Court-martial ordered in Iraq rape-murder case By Kristin Roberts
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Four U.S. soldiers face court martial for the rape and murder of an Iraqi girl and the killing of her family in their home in Mahmudiya, a U.S. military official said on Wednesday.
"Maj. Gen. Thomas Turner has referred charges against four soldiers to trial by general court-martial," the military official told Reuters.
Two of the soldiers could receive the death penalty if convicted, the Army said. One of the two others will likely admit his role and settle the case without litigation, according to his Washington attorney, David Sheldon.
The Mahmudiya case, the fifth involving serious crimes being investigated by the U.S. military in Iraq, has outraged Iraqis and led Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to call for a review of foreign troops' immunity from Iraqi prosecution.
2006-10-18 08:55:55 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
those kind of acts happen in every war and in every army... if there's something to be ashamed is the war... whatever war, but in particular this one, where there's no real enemy, where "in the name of freedom and democracy" a weaker nation is invaded. We shouldn't be ashamed of our troops, because they are there not because of their will but because the not-that-common-sense decitions made in washington.
Bring them back!
2006-10-18 09:12:20 · answer #1 · answered by isra_rrss 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
First thing, they have not been found guilty and are presumed innocent.
The United States does not have any reason to be ashamed. It is not as if its citizens or military condone this behavior. Unfortunately there are evil people in the world.
As for al-Maliki's call to end immunity for foreign soldiers; it is just empty politics. He knows that the US has taken care of the problem. He knows that the coalition troops will leave the minute immunity is lifted and he still needs them, but he is a politician and must calm his people.
When the US finds out that something like this happened they prosecute and if necessary administer the death penalty. We have nothing to be ashamed of; someone did something wrong and we are doing our best to correct it.
Unfortunately we cannot bring back the little girl or her family, but we can make sure the perpetrators do not do it again.
2006-10-18 16:14:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If convicted they should be punished. If not, oh well. Why again are you slamming on troops. The crime rate is much higher in your home state than over here? They could have worked at convience stores or Walmart or been college students. But "NO" always bashing troops when ever you get the chance. You are about the most unpatriotic human I've ever encountered.
2006-10-18 20:53:34 · answer #3 · answered by lostokieboy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Iraq was never a direct threat to usa, after the Iraqi war USA increased the danger on itself, Destoyed the Iraqi people.
It's all 100% for oil.
The lion "USA" is not ashamed on killing a small rabbit "Iraq" cause the lion is hungry.
2006-10-18 16:07:20 · answer #4 · answered by whatever 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The media should not be the issue...
This should be completely unacceptable if found to be true... no question about it...
the points about the media slant are moot because the media slant is not the issue here...
the question is should we be ashamed of soldiers who rape and slaughter?
Its sick that people would rather ask if the media was slanted instead of just saying "yeah thats really messed up, lets see if its true"
2006-10-18 16:10:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It happens in all wars and in all military. The difference here is that the USA will not stand for it unlike other countries who just turn a blind eye to the misdeeds of their soldiers.
2006-10-18 16:03:17 · answer #6 · answered by scarlettt_ohara 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is just way.. way to much coverage on this one. Guess it's OK those terrorists (our enemy) drives a car or truck bomb into a shop and kills 20-30 or more women and children. Heck.. There's a war going on over there.
2006-10-18 16:20:41 · answer #7 · answered by mr.longshot 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Again Erudite, no good American will ever be proud of any US Military Member that commits a crime, especially one as horrible as this. If these guys are guilty, they deserve whatever is coming to them! But the majority of our Military is filled with good and honest people, and you know that.
2006-10-18 16:47:23 · answer #8 · answered by Naples_6 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. The media is slanted to make American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines to look bad especially after Abu Ghraib and Gitmo. The guy with the camera and pad has probably never pointed a rifle so he wouldn't begin to understand what pressure a soldier's decision has to make in war and the consequences that come with it.
2006-10-18 16:06:02 · answer #9 · answered by victoria w 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
NO -- Rape and Murder happens in Civilian Life -- just look at your local paper and you will see how often it occurs.
2006-10-18 16:49:25 · answer #10 · answered by sglmom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