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Soldier Sentenced in Death of Iraqi

By TChris, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Mon Jul 25, 2005 at 03:09:30 PM EST
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by TChris

Cpl. Dustin Berg apparently believed an Iraqi police officer was going to shoot him, so Berg shot and killed the officer. Realizing that the shooting was unjustified, Berg tried to cover his mistake by shooting himself with the police officer's gun.

Berg, of Ferdinand, Ind., had changed his story multiple times during the investigation, initially saying the Iraqi had pointed an AK-47 at him to prevent Berg from reporting insurgent activity. On Monday, however, Berg said that Iraqi police officers as a matter of habit carried their guns with the barrels pointed slightly upward.

Berg pled guilty to a charge of negligent homicide. He was sentenced today to 18 months in prison. He'll also receive a bad conduct discharge.

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    • Soldier Sentenced in Death of Iraqi | 11 comments (11 topical)
    Re: Soldier Sentenced in Death of Iraqi (none / 0) (#1)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:36 PM EST
    Nothing like the moral abyss of fraudulently justified war. Makes frauds of all of us. And many an abyss for all of those in Iraq.

    Re: Soldier Sentenced in Death of Iraqi (none / 0) (#2)
    by Patrick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:36 PM EST
    Dadler, It was a mistake to lie, nothing more. I think you're making a bit much of it. Seems like justice was done.

    Re: Soldier Sentenced in Death of Iraqi (none / 0) (#3)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:36 PM EST
    Patrick, I guess I'm making more of it than you. So be it. But, to me, there ain't no justice for the dead. They remain dead. The living are left to pick up the pieces. And it got me thinking about the ripples on the pond. Everyone has people who love them, who are affected, who affect others, and on and on. And it can last through generations. Gotta go pick up my son from kindergarten.

    Re: Soldier Sentenced in Death of Iraqi (none / 0) (#4)
    by Johnny on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:36 PM EST
    It was a mistake to lie, nothing more.
    Ooooooooooookaaaaaay.... "Sorry judge, it was a mistake to lie about shooting that cop." Sick Patrick. 18 months? 18 months? Holy cow... If anybody has the urge to kill another human being in cold blood, Iraq is the place to do it. Just don't lie about it though. That's the bad part.

    Re: Soldier Sentenced in Death of Iraqi (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:36 PM EST
    I feel sorry for the guy. Being in a war zone with people shooting at you all the time does tend to make people a bit more paranoid than usual. Than after he had done it he realized the guy wasn't a threat and panicked.

    Re: Soldier Sentenced in Death of Iraqi (none / 0) (#6)
    by Patrick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:36 PM EST
    Johnny, Yeah you're right, Iraq is the place to go. Being that there is a war on there (Justified or not) it changes the threshold of self protection just a tad bit no?

    Re: Soldier Sentenced in Death of Iraqi (none / 0) (#7)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:37 PM EST
    Let's see...lying about killing someone lands you in jail...while lying to start the war gets you re-elected...go figure that one out.

    Re: Soldier Sentenced in Death of Iraqi (none / 0) (#8)
    by john horse on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:37 PM EST
    Suppose the situation was reversed and it was the Iraqi soldier who shot and killed an American soldier. Would the Iraqi soldier be tried in an Iraqi court? Would he be sentenced to only 18 months in jail?

    Re: Soldier Sentenced in Death of Iraqi (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:37 PM EST
    Patrick thinks 18 months is all you deserve for shooting a COP! Yeah, because it's a brown cop.

    Re: Soldier Sentenced in Death of Iraqi (none / 0) (#10)
    by Patrick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:37 PM EST
    Marty, Don't let your excitement about thinking you caught me in some compromising position interfere with your thinking. From T-Chris' post.
    Cpl. Dustin Berg apparently believed an Iraqi police officer was going to shoot him, so Berg shot and killed the officer.
    That's justified right there. Lying about it and trying to cover it up was wrong. If he believed he made a mistake after the shooting he should have reported it exactly as it ocurred. It has nothing to do with employment, race or any other favorite hot topic button. So unwad the panties.

    Re: Soldier Sentenced in Death of Iraqi (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:01:37 PM EST
    PatricK... It has nothing to do with employment, race or any other favorite hot topic button. So unwad the panties. See.... you don't get it. We are all bad (criminals) and are wrong ALL the time. If something happens and we harm someone different then us...it's because we are racists and really wanted to anyway. Mistakes are not allowed. There are exceptions though... like all those people in jail. (both here & in Gitmo) They should all be set free immeadiately because : A-They didn't mean it (it was a mistake)..B- They are innocent and we just arrested them for the hell of it..C-We deserve anything they did to us anyway..D-All of the above. Get it now?

    Soldier Sentenced in Death of Iraqi | 11 comments (11 topical)