Three more US troops charged with Iraq rape-murder

[cal04]

Three U.S. soldiers were charged with the rape and murder of an Iraqi teenager and killing her family, bringing to four the number of Americans accused of the four deaths in March, the U.S. military said on Sunday.

A fourth soldier was charged on Saturday with dereliction of duty for failing to report the case. Last week a fifth soldier, now discharged, was charged with rape and murder in a U.S. civilian court over the killiings at Mahmudiya, near Baghdad.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-07-09T124044Z_01_COL944937_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-RAPE.xml

[Triana]

1. So...are they ALL suffering a psych disorder like the first one

claimed he was? (I don't buy that defense). I doubt it.

Of course being trained to be killing machines in a war is damn tough on these guys. But what gives them the idea that raping and killing innocent kids/teens and their families is OK? What training do they have on where to draw that line? Is it left up to them to decide? Because too many of them are deciding on the wrong side of it.

[Rose Siding]

2. Is the fourth one the whistleblower?

I agree that he should have reported it asap, and in a perfect barely tolerable world, waiting would be almost unforgivable, but it seems that charging him could have a chilling effect on future reports of crimes. In fact, didn't it come out in a counseling session? The sense of loyalty in combat situations is very powerful. If he's cooperating, I really question the charges.

They must not need his testimony (do members of the military have rights against self-incrimination?)

I'm probably jumping the gun -could be someone else who was coersed into giving some information after the initial whistleblower did his thing.

[w4rma]

3. Hopefully they aren't going to try to make an example of the whistleblower

But, under the GOP, you never know what corruption will be done towards trying to keep things hidden from Americans.

[NVMojo]

10. I hope not!!! This Bush administration is diabolical.

wouldn't surprise me if they received some joy out of this ...

[cal04]

5. I'm not sure how accurate this is

The official said the killings appeared to be unrelated to the kidnappings but a soldier had felt compelled to report the killings after his fellow soldiers' bodies were found.

The killings appeared to have been a "crime of opportunity", he said.

According to the official, the soldiers had not been attacked at the time of the rape and family deaths, but had noticed the woman on previous patrols.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,,2-10-1460_1960861,00.html

[Bluerthanblue]

7. Crime of Opportunity !!!......???

.... what a bunch of empty meaningless words-
"
What is a "crime of opportunity," and what does it mean? Is it about being in the wrong place at the wrong time? And, if so, as a soldier in Iraq, are you not likewise a victim; can it not be said that war itself is a "crime of opportunity?" If so, then we have a plague of opportunists running this country. Moreover, it may be argued, too, that capital punishment is such a crime, one that avails itself of the kind of infectious irrationality which proved toxic to previous empires, and which, no doubt, will prove fatal to ours, as well.

But, can we accept that this family just happened to be in the wrong place, or that the soldiers acted as they did only as a result of where they were situated, an argument implied by the military? Or, is it simply that the soldiers were at the wrong place at the wrong time, too. More importantly, is there really any difference between what these infantrymen did, and an equally barbaric civilian murder, say, for instance, that of Nicole Brown Simpson? Was that not also a "crime of opportunity" and, if not, how may we to distinguish between the two. Is barbarism more acceptable on the battlefield? The signers of the Geneva Conventions didn't think so. Or, is it that we tolerate crimes of passion better than those of dispassion? Have we, as a culture, managed to survive by learning how to keep ourselves at so many removes from reality that it no longer breathes, and bleeds; just how many removes does that take?

"
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/12694

[qazplm]

13. all a crime of opportunity means in this context is

that it wasnt something set up in advance. They came across the woman and family and decided to take advantage of the situation. I am not sure this places them in any better light. And yes, I'd say calling OJ's killing of his wife a crime of opportunity fits pretty well since it wasnt planned in advance. that doesnt make it more acceptable.

[Nihil]

48. Pardon?

> all a crime of opportunity means in this context is that it wasnt something
> set up in advance. They came across the woman and family and decided to take
> advantage of the situation.

How much planning does it take for you to consider it "in advance"?

They stalked a young girl by means of one of their (illegal) checkpoints
and then decided to rape & kill her (and kill any family witnesses) after
a drinking session. Are you seriously trying to pretend that this was not
"set up in advance" but was a "crime of opportunity"?

You need a serious course in ethics sunshine (and I don't mean the county
in South-East England).

[Bluerthanblue]

50. this incident WAS planned according to

the news reports I've read- I believe the FBI report even said as much-
That makes it a pre-meditated killing.

