US soldiers face death penalty for murder charges related to militia group (plotted to kill Obama)

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Three serving soldiers who allegedly set up a militia group within the US army, which plotted to overthrow the government and assassinate President Obama, face the death penalty after they were arraigned on murder charges.

Prosecutors in Georgia announced on Thursday they would seek death sentences in one of the most startling and potentially serious cases of an anti-government militia to be brought before the courts in recent years. They alleged that the soldiers stockpiled almost $90,000 worth of guns and bomb-making equipment which they planned to use to kill the president and carry out a range of other violent acts.

The three accused – Isaac Aguigui, fellow private Christopher Salmon and sergeant Anthony Peden – are all on active duty at Fort Stewart in Georgia, home of the army's 3rd infantry division. They are accused of having killed in execution style their former army comrade, Michael Roark, 19, and his 17-year-old girlfriend Tiffany York.

Earlier this week another serving soldier, private Michael Burnett, who was allegedly part of the militia, cut a deal with the prosecution in which he pleaded guilty to lesser charges of manslaughter and gang activity in return for turning prosecution witness. He gave evidence in which he said he was present at the murder of the couple on 4 December.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/30/us-soldiers-death-penalty-militia

[Politicalboi]

1. The Repukes will be crying about this

But if this had happened to Bush, they would be right there willing to do the shooting.

[Mr.Bill]

4. I don't know what other forums the DU people read,

but I could show you conservative forums where people think these guys should be given the Congressional Medal of Honor for their service to the country. It's sad, but there are people out there who think this way.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

6. No shock there....

....and there are the ones you meet every day who won't say it but are thinking the same things. Scary.

[nanabugg]

10. But they "allegedly" killed a former soldier and his girlfriend to "tie up loose ends"

How honest, American soldiers can be on their side is beyond me. They would take even the life of another soldier that should make them despised by active military. AND WHAT IS WORSE NONE OF THE POLITICOS HAVE CALLED THESE PEOPLE OUT OR EVEN FEIGNED OUTRAGE. They have more hate and venom against the President for overseeing the capture and death of Osama Bin Laden than for these guys. The VFA should be all over this shit!

[oldsarge54]

18. Too True

I just wish there was a way to tell the difference between blowhards thinking they are funny, and those that mean it.

[roguevalley]

11. this is bush's fault. during the war when they couldn't get anyone to sign up, the

recruiters signed up anyone with a pulse and alot of Klan and militia ass hats and nazis got in. Recruiters even committed suicide over the pressure. welcome to bush world.

[russspeakeasy]

14. Yup..

[Mr.Bill]

28. I had a Marine recruiter living across the street from me for awhile

He said the best recruiting tool for young people is to tell them they will get to "kill ragheads every day." He was totally serious.

[Dont call me Shirley]

2. And why must we hear this from a British paper?

[YellaDog1950]

8. I was sitting here thinking the same thing.

And why isn't this all over the news? I find it appalling that the RNC seems to be more important.

[barbtries]

26. you read my mind.

this story should be big news here. why isn't it?

[Swede Atlanta]

3. Hmmm.....I don't support the death penalty but

These bastards, if convicted after a fair trial, should be incarcerated in very uncomfortable conditions for the rest of their lives.

They believe that they have a right to brandish their arms and define social order. No, actually you don't. We the people do and guess what? You are going to regret this for the rest of your lives. I hope they can find a way to make their lives meaningful after this but I don't hold out much hope. This much hate, ignorance and poor upbringing is not easily solved.

[Cha]

5. I say if found "guilty"..

lock them up for the rest of their lives.

I'm just glad they got caught before their stupid ass ugly thought plans materialized.

Other victims of dumb vicious shits weren't so lucky.

[christx30]

16. The word that

I'm surprised I haven't yet in regards to these 3 is "treason". I mean... I've seen Obama being accused of it, or various political figures bandying it around, but these guys were actually engaging in it. If plotting to kill the President and overthrowing the government isn't treason, I don't know what is. I guess maybe because they weren't plotting with a foreign government (helping Russia get nuclear launch codes, ect) or something. But I think it should count here. Charge them with treason in addition to anything else.

[Cha]

17. Really, christx30.. US citizens and soldiers plotting

to kill the President of the United States of America?

I'd say the same if it were any President. Only Dems aren't usually so damn stupid.

[jsr]

7. I have no problem with them taking a dirt nap

[fascisthunter]

9. well the reich Wing supports the Death Penalty so it seems Just

I prefer they riot in prison.

[awoke_in_2003]

19. Riot or rot...

Seriously, I agree. I don't support the death penalty (although rapists and child molester make me question that stand), so let them rot.

[fascisthunter]

29. ooops! LOL...

[awoke_in_2003]

31. You were guilty...

of planting my ear worm. When I read "riot" I thought Quiet Riot, and "Come On Feel the Noise" got stuck in my head

[fascisthunter]

32. Hahahahaha....

ear worm... I sometimes wake up in the morning with it, realizing I must have dreamt of listening to the same song.

[Agnosticsherbet]

12. U.S. Reports called them anarchists.

British call them militias.

That is a very curious difference in terminology.

[DBoon]

21. US media needs to make them somehow "left wing"

Calling them what they are will make many republican politicians and wealthy republican billionaires very unhappy. No US news organization would ever do that.

If one of them owned a black coat, they'd be tarred as "goths" as well

[Agnosticsherbet]

27. I think we have reached the point...

where language will be used that compares them to Occupy Wall Street.

[colorado_ufo]

13. We tend to think that such cases are a matter of life and death.

However, we all die; it is more a matter of die sooner or die later. Anyone who would contemplate planting bombs and land mines in public parks where little children play, or poison apple orchards so that innocent people can die, gets no sympathy from me. They were in a position of trust while in service; they have treasonously violated that trust, planned to overthrow our Constitution and justice system, stockpiled arms, plotted mayhem, plotted assassination of a sitting president, and murdered people, including one under-aged woman.

One of them apparently has enough "charm" to influence his superior officers into acting out their hatreds and bigotries - he would create a constant danger of a prison riot. Who would want this POS to escape?

These men are worse than Osama bin Laden, because they are our countrymen.

I have no desire to either support them for the rest of their lives while incarcerated or have them endanger fellow prisoners who do have a chance at rehabilitation.

This is a true case of a capital crime.

[freshwest]

22. Well said.

[AllyCat]

15. I do not support the death penalty, but it is interesting this is being applied

The conservatives will have a fit.

[radical noodle]

20. They did kill two people

A former soldier (19) and his girlfriend (17) were murdered to keep them quiet, so I imagine that's the reason for the death penalty.

[freshwest]

23. And possibly the ringleader's pregnant wife for the insurance money. Aguigui stated:

In a videotaped interview with military investigators, Aguigui referred to himself as "the nicest cold-blooded murderer you will ever meet."

http://www.heavy.com/news/2012/08/pfc-michael-burnett-the-anarchist-soldier-top-10-facts-you-need-to-know/

[cbrer]

24. Idiots!

You need to wait for orders BEFORE you pull the trigger on someone. Sheesh, didn't they teach you anything in basic?

[hauweg]

25. Leader of Army Plot to Assassinate Obama Apparently Attended the 2008 Republican Convention

Isaac Aguigui, the Army private and alleged ringleader of a plot to assassinate Barack Obama and "take over" Ft. Stewart in Georgia, apparently served as a page at the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minnesota.

http://gawker.com/5938288/leader-of-army-plot-to-assassinate-obama-apparently-attended-the-2008-republican-convention-as-a-page

[sakabatou]

30. This deginitely will be swept under the rug by the RNC and Fox "News"