Sixth U.S. Soldier Implicated in Murder of Afghans

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

Sixth U.S. soldier implicated in murder of Afghans

By Laura L. Myers
SEATTLE | Tue May 17, 2011 10:05pm EDT

(Reuters) - Military prosecutors on Tuesday charged a sixth U.S. soldier with direct involvement in the murder of unarmed Afghan civilians, implicating a sergeant who was referred earlier for court-martial on lesser offenses.

It marked the first time since the spring of 2010 that the Army has formally brought new charges in an investigation that already ranks as the most serious prosecution of alleged U.S. military atrocities during 10 years of war in Afghanistan.

Staff Sergeant David Bram, 27, was newly charged with a single count each of "solicitation to commit premeditated murder," of "failure to report crimes including murder," and of "planting evidence near the body of an Afghan national."

He also is charged with "unlawfully engaging in murder scenario conversations with subordinates" and with "aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon" on Afghan civilians.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/18/us-soldiers-crimes-idUSTRE74H0C920110518

[Hissyspit]

1. kick nt

[Newsjock]

2. Army charges sixth Lewis-McChord soldier with war crimes in Afghanistan

Source: Seattle Times

The Army has charged a sixth Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier with involvement in plots to murder unarmed civilians in southern Afghanistan in 2010.

Staff Sgt. David Bram faces charges that include solicitation to commit murder, unlawfully engaging in murder-scenario conversations, failure to report war crimes and planting evidence near the body of an Afghan national. Bram also is charged with aggravated assault on Afghan nationals "on diverse occasions."

The charges represent a significant new development in a prominent war-crimes case that involves the alleged murders of three unarmed Afghans.

Bram, the second squad leader to be charged in the plots, faces up to 21 years in prison.

Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015078918_bram18m.html

[HankyDubs]

3. the grunts go to prison

the politicians and lawyers go to fundraisers.

[Kurmudgeon]

4. If the grunts are committing war crimes, that is where they belong.

I'm no fan of politicians or lawyers in general, but if these guys are breaking military discipline and treating the mission like their own personal video game, then they need to be brought to heel and punished.
These kind of actions, if true, only became more propaganda ammunition to be used to get their fellow soldiers killed.
I hope and wish this wasn't true, but I've got a bad feeling about the whole thing.
The US is supposed to be above that kind of criminal action.

[HankyDubs]

6. absolutely they should

but the people giving the torture orders and promoting torture as "effective" are just as culpable as the idiots who carry out their torture orders.

[Corruption Winz]

5. Good, if he is indeed guilty...

At the end of the day, the only service people that are heroes are the ones that deserve it. If this turns out to be true, this wouldn't help him qualify.

[defendandprotect]

7. kr