Always immune from prosecution
A US soldier has testified that his commander ordered him to kill three Iraqi detainees, then cut him with a knife to make it look as if there had been a struggle.
Specialist William Hunsaker told a court martial for Ray Girouard on Tuesday that the staff sergeant ordered him and another soldier to free the men, then shoot them as they ran.
Another soldier, Specialist Bradley Mason, testified that he heard Girouard order Clagett and Hunsaker to kill the detainees.
The soldiers had previously told investigators they were given rules of engagement by Colonel Michael Steele, the 3rd Brigade commander, to kill all military-age men.
Steele has denied this but invoked his right not to testify.
Do you expect anyone higher up than a grunt to be indicted or imprisoned over crimes like this?
I would find this seriously disturbing if true, but will wait for someone in addition to aljazeera to pick up the story before i give it credence.
! – aside from your ignorance of AJ’s standing in the world of journalism, there is another source. It’s called G-O-O-G-L-E.
First law of gravity according to the Ununiform Military Code of Justice:
Shit rolls downhill only
Second law: Reread the first!
“Do you expect anyone higher up than a grunt to be indicted or imprisoned over crimes like this?”
NO.
THEY COULDN’T FIND A PREGNANT 20 YEAR OLD TO PIN THIS ONE ON….
I agree: It’s time to blame the troops.
Remember, folks, this means that Bush ordered it and all US military personnel are evil. Story after story proves it, right?
Remember, folks, this means that Bush ordered it and all US military personnel are evil. Story after story proves it, right?
This is why you, and other idiots like you, have no credibility.
In your feeble mind, either nobody is guilty or everybody is guilty. Right or wrong, black or white, good or evil, republican or democrat, gay or straight, and so on and so on.
The point some other posters were making was that the responsible parties (WHOEVER THEY ARE) will never be held accountable. Nobody believes that this began or ended with the dogfaces.
#9 – Unfortunetly there are too many hacks around here that want to use an exception as proof of a norm. As such, your read is invalid, leaving you with no credibility.
The fact is the “situations” that have come to light in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in our prison base in Cuba, have had some pretty terrible implications. Seems that we are guilty of things which should NOT happen, even in war. We are not following the Geneva Convention. We seem to not remember some of the big “whoops” in Vietnam. Meanwhile, we all sort of nod and say “yeah, no one high up will hurt at all, just some grunts will end up in a bit of fame and disgrace”.
I think to even ponder the idea that higher ups in the military are not aware is just foolish. We’re in a war we cannot win, are hopelessly inept at fighting with exhausted troops (injured, disabled and mentally unstable from previous tours..among them). We are squandering buttloads of cash to “make friends and influence people” supposedly to “rebuild the infrastructure” (and there’s no real accounting how much of this has been absconded with by the corporations, contractors and advisors). If you think New Orleans is bad after Katrina…how much do you want to bet the disorganization, chaos and poor planning is part-and-parcel in Iraq?
AS much as I’d like to say “oh, the Emperor’s clothing is wonderful”..the truth is, he is naked, and the sight is enough to turn your stomach. The administration is rotten, from the top down.
#9 – Read #11: The post proves my point through its odd use of the word “we”.
The inability to use “we” at the correct point in the discussion is why your point of view is invalid.
The inability to use “we” at the correct point in the discussion is why your point of view is invalid.
Ok. You can explain that another time.
“we” was chosen as the rest of the world see everyone in the United States as responsible. We elect our representatives. We claim to be involved in a “democratic” form of government and show the world our Bill of Rights, our Constitution as the guiding grail for all. So, when I say “WE” it means that WE are letting this happen, we are sitting around whining, we are watching the news and bickering among ourselves, and collectively sitting on our hands. This isn’t all Bush’s doing….but, the grand ignoring of it all….is all OUR doing.
How many of you have EVER written your congressman? How many even know the name of who represents you? We stopped teaching Civics in schools about 1974, for most major school districts, so…if you’ve been educated after that point, your first foray into how the government works may have come from John Stewart’s America.
Is it OUR country or is it Bush’s? That’s the question.
And this somehow surprises anyone?
They are TRAINED to KILL. Its their job. If they are told to kill someone they do it. It’s what they are broken down in Boot Camp for. Its why they pick from the 18-24 year old crowd. They KNOW that at that age the area of your brain that controlls compulsion is not fused until 25. That is why people in their 30’s are not bothered by recruiters, they will say HELL NO.
Military people are NOT in war zones to bandage boo boos and throw flowers and give everyone hugs and stand in circles holding hands and praying. They are there to KILL. cold, blooded, calculated, premeditated killing. That is their job.
So if anyone is shocked that people get killed by military people in a war, no matter the circumstances or who issued the order; then they had better take the red pill and wake up to reality.
Cursor_
I hope it is not true, but my hopes have been dashed on the truth before.
Denialists, when it happens, don’t hold on to old hopes, but find new ones. Hope springs eternal, but delusion ends abruptly.
#15 I think you’re confused as to the difference between killing and murdering somebody.
#17
They are trained to kill, all that charity work such as building bridges and the medical brigades all over the world are just excuses to justify the existance of an army during peace times.
If I were given an order by my superior to kill unarmed civilians, while witnesses were looking on, I’d shoot the bastard dead. He was using his authority to order me to commit his murder so he could get his jollies. Let the Uniform Code deal with why I shot him. I’d dare them to convict me.
I’m sure some female officer will be found to take the head shot. Worked before.
I blame this on Algore. He invented the Internet, which spreads stories like this. He also invented Global Warming (TM) which fries peoples brains and makes them do things like this. It’s all Algore’s fault.
#2- Aljazeera’s standing is debatable at best- from USA Today (via google):
In response, while saying that the network often does a “horrible job” of reporting, Secretary of State Colin Powell said it is trying to improve, “and I’m pleased to see that.”
But Powell said Al-Jazeera has a long way to go. “When a particular outlet, Al-Jazeera, does such a horrible job presenting the news, and when it takes every opportunity to slant the news, present it in the most outrageous way, then we have to speak out, and we have,” he told reporters…
#14 – Unfortunetly, how “they” see “us” means jack shit. How “we” handle “our” business is what matters, and these days our business includes Iraq.
Note how you started to make the same mistake in your post after your first sentence. “We” don’t claim anything: A certain segment of our population does. “We” aren’t letting anything happen: Elected officials are, and the fact we elect them is fairly meaningless when the selection is limited.
In the end, our difference is clear… You thing “we” suck. “I” think “you” suck, and “we” have the power to do anything… regardless of “the minority” which “you” (and not “we”) represent.
Pretty funny #22. Still stuck in the MTV generation, eh?
I said “world of journalism”. Do you think that includes news-as-entertainment a la USA Today? And Powell’s remarks came from right around the time he was claiming those empty trucks were full of WMD’s. And that took you 7 hours!
Turn off your computer. Go back to watching American Idol. Do not pass GO.
Dear James, “I” think “you” suck, too. Only not in the right place…or in the right way.
Sincerely, Meetsy.
The soldiers had previously told investigators they were given rules of engagement by Colonel Michael Steele, the 3rd Brigade commander, to kill all military-age men.
That commanders have the “right” not to testify is scary. Although that would not exculpate the Sargent or the men, it should be noted that it could minimize their involvement if in fact they were following orders.
As others commented, this will never reach the Colonel.
21 – That’s a great approach! Let’s see, I think I’ll blame…. James Hill. Yeah, that’s it. No reason and not for anything in particular, I just blame James Hill. Al Gore is second.
I’m pulling for the Iraqis to win this one; the only good american soldier and contractor is a dead one hanging from a bridge in Falluja.