Relatives defend soldiers in rape case

[Judi Lynn]

Relatives defend soldiers in rape case
By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press Writer
3 minutes ago

HUFFMAN, Texas - Relatives came to the defense Monday of three U.S. soldiers named in the suspected rape-murder of a young Iraqi woman and the killing of three members of her family.

The father of Pfc. Bryan L. Howard of Huffman said that he supports his son but that he had few details about the case against him.

"I'm proud of my son," Lynn Howard, 50, said as he stood outside the home where he and his wife, Kathy, live. "My heart's broken."

Howard declined to comment further, saying he was waiting to speak with his son's attorney.
(snip/...)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060711/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_rape_case_suspects

[Boomer]

1. Proud? He's PROUD?

I can understand a parent saying "I love my son" even in such a horrendous situation, but not "proud."

[mike_c]

6. he raised his son to rape and murder-- of course he's proud....

The boy's probably a chip off the 'ole block.

[greccogirl]

13. Nobody raises their son

to "rape and murder". I think this man believes his son is innocent and therefore he says he is proud of him in that venue. Let's not forget he hasn't been convicted of anything yet. What parent wouldn't stand behind their children at this point?

[karlrschneider]

22. If you lived around here, you would notice a LOT of mouth-breathing

knuckle-dragging idiots who would counsel their children to be antisocial criminals...in the 'family tradition' of course.

[Vidar]

34. Parents can be expected to support their children, unless they actually

witness the atrocities. They are wrong, of, course, but it's understandable. I'd still hang the perpetrators of this rape-murder.

[rodeodance]

37. gawd, I really feel for these parents.

[Catch22Dem]

15. On what do you base your assertion?

Or is it just a ridiculous comment all by itself.

[mike_c]

18. on his own words-- he says he's "proud" of his son...

...that suggests to me that his son lived up to his expectations. The question of guilt remains, of course, but there appears to be little question about the crime, and so little to be proud of no matter which way the guilt falls.

[Catch22Dem]

20. As another poster said...

What's he supposed to say, "I knew that little fucker was a killer, that's exactly how I raised him." Come on. Get real.

[President Kerry]

27. yes, definitely a poor choice of words there..

Still, let's let the trial come first.

[Raine]

35. He's going under the assumption

that his son DIDN'T do it. No one wants to believe their kid did something like that, he never said he was proud of a rapist murderer.

[uppityperson]

2. It must be heartbreaking.

NOT comparing, just saying it must be. End the occupation of Iraq starting asap

[Drum]

3. she was 14 nt

[IndianaGreen]

5. Exactly! The culprits are pedophiles, child rapists, and murderers

And they should be tried at The Hague for war crimes, together with their Commander-in-Chief & Co.

Green is the only suspect that stands a chance at a fair trial for he will be tried in the federal courts.

[BrentWill4U]

38. What are YOU talking about?

UCMJ is a FAIR system of justice for those in the Military.

[MadMaddie]

4. I just don't know what to say....I am not a parent... I can

understand a parent wanting to protect their child...but with these kind of charges and the mounting evidence that the crime happened and that the victime was 14....sigh

Get our troops out now!!!

[Disturbed]

8. The 14 year old was raped and murdered.

Her mother, father and 5 year old sister were murdered. This crime is horiffic!

[Webster Green]

7. They can't believe their nice young men did such a thing...

The fucking chimp turned them into monsters!

The fucking chimp demonized the Iraqi people in the minds of these soldiers.

The fucking chimp should be on trial with them.

[Monkeyman]

9. What kind of people live here

Give me and a few x NCO's I know five min's with this punk kid

[Judi Lynn]

10. You may have noticed, these threads on this savage crime don't

seem to pick up the number of freep trolls we're used to seeing around these parts!

Wonder why that is.

[Redstone]

11. Well, what do you EXPECT them to say? "I always KNEW that son of

a bitch would end up in fromt of a firing squad?"

If this is news, I'm the Queen of Spain.

Redstone

[Catch22Dem]

16. Exactly

Same thing I've been trying to say. Another poster suggested the father raised him to do this. :eyes:

[shanti]

26. of course he didn't raise him to do this...

but why is he so "proud" of him???? i have four sons myself, and if they EVER did anything like this, proud wouldn't be how i would be describing them, and to the media at that!

[DearAbby]

12. young Iraqi woman??? 14 is a Woman???

14 is still a child, with baby fat, and innocence. WHY YOUNG IRAQI WOMAN discription, except to hide the fact that these animals raped and killed a child, killed her family to cover it up.

[greccogirl]

14. It doesn't matter HOW old someone is

I'm really dismayed to hear all the arguing (not necessarily here, but other places) about the girl-woman's age. She is just as murdered and just as raped if she were 14 or 40.

