U.S. Officers Executed Iraqis, Statements Say

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Times

In March or April 2007, three noncommissioned United States Army officers, including a first sergeant, a platoon sergeant and a senior medic, killed four Iraqi prisoners with pistol shots to the head as the men stood handcuffed and blindfolded beside a Baghdad canal, two of the soldiers said in sworn statements.

After the killings, the first sergeant — the senior noncommissioned officer of his Army company — told the other two to remove the men’s bloody blindfolds and plastic handcuffs, according to the statements made to Army investigators, which were obtained by The New York Times.

The statements and other court documents were provided by a person close to one of the soldiers in the unit who insisted on anonymity and who has an interest in the outcome of the legal proceedings.

After removing the blindfolds and handcuffs, the three soldiers shoved the four bodies into the canal, rejoined other members of their unit waiting in nearby vehicles and drove back to their combat outpost in southwest Baghdad, the statements said.

The soldiers, all from Company D, First Battalion, Second Infantry, 172nd Infantry Brigade, have not been charged with a crime. However, lawyers representing other members of the platoon who said they witnessed or heard the shootings, which were said to have occurred on a combat patrol west of Baghdad, said all three would probably be charged with murder.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/27/world/middleeast/27ab...

[peace13]

1. Leadership is reflected top down.

These soldiers have a *ommander and chief who is a certified nut. Killing, thievery and rape mean nothing to him. They only have to rise to his level, no better. I feel sorry for everyone involved.

[Stern21]

2. "Jesus wept."

God, how many unknown Mai Lai's will happen in this travesty?

[LynnTheDem]

3. We know of several already.

Illegal wars of aggression are called "the supreme crime" for good reason.

May God help us all; the blowback from George W. bUsh's crap is going to be fucking immense.

[aquart]

8. Generations of hatred.

[LynnTheDem]

13. And further generations after that of tarnished reputation.

How could one stupid little man and his stupid little cabal do so much damage in so short a time...

[scarface2004]

4. my lai anyone?

anyone?

[bertman]

5. N.C.O.'s. Non-commissioned officers. Not officers.

Of course, they are still Americans and that's what sucks.

If the story is true, they should be charged with murder.


No. That's not even close to My Lai.

[Seldona]

6. Yea at My Lai an AMERICAN stopped the executions,

he put his helicopter down between civilians and HIS OWN TROOPS and got a medal for it. Looks like there were no heros there that day...

[Stern21]

7. As I protested and called for the prosecution of Lt. William Calley

I remember vast RW protests calling him a hero.

If it had happened today, he would be a Fox anchorman.

[Pete2069]

9. And Bush Is a Born Again

Look how these criminal leaders have destroy our morals values
and yet they still have the nerve to talk about Clinton.  
Clinton looks like a saint compared to Bush/Cheney and the
republicans.

With a person that is suppose to be a Christian ,, Bush even
started out on sin , by stealing the election in 2000 and he
have been lying and deceiving people ever since.

So called Christian can say they are for Bush , Cheney , the
republicans polices and say they believe in the teaching of
Jesus Christ and the bible , but they show their hypocrisy at
the highest level.

Looks as if the Christian's word is as good as McSame's
actions,,  the straight shooters again and again shoots with
crooked bullets.

When John McCain was supposed to be in a soundproof vault
Saturday night or as Saddleback church pastor Rick Warren put
it, a “cone of silence,” he was actually in his motorcade.

Doesn't this make them both two face liars.

Seems as if Christianity is just a word some religion leaders
use to keep the flock in tack ,, to obey their every wish or
DEMAND.

[Indenturedebtor]

12. Welcome to DU and I agree with you. There is not a religion in the world

That wouldn't consider Bush et al to be anything but the pure forces of evil that they are.

[lonestarnot]

10. And this is the only one we've heard about. How much of this has happened?

[mwb970]

11. My prediction: all charges will be dropped.

The principle that nobody in the bush administration will be held accountable for anything, ever, extends to the military as well. Even clearcut cases of murdering Iraqi civilians always end in "not guilty" verdicts or with the charges dropped.

America's reputation is becoming that of a neighborhood bully. Our people have shown their disinclination to rein in the evil bush regime in any significant way. This speaks volumes to the world about our national character. And it ain't pretty.

