Soldier describes anguish in revealing murder allegations (Abeer's family)

[uppityperson]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-09-12-soldier-anguish_x.htm
Front page of yesterday's USAToday, center and top of page story. I am glad that Abeer, Hadeel, Fikhriya Taha and Qassim Hamza's torture, muder, mutilation is still getting press coverage.

On a night in June, Pfc. Justin Watt lay in his cot in Iraq, anguishing over whether to tell Army investigators that he suspected soldiers from his own platoon had raped a 14-year-old girl and then killed her and her family.

He decided to call his father back home. "If you knew something bad about your brothers," Watt asked him, "would you come forward?"

The satellite phone link between Iraq and South Carolina was clear, and Rick Watt remembers that his son sounded distraught.

An Army veteran, the elder Watt asked for details, but Justin Watt would offer none. Finally, Rick Watt told his son that whatever had happened would have to be monstrous. "Heinous," he said, "is the only reason for giving up a brother."

Hours later, Justin Watt, 23, of Tucson, told authorities what he had learned from talking with another soldier from their platoon in the 101st Airborne Division. That soldier is one of four now accused of the killings March 12 in Mahmoudiya, Iraq.

In the months since, the four soldiers have been charged in a military court in Iraq with rape and murder. Another soldier is accused of failing to report the crime. And Steven Green, a platoon member discharged from the Army since the crimes, faces rape and murder charges in federal court in connection with the case....(more@link)

[Fierce]

1. Thank you, Private Watt.

Unfortunately, you'll never get a medal for what you did, even though it was the right thing to do.

[wicket]

2. Amen

:kick:

[uppityperson]

3. Indeed, sometimes heroic acts get noticed, sometimes not.

Thank you Pfc Watt.

[uppityperson]

4. 1 quick kick for Abeer, Hadeel, Fikhriya and Qassim. And Justin

[me b zola]

5. Wow. An amazing article. An amazing young man

After the call, Watt asked to speak to a mental health counselor. Subsequent media reports said that a soldier receiving counseling suddenly had reported the attack on the Iraqi family.

Watt says there was nothing sudden about it.

He asked to speak with a mental health counselor because he wanted to bypass what he thought would be a skeptical command structure and get an audience with Army investigators, he says. Through the mental health counselor, Army investigators were notified and interviewed Watt.


Pfc Justin Watt, you are a hero :patriot:

[me b zola]

6. Geez, how about some recommendations?

The truth about Abeer, Hadeel, Fikhriya Taha and Qassim Hamza's deaths came about because of this brave and smart young man. Pfc Watt needs support, even if all we can do is write words of support for him.

[MountainLaurel]

7. Too late for recs

But I will certainly give it a kick. This manshould be commended for what he did.

[cally]

8. Too late to recommend but I hope others read this

This man has courage and makes us all proud.

[me b zola]

9. Geez, sorry uppityperson. I didn't see this post yesterday...

...or I would have been here sooner. :hi:

[uppityperson]

10. thanks, sometimes things get lost in the shuffle

[magellan]

11. Sorry I didn't see this earlier!

I just tried to recommend and got the 24 hour notice. But I salute Pfc Watt for his courage in doing the right thing. It must have been a terrible decision to make.