Fri Mar 23, 2012, 10:30 AM

Afghan Taliban - no faith in trial of U.S. massacre suspect

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Afghanistan's Taliban vowed on Friday to take revenge on NATO forces for the killing of 17 civilians, for which a U.S. soldier is due to face charges, saying they had no faith in any court proceeding.

The massacre in the southern province of Kandahar as well as the burning of Korans at a NATO base have angered many Afghans and damaged relations at a time when Western forces are drawing down combat troops and the Taliban have suspended peace talks.

"This was a planed activity and we will certainly take revenge on all American forces in Afghanistan and don't trust such trials," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location.

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The lawyer representing Bales said U.S. authorities lacked proof of what happened during the March 11 shooting spree in the Panjwai district.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/23/uk-afghanistan-idUKBRE82M0BY20120323

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7 replies	Author	Time	Post
Afghan Taliban - no faith in trial of U.S. massacre suspect (Original post)	dipsydoodle	Mar 2012	OP
Unfortunately, I must agree with them.	unhappycamper	Mar 2012	#1
They won't be happy with a life sentence, either.	sofa king	Mar 2012	#3
As soon as the news first broke on this story, I knew that this would be the outcome	Orrex	Mar 2012	#2
Imagine if this soldier had killed 17 Americans	daleo	Mar 2012	#6
I agree completely	Orrex	Mar 2012	#7
Extradite him.	The Stranger	Mar 2012	#4
circle the wagons...	bpollen	Mar 2012	#5

Response to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Fri Mar 23, 2012, 10:37 AM

unhappycamper (49,601 posts)

1. Unfortunately, I must agree with them.

Nobody went to jail for the Haditha massacre

Nobody went to jail for the Backwater killing spree in Iraq..

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Response to unhappycamper (Reply #1)

Fri Mar 23, 2012, 11:32 AM

sofa king (8,686 posts)

3. They won't be happy with a life sentence, either.

That's assuming the killer's counsel can't throw the hook during the trial--and keep in mind that the Bush Administration built in innumerable secret protections and loopholes designed to sweep incidents just like this under the rug.

Factor in the DoD's preference for lying first and disclosing as little of the truth as necessary later (meaning that what we think we know about this incident may be largely fabricated), and this one is bigger than the rug.

War is a shit sandwich and everyone has to take a bite, I guess, but I can't see any due process outcome which doesn't enrage many Afghanis and end in more deaths and more violence.

I suppose extraditing him back to Afghanistan to stand trial there is out of the question. But that's the only way I can see this fuse getting snipped ahead of the spark.

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Response to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Fri Mar 23, 2012, 11:31 AM

Orrex (36,370 posts)

2. As soon as the news first broke on this story, I knew that this would be the outcome

If an active duty Afghan soldier had murdered 17 American civilians on US soil, do you think we'd allow him to be flown bach to Afghanistan for trial?

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Response to Orrex (Reply #2)

Fri Mar 23, 2012, 06:50 PM

daleo (19,931 posts)

6. Imagine if this soldier had killed 17 Americans

On his next leave. I doubt that it would be considered a purely military affair. One can hardly blame the people of Afghanistan for doubting the process.

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Response to daleo (Reply #6)

Fri Mar 23, 2012, 06:58 PM

Orrex (36,370 posts)

7. I agree completely

If we have any faith in that fine nation that we've rebuilt, we should permit that sovereign state to prosecute this case. If not, then what the fuck have we been doing over there for all these years?

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Response to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Fri Mar 23, 2012, 11:46 AM

The Stranger (10,568 posts)

4. Extradite him.

Real simple.

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Response to dipsydoodle (Original post)

Fri Mar 23, 2012, 12:09 PM

bpollen (40 posts)

5. circle the wagons...

A US serviceman was fairly recently convicted, in Japan, by the Japanese, for a rape that occurred in Japan.

A US serviceman slaughters 17 people, including CHILDREN!!!, and we don't even let the Afghanis TALK to him.

If that ain't a big F. U. to Afghanistan, I don't even know what is.

I don't like or support the Taliban or terrorists, but it sure as shootin' isn't hard to understand why some would want Amerika destroyed.

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