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Three U.S. Soldiers Charged With Murder in Iraq

By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 07:47:30 PM EST
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Three U.S. soldiers, members of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division have been charged with murder in Iraq.

The three soldiers are accused of deliberately allowing three men detained during a raid on a former chemical factory to flee so they would have an excuse to shoot them, said a defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

....The military did not disclose the identities of the slain detainees and the charge sheet said they were "of apparent Middle Eastern descent whose names are unknown."

The deaths occurred on May 9. More from the New York Times here.

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    • Three U.S. Soldiers Charged With Murder in Iraq | 6 comments (6 topical)
    Re: Three U.S. Soldiers Charged With Murder in Ira (none / 0) (#1)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 08:12:43 PM EST
    "Charging someone with murder in this place is like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500" ~ Capt. Willard Apocalypse Now

    Re: Three U.S. Soldiers Charged With Murder in Ira (none / 0) (#2)
    by Aaron on Tue Jun 20, 2006 at 12:23:05 AM EST
    Don't get distracted and take your eye off the ball. Remember where the greatest preponderance of culpability for these crimes is to be found. " O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! " George W. Bush and the Bush administration are personally responsible for every death, and every unlawful killing perpetrated in Iraq. These murdered Iraqis are just another charge to add to the stack of charges which they must be made to face. For without their crime, no further crimes could ever have occurred. I hope everyone realizes that for each one of these reported war crimes, dozens go unreported and escape detection entirely. Thus in war such acts become so frequent and commonplace as to be expected and accepted. "Blood and destruction shall be so in use And dreadful objects so familiar That mothers shall but smile when they behold Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war; All pity choked with custom of fell deeds: " Crime and criminality are such integral parts of war that you simply cannot separate one from the other. As you watch each war run its course, invariably every criminal act known to humankind will occur repeatedly and with ever increasing frequency, scope and depth of depravity, crimes which will only cease when the conflict is brought to an end. This war began with a crime, a crime against the people of the United States perpetrated by a president who used another crime to justify his own perverse criminality, " Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war; That this foul deed shall smell above the earth and With carrion men, groaning for burial." In fact wars most often begin with a crime, and the stain of that crime spreads its infection to an entire people, as the blood on our soldiers hands must ultimately stains us all. And as Americans none of us can escape our own responsibility for these crimes. At this point all we can look forward to is that final crime which will bring a close to this shameful chapter in history.

    Re: Three U.S. Soldiers Charged With Murder in Ira (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jun 20, 2006 at 12:56:33 AM EST
    While I agree in principle with your post, Aaron, you do come off as a bit sanctimonious. As heinous as the administration's treachery has been, the soldiers weren't compelled to pull the trigger. Not all grunts in Nam had My Lai Sybdrome. Owning one's responsibility is the key. Not only with this White House, but with those who committed the alleged act. Conflicts end with that initial mea culpa....

    Re: Three U.S. Soldiers Charged With Murder in Ira (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jun 20, 2006 at 04:43:49 AM EST
    Passionate rather sanctimonious. There are few comments that I read twice. a crime against the people of the United States I am sure it is only an oversite that you did not include the Iraqies in this statement. Other than that I endorse every word of your fine comment.

    Re: Three U.S. Soldiers Charged With Murder in Ira (none / 0) (#5)
    by Aaron on Tue Jun 20, 2006 at 09:50:57 AM EST
    Thanks guys, sanctimonious is my specialty, but to be totally honest I borrowed a healthy slice from Marc Anthony. Y'all should see how I do lingering bravado.

    Re: Three U.S. Soldiers Charged With Murder in Ira (none / 0) (#6)
    by Johnny on Wed Jun 21, 2006 at 07:06:55 AM EST
    Y'all should see how I do lingering bravado.
    LMAO

    Three U.S. Soldiers Charged With Murder in Iraq | 6 comments (6 topical)