Crime of 'opportunity' quite often refers to things like leaving your keys in your car- theft from workplaces etc- To even imply that there was anything this family could have done to avoid this is outragous in my opinion.-
Be-littling the gravity, and horror of what is alleged to have happened by calling this child a 'woman' by calling this a 'crime of opportunity'- is so infuriating.

It's akin to that a-hole at Gitmo saying the suicides of the 3 detainees was an 'act of war'- rather than admit that the people who were entrusted with the lives of the people they held hostage, screwed up. I'm tired of washington spin- tired of dirtied 'half-truths'- tired of the government thinking they can use word games to make things 'not so bad'- when it is to thier advantage.

Sorry to vent on you- the phrase really annoys the hell out of me.

peace,
blu

[jwirr]

51. Also, they were in their own home so how can it be a crime of

opportunity? The sickos had to have used military strength to enter the home though not necessarily force. They could have demanded entry because they were US military forces.

[Toots]

8. (do members of the military have rights against self-incrimination?)

I don't think members of the military have any rights as they are looked upon as property. GI ie. Government Issue. You get a sunburn and can be court marsheled for destroying government property...:shrug:

[qazplm]

12. yes

members of the military have about 99% of the rights all Americans have at Court-Martial, and in some ways I prefer the military justice system to the civilian one. Military members get generally qualified counsel, defense attorneys generally have access to experts, and the system is an open discovery system. Sentencing is also severely skewed towards the defense.

[NYC]

26. I'm wondering if the one who disposed of the rifle after the

crime is the one being charged with not reporting. He was not present at the crime, was waiting nearby, and after the crime was given the rifle by Green (I think), and told to dispose of it. That makes him an accomplice.

I'm not sure who is who in these reports of charges.

Edit:

I agree with this:

Mr Maliki also called for the immunity granted to coalition troops to be reviewed.

"We do not accept the violation of Iraqi people's honour as happened in this case. We believe that the immunity granted to international forces has emboldened them to commit such crimes," he said.

[lpbk2713]

4. Dereliction of duty for not reporting it is a bogus charge.

It was a couple of months before the story hit the MSM. In that time that passed before the story broke you can be sure every one in that whole damn unit would have known all the specifics of what happened. So you can be sure whoever they charged with it is a whistle blower or a scapegoat of some sort and will be paying the price for not being an "insider".

[Judi Lynn]

6. Wouldn't it seem possible that the "confessions" which came only AFTER

the murder/torture of the two young soldiers may have been triggered by the dawning fear that the countrymen who did them in would be coming after the rest of them, as well?

I think it's quite possible the "whistleblower" was actually trying to bring the whole matter out, and get it exposed in hope it would pacify the citizens of the area, and his life might be spared.

[bluestateguy]

9. I favor the death penalty for those convicted

Though only a prison sentence for the guy charged with dereliction of duty for not reporting it. The rapists, though, should be executed.

[qazplm]

16. I'm never in favor of the DP

but the military does provide it for rape.

Having said that, the last person executed in the military was I believe 1961.

[Breeze54]

22. Yes!! More blood!! More dead bodies!!!

:crazy:

STACK 'EM HIGH!! Kill! Kill! Kill!!! :sarcasm:


http://www.toppun.com.nyud.net:8090/ProductImages/peace-anti-war/9-Mom-Why-Do-We-Kill-People-Who-Kill-People.gif

[whatelseisnew]

11. Iraq officials questioning troop immunity

Just heard on BBC radio... looking for a link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5150054.stm

Mr Maliki also called for the immunity granted to coalition troops to be reviewed.

"We do not accept the violation of Iraqi people's honour as happened in this case. We believe that the immunity granted to international forces has emboldened them to commit such crimes," he said.

[uppityperson]

14. NY Times had a bit in a longer article yesterday, link/bit here

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/07/world/middleeast/07iraq.html
The statement came just hours after Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki said at a news conference that he might ask the American military to scrap a rule granting foreign soldiers here immunity from Iraqi prosecution. Such a move would be a direct rebuke to the Bush administration, which has fought tenaciously to ensure that American soldiers are exempt from local or international laws when serving on foreign soil.

[whatelseisnew]

20. thanks, didn't see that yesterday n/t

[uppityperson]

15. Good. Very good. I am glad they are charging them all.

Next, figure out who was their (boss, commander? chief?) and who recruited them and get them through basic training (at least Green). Good.