[Ferret Mike]

14. 'The blood and guts makes the grass green

and napalm sticks to kids' Army the Bushes have orgasms thinking about in their visions for a Nazi America, I know it all too well. As an Army Veteran, I am ashamed and angry to see what these criminals have done to the U.S. Military overall.

They must be neutralized and disposed of unmercifly in a democratic manner themselves. Then Bus, Cheney, Rumbo and other war criminals need to be flown off to the Hague to be tried and convicted of the war crimes they themselves are guilty of.

[go west young man]

15. U.S. soldiers say they executed Iraqis

Source: International Herald Tribune

So the patrol went to the canal, and First Sergeant, Sgt. First Class Mayo and I took the detainees out of the back of the Bradley (fighting vehicle), lined them up and shot them," he added, according to The Times. "Then we pushed the bodies into the canal and left."

After the men were killed, Hatley told Leahy and Mayo to remove the Iraqis' bloody blindfolds and plastic handcuffs, according to the newspaper. The three soldiers then shoved the bodies into the canal and drove back to their combat outpost, the paper said.

No charges have been filed against Hatley, Mayo or Leahy -- all from Company D, First Battalion, Second Infantry, 172nd Infantry Brigade.



Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/08/27/news/OUK...

---

Wake Up America!

[OwnedByFerrets]

16. 1.2 million Iraqi's didnt commit suicide...

Why have NO FUCKING CHARGES BEEN FILED!!

[atreides1]

17. Because

As some like to believe, if you wear a uniform you're a hero, and heros don't murder people.

[saigon68]

19. "BRING EM ON" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

[vincent_vega_lives]

28. Building the case obviously

However, lawyers representing other members of the platoon who said they witnessed or heard the shootings, which were said to have occurred on a combat patrol west of Baghdad, said all three would probably be charged with murder.

[Infinite Hope]

49. Where's that figure from? n/t

[rayofreason]

50. The number has been floating around...

...but from what I read it is not too credible. 1.2E6 is double the Lancet estimate, and that number does not hold water - http://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/beyond/reality-ch... /

For a carefully researched view got to http://www.iraqbodycount.org /

[ronnie624]

56. The figures published in the Lancet are a couple of years old by now.

IBC only focuses on civilian deaths that can be directly attributed to violence.

When one considers the chaotic disruptions to Iraqi society that are a direct result of the invasion and occupation, the number of deaths rises exponentially. The hardships are myriad: Constant and continuous power outages; the inability to treat water and sewage properly; understaffed and poorly equipped hospitals; millions of displaced citizens, to name but a few.

Quite logically, any increase in the death rate prior to the invasion and occupation, must be attributed to the invasion and occupation.

Watching some anonymous poster on the internet, attempting to discredit the most prestigious research centers on earth is ever amusing.

[DavidDvorkin]

18. I guess "executed" sounds less criminal than "murdered".

[RaleighNCDUer]

27. To my mind it sounds worse -

you can only execute people who are totally under your control. You can murder people who are resisting or running away. If they are not resisting or fleeing, it's execution, and not done in the heat of the moment.

[DavidDvorkin]

36. Interesting point

I think of "executed" as implying some sort of legal process and authority.

[bad_robbie]

40. One thing "execute" always implies is planning

"Execute", whether by court order or by the mob implies forethought, i.e. premeditation. With "murder", it could be a crime of passion poor judgment or recklessness, not necessarily thought out ahead of time. Extra-legal "execution" is first-degree murder, premeditated, with malice aforethought, and in cold blood.

[krispos42]

45. It also sounds more governmental, more just.

[Hulk]

20. Damn...can't even blame this one on Representative John Murtha...

Poor, pathetic, broken neocon/fascist congressmen and half-woman can't even blame this leak on Representative Murtha. Such a shame.

Now it's time to start turning our military into traitors, thugs and criminals. They aren't all "angels". They never are. A few bad apples...but enough to make a small SS branch, perhaps? War does that to you, you ignorant sons of bitches!

