems, with that said, I don't think we should have heard about it to the extent we have. But if this was done, then I agree with your take.

I was finding myself agreeing with Gunny regarding precedence, but that was after I was thinking of what Eddie said about that sailor that had raped the old Japanese women. Then I thought about what Gunny said about war and peace and the difference between Japan and Iraq. You give me a middle place. Thank you. (OMG, do you think I'm becoming Buddhist? :shocked: )
 
Why does something so simple require debate? If a premeditated murder has occured justice should take it's course. Where are we that we feel our OPINIONS can change right and wrong? We really have become so split in this country that we believe we can spin anything with fancy talk and rhetoric.

If a murder has taken place, it is wrong! Gunny and the other guy said that plainly. How can that be so hard to understand? Sheppard Boy made a very true observation in that lefties muster outside prisons all over America to protest the lawful executions of convicted murderer rapist robbers all the time. It's funny in this case Psycho would be ready to pull the lever himself on these Army men and a conviction has not yet been acheived.

Where is our sense of Americanism that made our country so worthy of the passion we seem to feel. So passionate are we that we will spin, lie, cheat and slander the OTHER side to our advantage. Folks, we have a problem!

The code of honor in the military does exist. If it be that those soldiers are guilty then noone shares the shame of it quite like the innocent soldier who has offered himself to die to follow the flag. The only person worse in my opinion than one who would insult the gallant soldier is the soldier who would kill an innocent.

Try and remember the young soldiers of the original invading force who occupied Iraq in the initial battles to reach Bahgdad. Think back for a moment to those first interviews with the three soldiers who were wounded by Iraqi's then overpowered them, took them prisoner and then "led them to safety". My eyes water so hard I have to break while writing this because I know in my heart that this is the TRUE American spirit of being a soldier. Damn those who have you believe differently and use the vulnerability of that soldier to exploit them or for politically motivated purposes. Where does it stop? It comes from those who would RUN in battle. Cowards! It is not a bad thing to be soldier, even if a mistake is made. A killer on the other hand takes everything that soldier stands for and shits on it. As a matter of fact he might as well walk up to the grave of the unknown soldier and urinate on it.

Justice will be done. It will take place without any civilian intervention what so ever. Soldiers do not defend murderers.

I've said my peace.
 
Kathianne said:
Peg, I totally agree with this. I hope that it's not what it seems, with that said, I don't think we should have heard about it to the extent we have. But if this was done, then I agree with your take.

I was finding myself agreeing with Gunny regarding precedence, but that was after I was thinking of what Eddie said about that sailor that had raped the old Japanese women. Then I thought about what Gunny said about war and peace and the difference between Japan and Iraq. You give me a middle place. Thank you. (OMG, do you think I'm becoming Buddhist? :shocked: )
More not so good news:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060709/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_rape_investigation
5 more charged in Iraq rape-slayings case

By RYAN LENZ, Associated Press Writer1 hour, 54 minutes ago

Four more U.S. soldiers have been charged with rape and murder and a fifth with dereliction of duty in the alleged rape-slaying of a young Iraqi woman and the killings of her relatives in Mahmoudiya, the military said Sunday.

The five were accused Saturday following an investigation into allegations that American soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division raped the teenager and killed her and three relatives at her home south of Baghdad.

Ex-soldier Steven D. Green was arrested last week in North Carolina and has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and four counts of murder. He was ordered held without bond on the charges, which carry a possible death penalty.

The U.S. statement said the five soldiers still on active duty will face an Article 32 investigation, similar to a grand jury hearing in civilian law. The Article 32 proceeding will determine whether there is enough evidence to place them on trial.

One of the soldiers was charged with failing to report the attack but is not believed to have participated in it directly, the statement said. The four facing murder charges could face the death penalty if convicted.

The names of the five were not released, but a U.S. military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, said Sunday that the soldiers recently charged are two sergeants, two privates first-class and one specialist.

The March 12 attack on the family was among the worst in a series of cases of U.S. troops accused of killing and abusing Iraqi civilians.

U.S. officials are concerned the alleged rape-slaying will strain relations with the new U.S.-backed government and increase calls for changes in an agreement that exempts American soldiers from prosecution in Iraqi courts.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has demanded an independent investigation into the case, which followed a series of claims that U.S. troops killed and mistreated Iraqi civilians.

According to an FBI affidavit filed in Green's case, he and at least two others targeted the teenager and her family for a week before the attack, which was not revealed until witnesses came forward in late June.

The soldiers drank alcohol, abandoned their checkpoint, changed clothes to avoid detection and headed to the victims' house, about 200 yards from a U.S. military checkpoint in the so-called "Triangle of Death," a Sunni Arab area south of Baghdad known for its violence, the affidavit said.

The affidavit estimated the rape victim was about 25. But a doctor at the Mahmoudiya hospital gave her age as 14. He refused to be identified for fear of reprisals.

Green is accused of raping the woman and killing her and three relatives — an adult male and female and a girl estimated to be 5 years old. An official familiar with the investigation said he set fire to the rape victim's body in an apparent cover-up attempt.

Iraqi authorities identified the rape victim as Abeer Qassim Hamza. The other victims were her father, Qassim Hamza; her mother, Fikhriya Taha; and her sister, Hadeel Qassim Hamza.
 

Forum List

Back
Top