Proving war killing a crime tests courts (14 US servicemembers convicted)

[Barrett808]

Proving war killing a crime tests courts
By THOMAS WATKINS, Associated Press Writer

SAN DIEGO - The charges are startling — an Iraqi man was dragged from his home, tied up and shot to death by five Marines. And the potential punishment is the harshest possible: death.

But alleging a wartime killing is far different from proving it. And even when a conviction is won, the penalties vary greatly.

Research by The Associated Press shows at least 14 members of the U.S. military have been convicted in connection with the deaths of Iraqis. Two received sentences of up to life in prison, while most others were given little or no jail time.

"Countries have a built-in reluctance to throw the book at their own forces," said Eugene R. Fidell, a civilian defense attorney and president of the National Institute of Military Justice.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060628/ap_on_re_us/war_crimes_prosecutions

[astonamous]

1. Isn't that more than the convictions of terrorists by the * admin? eom