Killing by Guardsman in Iraq Called Appropriate

[Rose Siding]

An investigating officer in Baghdad has recommended that commanders drop voluntary manslaughter and conspiracy charges against a Pennsylvania National Guard soldier after determining that he followed appropriate rules of engagement when he killed an Iraqi man in the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi in February.

Army Lt. Col. John W. McClory found that Spec. Nathan B. Lynn, 21, of South Williamsport, Pa., did nothing wrong in shooting Gani Ahmad Zaben in the post-curfew darkness outside a group of homes on Feb. 15. McClory ruled that Lynn thought the man was armed with an AK-47 and believed he was a threat.

Military officials allege that Lynn improperly fired on the man and then conspired with other members of his unit to plant a weapon in a pool of blood near the body to cover up the crime. But evidence presented at an Article 32 hearing in Baghdad this week -- a hearing similar to a civilian grand jury -- convinced McClory that Lynn followed the rules of engagement, or ROE, when he "lawfully" killed Zaben in an area that had been the scene of frequent insurgent attacks. He also concluded that Lynn did not play a role in placing an AK-47 near the man's body.

"Although evidence in this case indicates that the victim was in fact unarmed, sufficient evidence was presented that SPC Lynn thought the man was armed, perceived hostile intent from the movement of the victim in an active area of combat operations, and acted within the ROE in engaging the target with deadly force," McClory wrote in his report to commanders on Thursday.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/21/AR2006072101350.html

[daleo]

1. This is how you lose guerrilla wars

No consequences for killing civilians.

[Erika]

5. W & Condi's defense of the killing of innocent Lebanese

It's just collateral damage. No biggie.

[Tellurian]

9. The biggee is the desensitization to War Crimes

fragrantly condoned and committed by the WH Butchers!

Condi, the maniacal damatafite, oozing apoplectic apologies for
her inability to call for a cease fire. Sickening!!!

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[brentspeak]

12. .

[Erika]

3. Shot a man who was thought to be armed?

I can just seeing that playing out here. But then it was "just an Iraqi" who was killed. Thousands of innocent Iraqis have been killed by this war, what's one more among friends, right?

[knowbody0]

4. i have so much pity for these soldiers

they are on anti-depresents and eat speed to stay awake. they are living in hell which renders them psychotic. their lives are ruined by the heinous acts they perform "in the line of duty"

i do not excuse their behavior, but know in my heart and soul being in Iraq has destroyed their human-ness.

[Erika]

6. They are the tools of a corrupt administration

They didn't know that the administration was corrupt and would dictate a corrupt ideology and policy.

Bushbots need to finally take accountability, but the won't.

[atreides1]

7. Speaking as a former soldier

If they can do this then they didn't have much human-ness before they were deployed. All I've seen so far is finger pointing, not one so far has taken responsility for the actions that they've done, it's always someone else's fault.

"The general told me to torture those prisoners. I was just following orders."

"I shot that Iraqi, but I had autorization to do it. Besides, I didn't have anything to do with planting that AK-47 on the body."


"they are living in hell which renders them psychotic. their lives are ruined by the heinous acts they perform "in the line of duty"

So were the Germans and the Japanese, but I don't remember reading any history books where it was suggested that they be forgiven for their crimes.

If US troops can't be held to a higher standard, then the military has fallen into a chasm from which there is no turning back!!!!!

[wtmusic]

10. The need to appear infallible

will destroy America's military, and is part-and-parcel of Junior's view of what being a president is.

[gratuitous]

8. Whew! That was close

But after a rigorous and thorough investigation, the military will once again absolve its own.

I wonder if a tribunal composed of Iraqis would reach the same conclusion that Mr. McClory did?

[54anickel]

11. "Objective Murray" is the ROE they are referring to. Was this another

Rummy creation?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2405056