COMMENTS:U.S. soldier gets 100 years for Iraq rape, killings!The murder of a 14-year-old girl and her family?

Question

U.S. soldier was sentenced to 100 years in prison Thursday for the gang rape and murder of an Iraqi girl and the killing of her family last year.
Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, 24, also was given a dishonorable discharge. He will be eligible for parole in 10 years under the terms of his plea agreement.
In his plea agreement, he said he conspired with three other soldiers from the Fort Campbell-based 101st Airborne Division to rape 14-year-old Abeer Qassim al-Janabi. The girl, her parents and a younger sister were all killed.
Earlier Thursday, tears rolled down Cortez's face as he apologized for the rape and murders. He said he could not explain why he took part.
Cortez said this week that former private Steven D. Green raped the girl in front of him; shot her father, mother and sister; and then shot her in the head. He also testified that the soldiers attempted to burn the girl's body; burned their own clothes; and threw the murder weapon, into a canal in an attempt to dispose of the evidence.

Answer 1

He deserved what he got

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY F U C K I N G S I C K!!!!!!!

if i have ever do that, I WILL TELL THEM TO SHOOT ME TO DEATH, thats disgusting!

Answer 2

This is obviously a very disturbing case and it highlights that atrocities in war can occur on all sides.

I heard commentary made by a psychologist to the effect that- although this does not diminish or severely mitigate the criminality of the convicted- that the context and nature of the crime may have something to do with the culprit's war-molded mindset. There is really no way to excuse such horrible behavior, but the stresses of war cause many otherwise "normal" people to behave in ways that is not in keeping with their behavior outside the conflict zone.

What I am surprised about is that a number of soldiers conspired here, meaning it's not just one lunatic Rambo-style, gun-crazy soldier who committed these heinous acts, but several other soldiers from a singe unit that conspired with each other to commit and cover up the crimes.

I ask myself what are the chances that in one singe unit, you have 4 "Rambos". If the chances that one is found among the 100,000 or so soldiers is small, what are the chances that 4 are found- and all in one unit?

This suggests to me that at least part of the behavior is situationally-motivated. It is certainly not an excuse- and these soldiers deserve their punishments. But it causes me to wonder how many other soldiers are mentally disturbed and potentially dangerous.

Soldiers are heroic, but we mustn't ignore the other casualties of war: the psychological well-being of thousands of shell-shocked and traumatized young men and women. I just wish more poiticians who sit pretty in their offices back home would have read "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "Johnny Got His Gun".

I guess politicians never learn- especially draft dodgers who had their daddy get them out of war so that they never experienced the kind of psychological trauma that our 20 year-olds are facing now. (Notice how none of the "elites" in Bush's Admin ever went to war? The only one- Colin Powell- was against this idiotic enterprise but he just Uncle Tommed himself like Condi is doing now).

Answer 3

When you are sentenced in a court martial, they will keep you in jail for the whole sentence. There is no getting out for good behavior or any crap like that.

Answer 4

... and he will likely get out in three years..... not right.. murder is murder. only thing.. the man who sent him there and turned him into a killer should be going to jail too.
.. but no.. I do not think he should ever be eligible for parole..

Answer 5

I think what you've written basically speaks for itself. What more can one say? He's quilty as charged. :(

Answer 6

This is a news report but not a question. Soooo what is your point?

Answer 7

War is Hell, man! Rape, plunder, and pillage!