Here is another BBC link to a list of recent incidents/investigations.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5105284.stm

[librarycard]

17. This is how our volunteer military behaves--imagine behavior post draft

with troops who don't wish to be there, who didn't volunteer...

[qazplm]

18. This is what happens anytime

you gather 150K people together and add on the fact that every single one of them is armed and facing war.

You get some unfortunately murderers, rapists, drug users, etc mixed in there.

Yes, it would probably be worse with a draft military because the selection standards would be lower, but bottom line is I doubt you have war without some of these things for centuries until we improve to the point where war is no longer something that happens, and thats gonna take millenia.

[uppityperson]

23. War is hell,atrocities happen in war,this is 1 reason to NEVER lightly war

NEVER go lightly into war. War is not a video game with soldiers fighting other soldiers. It is people getting murdered, getting tortured, all sorts of crap goes on. I really hate video war games and movies that romanticize war. And, having said that of course this happens does NOT excuse anyone who does this.

[qazplm]

24. I agree with all of that

no argument from me.

[Divine Discontent]

47. great... just GREATTTTTTTTTT

are you trying to scare us all! lol.. but, you're right. they sent my friend's NEPHEW (19) over to fight even though he was MENTALLY ill and still sent him despite him being written up (whatever it's called in the military) for getting in trouble for something, and used him for a tour of duty even though he was told he was being thrown out of the military (which they did after he got back! no shitting!) I know him, he is ill.. he is a nice young man, but has problems..


I hate this regime...




www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<<--- check them and others out!

[AlamoDemoc]

19. from the BBC ...

Four US soldiers have been charged with rape and murder over an attack on an Iraqi woman who was killed along with her family last March.

A fifth soldier serving in Iraq has been charged with dereliction of duty for failing to report the offences.

The US military did not release the names of the soldiers charged in Iraq. They are all infantrymen from the 101st Airborne division, one of the elite US army units.

A statement said they would face an Article 32 investigation, similar to a grand jury hearing in civilian law.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5162976.stm

[tavalon]

52. She wasn't a woman, she was a child

What they did was heinous. As a mother, I can't look at my child, shy by two years of that child's age and see it as anything but child rape, torture and murder. And this is truly testing my resolve over the death penalty.

I'm not disputing the heinousness of this happening to a woman but to a child who had barely lived and probably lived a poor and painful life to begin with, it's unconscionable.

[Breeze54]

21. Five U.S. soldiers charged in Iraq deaths

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/40858.php/Five-US-soldiers-charged-in-Iraq-deaths

BAGHDAD, July 9 (UPI) --

Four U.S. soldiers have been charged with raping a young Iraqi woman
and killing her along with her family, the U.S. military said Sunday.

A fifth soldier was accused of dereliction of duty for failing to report the offenses,
CNN reported.

The soldiers are charged with conspiring with former Pfc. Steven D. Green to commit
the crimes, the military said.

The charges follow an investigation into allegations that soldiers from the 101st
Airborne Division raped and killed the teenager then killed three of her relatives
at her home south of Baghdad.

Green was arrested in North Carolina last week and has pleaded not guilty to one count
of rape and four counts of murder.

The five soldiers still on active duty face an Article 32 investigation,
similar to a grand jury hearing in civilian law, the U.S. military said.
The Article 32 proceeding will determine whether there is enough evidence
to place them on trial.

=========================

http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,19738963%255E401,00.html

Five US soldiers charged over rape
By Jay Deshmukh in Baghdad
10jul06

THE US military said it had charged five more soldiers over the rape and murder
of an Iraqi woman and the killing of three of her family members.

An army veteran of the Iraq war, Steven Green, 21, was charged by the US civilian
authorities last week over the same incident, alleged to have taken place in the
town of Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad, on March 12.

Four of the five soldiers indicted were charged with rape and murder and the fifth
with dereliction of duty for failing to report the offences.

The military stressed that the fifth soldier was "not alleged to have been a direct
participant in the rape and killings".

[chat_noir]

25. Department of Defense press release

Five Soldiers Charged in Iraqi Rape, Murder Case
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, July 9, 2006 – Charges have been preferred against four U.S. soldiers accused of rape and murder in connection with the deaths of four Iraqi civilians in March. A fifth soldier has been accused of dereliction of duty for failing to report the offenses, U.S. officials announced today.

The five soldiers were charged yesterday in connection with their alleged participation in the rape and murder of a young Iraqi woman and the murders of three members of her family. The fifth soldier was charged with dereliction of duty for his failure to report the rape and murder of these Iraqi civilians, but is not alleged to have been a direct participant in the rape and killings, officials said in a statement.

