US Soldier given 100 years in prison

[Superlative]

US soldier sentenced over Iraq rape

Two of the five soldiers charged in the rape and murders have been sentenced so far [AFP]
A military court has sentenced a US soldier to 27 months in prison as an accessory to the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in Iraq and the killing of her family.

The court concluded on Wednesday that Private Bryan Howard overheard his friends planning the crime and lied to protect them, the Houston Chronicle newspaper reported.
Howard had earlier pleaded guilty to the accessory charge and conspiracy to obstruct justice, and was sentenced at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Murder and rape charges against Howard were dropped "based on his limited role in the crimes", the military said.
Five soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division have been charged in the rape and killing of Abeer Qassim al-Janabi in Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad. Her mother, father and six-year-old sister were also shot dead.

Howard told the court that he was left behind at a checkpoint while four other soldiers went to rape the girl, and that he had overheard the four planning the attack.

"I was slowly starting to believe what they had done, that they had committed the crimes, the rape and the murder," Howard said.

He reportedly said in a statement to the court: "If I could go back, I would not have let it happen in the first place. I definitely would have told somebody."

The Mahmudiya case was one of several killings and abuses involving US soldiers that prompted Iraqi officials to call for a review of foreign troops' immunity from prosecution in Iraq.

Two soldiers had previously pleaded guilty to the rape and murders in Mahmudiyah.

Last month Sergeant Paul Cortez was sentenced to 100 years in prison for his part in the rape and murders, while specialist James Barker was sentenced to 90 years in prison last November.

The alleged ringleader, Steve Green, was earlier discharged from the army and is to be tried in a federal court.


http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/355112A3-5132-4A5D-A2FD-067AD7200CAB.htm

 

[Avatar4321]

If they raped people they deserve to be in prison.

I think cases like these clearly show that the administration hasnt been permitting bad behavior by the military, let alone authorated as the left would like to pretend.

 

[jasendorf]

If they raped people they deserve to be in prison.

I think cases like these clearly show that the administration hasnt been permitting bad behavior by the military, let alone authorated as the left would like to pretend.

Can you show me where any lefty anywhere has suggested that the Administration has "authorated" rape?

 

[Superlative]

No one authorised it,
but it was abviously planned and premeditated, because they thought they would never get caught.
If the soldiers think that their superiors arent paying enough attention that they can rape and murder people, then the administration has obviously got some issues that need to be addressed.

 

[CSM]

No one authorised it,
but it was abviously planned and premeditated, because they thought they would never get caught.
If the soldiers think that their superiors arent paying enough attention that they can rape and murder people, then the administration has obviously got some issues that need to be addressed.

Waay too long a stretch between the "administration" and the level in the echelonmnet where these solders work and live. The soldier's immediate supervisors sure have some issues though!

 

[Superlative]

Waay too long a stretch between the "administration" and the level in the echelonmnet where these solders work and live. The soldier's immediate supervisors sure have some issues though!

My mistake, you are correct. thank you.

 

[Avatar4321]

Can you show me where any lefty anywhere has suggested that the Administration has "authorated" rape?

Where on earth have you been? For years the left has been angry at Rumsfeld for alleged rape and torture He was supposed to have authorized.

But the facts dont fit the theories. It's clear that if anyone in the military misbehaves they are sanctioned and punished.

 

[Dr Grump]

Where on earth have you been? For years the left has been angry at Rumsfeld for alleged rape and torture He was supposed to have authorized.

But the facts dont fit the theories. It's clear that if anyone in the military misbehaves they are sanctioned and punished.

I never saw anybody saying Rumsfield authorise anything of the sort. I saw a lot of people annoyed at a perceived sense of dragging his feet on issues...

 

[Louie]

these little shits should have gotten the death penalty.

 

[roomy]

Not that I am bothered but, wasn't Saddam Hussein tried and hanged for 'authorising' atrocities much like the one comitted by US troops who only seem to be accountable to and for themselves.Some might argue double standards.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

Not that I am bothered but, wasn't Saddam Hussein tried and hanged for 'authorising' atrocities much like the one comitted by US troops who only seem to be accountable to and for themselves.Some might argue double standards.

I think the prevailing crime he was hung for was gassing a shit ton of Kurds... give or take a fuckload or two.

 

[roomy]

I think the prevailing crime he was hung for was gassing a shit ton of Kurds... give or take a fuckload or two.