[LiberalLovinLug]

21. Wake up indeed

America has to get over the worship of the uniform. Is it patriotic? Yes but so is helping HIV infected single mothers in poor neighborhoods, and many other occupations. Is it brave? Yes but so is the work of hundreds of other jobs. America is a CIVILIAN run country, NOT a military dictatorship (at least not yet). The army serves the will of the people. They should be honored and respected for their hard, brave work, but the culture of elevating them to hero/gods means that stories like this and probably hundreds of other horror stories of abuse by the military towards civilians in Iraq get ignored or glossed over.

"I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier"
The Killers

[OwnedByFerrets]

32. WOW!! Great post .....

I have those same feelings and you stated them eloquently.

[SavageDem]

39. Well said, sir! (or ma'am)

This phenomenon is very curious. And unfortunately being utilized - or at least the attempt is being made - by the Repubs to shield their candidate from being responsible for anything he's ever done or said. "So what if he lied/cheated/disseminated false information? He's a war hero!"

[madmax]

22. Mi Lai

It's a damn shame. "WAR What is it good for"

[SammyWinstonJack]

25. Profits and Power.

[madmax]

23. delete dupe n/g

[peacetalksforall]

24. How do we know we won't have a continuation of perpetual war if the

words and votes coming from Democrats is the same old, same old support for PNAC?

The saddest part is that this is not a war? It's the baron and corporation main agenda. We were fooled. Create the enemy if you don't have one. Set up and buy out the propaganda machines. Design and plant the hate. Have your Congress back it.

[go west young man]

26. N.Y. Times Link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/27/world/middleeast/27ab...

[bdamomma]

29. this will not be forgotten by either Iraqi civilians and Afghanis

they will remember when the American soldiers killed their family members. shameful an innocent country and its people being targeted for their Oil resources.

[awoke_in_2003]

30. Yep

we are creating enemies quicker than we can kill them

[Jax]

31. The oily bloodbath and slaughter of lies continues

Hideous. Fuck these "soldiers", and anyone who defends them.

[QUALAR]

33. POW STATUS

In Cheney's world the executions were justified because there was a one percent chance that they were illegal combatants. Therefore, the Geneva Conventions are quaintly irrelevant. The Bush cabal has stained the integrity of the entire nation. We will recover, but we must never forgive them for their disgraceful tenure.

[Heather MC]

34. I just pray

when all this over the People of Iraq don't rise up and come after our Children in the Future, as punishment for our country doing this to them. The debt we owe these people is far greater than a trillion dollars. I think when smoke clears and the dust settles we will discover this was worse than when we dropped bombs on Japan, after they agreed to surrender.


I FEEL LIKE THIS IS MY FAULT TO I never excercised my right to vote, I know I am just one vote that wasn't cast, but I realize now more than ever my lack of voting is worse than the people who voted for Bush.

Well all I can do is make a better decision this year.

[BlooInBloo]

35. The US military is worse for Iraqis than Saddam was.

[vincent_vega_lives]

37. This is a common insurgent tactic

After taking small-arms fire, the patrol chased some men into a building, arresting them and finding several automatic weapons, grenades and a sniper rifle, they said. On the way to their combat outpost, Sergeant Hatley’s convoy was informed by Army superiors that the evidence to detain the Iraqis was insufficient, Sergeant Leahy said in his statement. The unit was told to release the men, according to the statement.

Insurgents know US rules of force. Will shoot at convoys then run into buildings and toss the weapons in a room and calmly walk out the back.

I guess this 1SG just snapped after being told to release four guys that he knew would be back shooting at Americans within the hour.


This is the reason the Geneva convention is very harsh on combatants who do not wear a uniform and hide amongst civilians as a tactic. It endangers noncombatants.

[cseper]

46. So, you have to kill everyone? N/T

[vincent_vega_lives]

51. Stuck in 'knee-jerk' mode I see. (n/t)

[atreides1]

52. Is it a common US tactic to murder people

The Geneva Conventions as well as the Manual of Courts Martial is also very harsh on combatants who commit war crimes, because it tends to endanger others in uniform.

It's great that the Insurgents seem to know the ROE, when it's classified and even the media embedded with the units can't get a straight answer on exactly what the ROE's are.

Insurgents seem to have good intel on US procedures, yet the US can't tell a wedding party from a terrorist gathering!