All are charged with conspiring with former Army Pfc. Steven D. Green to commit these crimes. Green, 21, a former 101st Airborne Division soldier, was arrested June 30 in connection with the incident, according to a July 3 announcement by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Kentucky.

Green was deployed from September 2005 to April 2006 and was discharged from the Army May 16. Army officials declined to disclose the circumstances of his discharge, citing privacy protections under the Health Information Privacy Protection Act.

The preferral of court-marital charges is merely an accusation, according to today's statement. "Those accused are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt," officials stated.

The next step in the legal process will be an investigation pursuant to Article 32 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Article 32 investigations are similar to grand jury hearings in civilian courts.

(From a Multinational Corps Iraq news release.)

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul2006/20060709_5614.html

[rodeodance]

27. AFP Five more US soldiers charged in Iraq rape, murder case

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060709/wl_afp/iraqunrestusmilitaryprobe_060709144525;_ylt=AgGMfjgoVcPagFlO_j42RtOs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b3JuZGZhBHNlYwM3MjE-
Five more US soldiers charged in Iraq rape, murder case

by Jay Deshmukh Sun Jul 9, 10:48 AM ET

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The US military has said it has charged five more soldiers in connection with the case of the rape and murder of an Iraqi woman and the killing of three of her family members.
ADVERTISEMENT

An army veteran of the Iraq war, Steven Green, 21, was charged by the US civilian authorities last week in the same case alleged to have taken place in the town of Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad, on March 12.

Four of the five soldiers indicted Sunday were charged with rape and murder and the fifth with dereliction of duty for failing to report the offences.

The military stressed that the fifth soldier was "not alleged to have been a direct participant in the rape and killings."

[uppityperson]

28. Abeer was 14, only 14

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1598009#1598221

[KyndCulture]

29. They need to stop saying woman...

and call it what it was... child rape.

[Bobbieo]

30. The press should use the word "pedophiles"

in this case!!! That is what they are.

[Straight Shooter]

42. Bam!! You nailed it! n/t

[mom cat]

43. And they should call the crime "child rape". which it was.

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[peacebird]

32. dear God - I hope you just "forget" to add :sarcasm:

[KyndCulture]

34. gawds no kidding..

:wtf:

[uppityperson]

33. Did you not read the articles about her being stalked?

Being afraid to go to school because of the soldiers? Neigbor was going to take her in to protect her by getting her out of the house, hidden away?

[Ms. Clio]

35. do you have any evidence for any of that shit?

Where on earth do you get off assuming that she would have already been married? This is such typical crap, presuming that somehow "it's different for those people."

She was stalked by her killers prior to her rape and murder.

[peacebird]

36. she presumably had to hear her family being brutalized and murdered

prior to her own rape and murder. How terrified that child must have been... Her final moments on earth - to hear her families screams....

helpless and utterly terrified.... that poor child, and her family.

:cry:

[uppityperson]

37. Just goes to show us that you are what you are.

:puke: :wtf: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

[lisby]

38. WTF?

Where did you get this from?

Married at 14 to an uncle?

Already a mother?

Are you sure you're not talking about that el bizzaro Jeff's break-away Morman bunch?

And what does "possible affiliation" mean? That she was a whore and therefore that should somewhat mitgate the crime?

I know I can't possibly be reading you correctly.

:wtf:


Lisby

[democrank]

40. Here`s one old one- 4u....

Good grief! Rape is rape, whether she was 4, 14 or 44. This has nothing to do with her uncle, an older cousin or "possible affiliation with soldiers." Rape is rape.

You can hear/read this kind of tripe any day or night on the radio, the internet, cable tv. "Those people over there" really don`t matter much in the scheme of things.

[Judi Lynn]

41. This is possibly the oddest, most obnoxious post I've seen here, bar none.

Thanks for your valuable input. :eyes:

[Straight Shooter]

44. Oh wow. You stepped in it.

See this article. Abeer complained of unwanted attention from soldiers at the checkpoint. Her mother had made attempts to protect her from those soldiers.

http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=11722

And please don't ever say anything so ignorant again.

[Robeson]

45. What a bizarre post....

...Hhmmm....:eyes:

[Webster Green]

39. Support the troops!

Yeah, right...

[The_Casual_Observer]

46. What color ribbon is for supporting rapist troops?

[saigon68]

49. Its a brown ribbon

For the little boys who get raped.

[RCinBrooklyn]

53. We raped the country. Now we do each citizen, one by one.