[CoffeeCat]

19. I agree with you...However--

...there are distinctions between raping/murdering a 14-year old child and raping/murdering a "woman", as the press referred to her as, for several days.

Rape and murder are horrendous, vile crimes--no matter what the age of the victim.

However, when a perpetrator victimizes a 14-year old girl--everyone understands that she is more vulnerable and has less life experience than "a woman." A 14-year is cognitively and emotionally not as mature and is less able to physically defend herself.

Yes, rape and murder at any age is absolutely horrible. However, the younger the victim--the more vulnerable the victim. There's something additionally sinister about someone who would openly prey upon members of society who are dependent upon adults for their protection and safety.

[IndianaGreen]

21. The Duke rape defendants are referred to as "boys"

by those rightwingers that defend them on the basis of their social class, rather than the evidence. The rightwing has a vested interest in not saying that the Iraqi victim was a 14-year old girl for fear of undermining public support for the war.

[raccoon]

33. Give the man a cigar. You got it, IndianaGreen. nt

[ronnie624]

24. Somehow it seems more heinous

to rape and murder a child. A child is more vulnerable than an adult, and all normal adults have an instinctive tendency to protect the very young, especially if they have children of their own (I do). Members of other primate species have often been observed risking their lives in defense of the young, something most rarely do for another adult. If the next generation isn't worth fighting for, what is?

You should not be upset by those who express sorrow over the victim's age. Such feelings and tendencies are a part of what binds our society.

Peace.

[HuffleClaw]

30. i've YET to see a media report calling her a CHILD

and probably never will. but of course the 11 year old who got raped by those college guys IS being called a 'child'. (but SHE'S an AMERICAN)

[scarface2004]

17. hey...your son is a psycho killer!!

what are you proud of asshole?!?!

[SensibleAmerican]

23. No parent is going to call their kid a dirtbag

The parents want to believe their kids did not commit this horrible, horrible crime and in that they will be both proud of their kids and angry that the kids were "framed".

[flyarm]

29. their son is accused of murder and rape and burning the evidence

they should just keep their mouths shut until their son is either convicted or found innocent..

they should wait until he has his day in court..at least he will have a day in court..this child did not, nor did her family..so out of respect for the victims..they should stfu...

just my humble opinion..

fly

[Violet_Crumble]

31. Many parents of monsters insist their children are innocent...

There's nothing unusual in the way the family have reacted. It's happened in the past and it'll happen again. Even when all the facts are shown to them and their child has been convicted, they'll still cling to believing they're innocent because that's easier than having to face what their child has done. Doing that's too painful for them, and telling them to keep their mouths shut is pointless if the media is thrusting microphones at them. What I think is really disgusting is that if the child who had been raped and murdered and her murdered family had been Americans, there'd be so much hate from the media aimed at the families of the killers, but because it's an Iraqi family, the families of the killers get treated as though what they have to say even matters or carries some weight...

[NVMojo]

25. gawd, I would bear the shame if it was my son ...this is sad

I feel shame as an American ...how can this father not see it?? Something is wrong in his son's head and heart ...

[flyarm]

28. I DON'T THINK THE PARENTS SHOULD MAKE ANY COMMENT..

just my 2 cents..but their son is being accused of killing a 14 year old child then burning her body to destroy evidence..they should keep quiet..because anything they say will not be correct..

i have a son and i would never say i was proud of my son if he murdered or was accused of murdering a child..let alone murdering after raping..

disappointed, angry that he was put in that position..i could think of a million things i would say..but proud,.no..i would not be proud...

i think somehow in * world people have forgotten how to be human..it is not human to be proud of someone accused of murder and covering it up..

where is the human balance?? values??

is it all down the drain with this false patriotism? ..or whatever you want to call it..

remember the memory of family of someone murdered is forever..but a child raped and murdered...that memory will be forever with many family , friends and neighbors..

to know a child was murdered so brutally is a horror...

so for the parents to make any comment ..espeically saying they are proud of their son..its just not fitting of a human being...

and yes i believe he is innocent until proven guilty...

but these facts are horrible at best..so i believe it is best for them to shut the hell up and let the system work...if there is any such thing...

what their son is accused of is a war crime..of the worst kind..that is nothing to be proud of..

and those who aided and abetted in the crime and or cover up..are no better..


right is still right and wrong is still wrong...

we all know in our hearts right from wrong...
or we did until this pres started an illegal war of killing..and murdering of innocent human beings..

life is fragile..and no one has the right to kill another for no damn reason..look to this white house for the ultimate murderer..but that is no excuse for what was done to this child...and her family.

my 2 cents...

fly

[Mad_Dem_X]

32. Behold, the power of denial

:eyes:

[rodeodance]

39. psychologically speeaking, denial is the first phase of Grief % Loss.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

36. My suspicion is that they either looked the other way or made excuses

when their son committed borderline and criminal acts when he was living at home.