[vincent_vega_lives]

53. No it is not a common "US tactic".

Not hard to figure out the ROE after the US has been in country FOR 5 YEARS!?! Or do you think the insurgents are incapable of learing anything?

On the contrary, they have consistantly modified their tactics to counter US tatics.

Why must one be exclusive of another? I'm sure terrorists get married.

BTW here's a "classified" program about the rules of engagement.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/haditha /

You can even test your top secret knowlege...

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/haditha/etc/qui...

[bamacrat]

38. I feel like the crazies who hijacked this country are turning it more and more toward Germany.

Really what is the difference between this and what the Nazis did to the Jews? The only thing is that I think most of our troops are good people who follow orders because they have to, no telling what would happen if one of them said no.

[Thothmes]

54. How many millions of Iraqis

have we rounded up then transported hundreds of miles, gasses then cremated?

[Judi Lynn]

41. Surely this "soldier" wouldn't think ANYONE would buy his explanation:

Sergeant Leahy, in his statement, said, “I’m ashamed of what I’ve done,” later adding: “When I did it, I thought I was doing it for my family. Now I realize that I’m hurting my family more now than if I wouldn’t have done it.”

I wouldn't want to meet his family, thanks.

His family isn't being hurt by his behavior. His family will always RATIONALIZE his behavior, just as he does, just as his pResident does.

[coalition_unwilling]

42. Support our Oops! - n/t

[whistle]

43. Does this surprise anyone? Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over again

...expecting different results! Dennis Kucinich said it in his DNC speech "Wake UP America"

[K8-EEE]

44. WTF ever happened to Dr. Laura's son who blogged about his

WAR CRIMES??

Last I recall they were trying to find out if his psychotic MySpace (including damning pix of himself) was really his....DID THEY FIGURE IT OUT YET?

Wow was THAT ever disappeared!

[KansDem]

47. self deleted

[bertman]

48. This is why THIS WAR MUST BE STOPPED NOW. Those soldiers deserve to be punished for what they did.

But Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and all the others deserve the same punishment or worse.

WE YES, WE allowed this to happen. WE AMERICANS ALLOWED IT AND ARE ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN.

Our impotence and our weakness in rationalizing that we couldn't really do anything other than support a new Presidential candidate is what is letting this continue unabated.

For those of you who are so outraged at these soldiers I ask you to think for a few serious moments how you might react if your friends, your best friends in the world, were being maimed and killed on a daily basis just for doing their job. Because that is what is happening here. These young men and women are doing what WE have SENT THEM TO DO. They are doing their job as they have been ORDERED TO DO by the President of the United States--the man we have failed to impeach or deter in his mission of world domination.

The psychological toll on good, decent human beings who are forced to survive under those circumstances is horrific. It changes everything about you. It is like nothing any of us have felt except those of us who have been in their shoes.

This is just like Vietnam all over again. The enemy is all around you. He/she looks like the rest of the population. He/she dresses like the rest of the population. He/she kills your friends with sniper rifles then disappears into a house full of civilians where you and your friends cannot fire. He/she detonates a roadside bomb that kills two of the men in your platoon, blows the legs off the female soldier who is the Humvee driver, and blinds the machine gunner. You, the infantryman who has to console the dying and wounded and clean up what's left of the dead, cannot go home after work and have a cold beer and relax while chatting with your friends about where you're going for the Labor Day weekend. You, the infantryman who is still stunned and in shock from what is happened and the deaths of his friends, must now go back out on patrol and relive this nightmare. You must try to be a human being who sees IRAQI PEOPLE around you, not faceless evil enemies who are trying to kill you and your fellow soldiers. Yet, every moment you are out there your life and your friends lives are on the line. And you can't change it.

But don't kid yourselves by saying that you would be different because YOU DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WILL BE UNTIL YOU ARE IN THAT SITUATION.

This all makes me so sick.

I wish I could have said this differently but that's how I truly feel.

[Thothmes]

55. Very much like Viet Nam

A President, Vice President, and Secretary of State and Defense, go scott free. Unpunished for crimes against humanity and war crimes. And for the same reason,that these guys will beat the wrap, a congress of both parties that has willingly abetted in the commission these crimes.