Murder is murder, it doesn't really matter how it is carried out

Did he personally gas them or is he as responsible as Bush and Blair being that he was head of state at the time.If the war were to turn and Bush and Blair were put on trial I have no doubt that they would hang for war crimes and crimes against humanity.It is all a matter of perspective.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

Murder is murder, it doesn't really matter how it is carried out

Did he personally gas them or is he as responsible as Bush and Blair being that he was head of state at the time.If the war were to turn and Bush and Blair were put on trial I have no doubt that they would hang for war crimes and crimes against humanity.It is all a matter of perspective.

He targetted innocent civilians as a method of genocide. Say what you will about failed war policies, we have never targetted innocents.

 

[Dr Grump]

He targetted innocent civilians as a method of genocide. Say what you will about failed war policies, we have never targetted innocents.

Still, thousands upon thousands have died. One thinks if you could target a certain armoured carrier precisely you could do the same with AQ operativea and/or insurgents...

I do agree there is a difference between Sadman and Bush/Blair though (in their motives). Of course, this means fuck-all to those who have lost family members to "friendly fire" and have become "collatoral damage"..

 

[The ClayTaurus]

Still, thousands upon thousands have died. One thinks if you could target a certain armoured carrier precisely you could do the same with AQ operativea and/or insurgents...

I do agree there is a difference between Sadman and Bush/Blair though (in their motives). Of course, this means fuck-all to those who have lost family members to "friendly fire" and have become "collatoral damage"..

Don't blame the US for those we are at war with being pussies and hiding amongst civilians.

 

[roomy]

I am only trying to offer an alternative view, I often try walking in others shoes, it can be very enlightening and hopefully makes me less likely to stubbornly refuse to accept any way but mine.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

I am only trying to offer an alternative view, I often try walking in others shoes, it can be very enlightening and hopefully makes me less likely to stubbornly refuse to accept any way but mine.

I'm all for walking in the shoes of others, but I think it's a bit of a stretch to compare the actions of hussein to bush or blair.

 

[roomy]

I'm all for walking in the shoes of others, but I think it's a bit of a stretch to compare the actions of hussein to bush or blair.

Not if you are muslim or Iraqi.

 

[Dr Grump]

Don't blame the US for those we are at war with being pussies and hiding amongst civilians.

Don't blame the goat herder who couldn't give a fuck about the Taleban, Saddam or any other SOB, and whose wife/mother/sister/brother/daughter/son was killed by friendly fire or collateral damage, and then turning into a suicide bomber or insurgent attacking US personal...

 

[eots]

I pledge no allegiance, nigga fuck the president's speeches
I'm baptized by America and covered in leeches
The dirty water that bleaches your soul and your facial features
Drownin' you in propaganda that they spit through the speakers
And if you speak about the evil that the government does
The Patriot Act'll track you to the type of your blood
They try to frame you, and say you was tryna sell drugs
And throw a federal indictment on niggaz to show you love
This shit is run by fake Christians, fake politicians
Look at they mansions, then look at the conditions you live in
All they talk about is terrorism on television
They tell you to listen, but they don't really tell you they mission
They funded Al-Qaeda, and now they blame the Muslim religion
Even though Bin Laden, was a CIA tactician
They gave him billions of dollars, and they funded his purpose
Fahrenheit 9/11, that's just scratchin' the surface

They say the rebels in Iraq still fight for Saddam
But that's bullshit, I'll show you why it's totally wrong
Cuz if another country invaded the hood tonight
It'd be warfare through Harlem, and Washington Heights
I wouldn't be fightin' for Bush or White America's dream
I'd be fightin' for my people's survival and self-esteem
I wouldn't fight for racist churches from the south, my nigga
I'd be fightin' to keep the occupation out, my nigga
You ever clock someone who talk shit, or look at you wrong?
Imagine if they shot at you, and was rapin' your moms
And of course Saddam Hussein had chemical weapons
We sold him that shit, after Ronald Reagan's election
Mercenary contractors fightin' a new era
Corporate military bankin' off the war on terror
They controllin' the ghetto, with the failed attack
Trying to distract the fact that they engineerin' the crack

So I'm strapped like Lee Malvo holdin' a sniper rifle
These bullets'll touch your kids, and I don't mean like Michael
Your body be sent to the morgue, stripped down and recycled
I fire on house niggaz that support you and like you
Cuz innocent people get murdered in the struggle daily
And poor people never get shit and struggle daily
This ain't no alien conspiracy theory, this shit is real
Written on the dollar underneath the Masonic seal

(I don't rap for dead presidents
I'd rather see the president dead
It's never been said but I set precedents)--[Eminem