Soldier Says They Randomly Fired Shots At Iraqis

[Barrett808]

Source: Associated Press

The Army is investigating possible war crimes after a Fort Carson soldier facing first-degree murder charges in the slayings of two Iraq war veterans told investigators he and another soldier randomly fired at Iraqi civilians.

Pfc. Bruce Bastien Jr. and two former soldiers face charges in the December shooting death of Spc. Kevin Shields, while Bastien and one of those former soldiers face charges in the Aug. 4 shooting death of Pfc. Robert James.

Fort Carson spokeswoman Dee McNutt confirmed the Army investigation detailed in a motion filed by prosecutors Tuesday seeking to combine the two slayings into one case.

Bastien said he and another soldier used stolen AK-47 military rifles to shoot at civilians while their unit patrolled Baghdad neighborhoods while they were in Iraq.

"The sound of an AK-47 is very distinctive," the motion quotes Bastien as telling Fort Carson Special Agent Kelly Jameson on Dec. 10. "So if there were any questions when the shooting was heard, Bastien said they could claim they were taking on hostile fire."

Read more: http://cbs4denver.com/local/soldier.shots.iraq.2.626048.html

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. Had a long talk with a kid yesterday who has 3 friends in ME right now,

and 2 others who have already come home. They told him that most of the time they have no idea who they are shooting at. They can't tell the civilians from the fighters. One kid had to shoot down an 11 year old with a gun. This kid is very sad and frighted at the changes he has seen in his friends.

[bemildred]

6. I knew a guy around 1972, an ex-Marine.

Quiet shy kind of guy. He had pictures of necklaces made of ears. War does things to you.

[Barrett808]

8. Yup, a friend's kid got back from Iraq a couple of years ago: he shot women and children...

...just because they strayed within 200 yards of US convoys.

Poor kid's totally messed up with PTSD; now he's a recruiter.

[geardaddy]

2. What type of people are sending?

That is premeditated murder.


On another note: Fort Carson spokeswoman Dee McNutt

I could help but snicker at that name.

[geardaddy]

3. Oh and K&R btw. n/t

[bemildred]

4. This is just all so Vietnam. nt

[tblue37]

5. K&R

[Supersedeas]

7. there's collateral damage and then there's collateral damage