Soldier who killed 2 in Iraq jail defends actions

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Soldier who killed 2 in Iraq jail defends actions
Sat 8 May, 2004 04:22



By Adam Tanner

REDWOOD CITY, California (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier who shot dead two Iraqis during a riot at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison and fired rubber bullets at inmates says some force is needed to run a wartime prison.

"A few people would probably say that I jumped at the opportunity on taking a life," said Sergeant Terry Stowe, 44, a National Guardsman with the 870th Military Police Company.

On Friday, U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld apologised over Abu Ghraib prison abuses in testimony before Congress. A scandal exploded last week with the release of photographs showing abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. servicemen.

SNIP

One time, he said he fired a rubber bullet at a prisoner who refused to sit down.

"Bang, nonlethal, just give him a little nudge or rubber bullet in the chest saying 'you will do as you're told,'" he said of the incident. "He was not posing a danger but if you let him get away with it he will constantly do it. It's almost like a stepping stone on how far they can push a soldier."

SNIP

After the incident, the military removed Stowe from the guard tower but he continued working in other parts of the prison. He said he would not change anything about his behaviour if he could relive his time at the notorious prison, but acknowledged that he did not always have the best answer.

"Three fourths of everything I did was right," he said. "The other quarter of the time was trial and error. You might be a little excessive today. We were dealing with a lot of stress."

more...

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=HYLVV0A5E2OEUCRBAELCFEY?type=worldNews&storyID=506941§ion=news

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1. repaired link

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3. link

Soldier who killed 2 in Iraq jail defends actions

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2. repaired link nr 2

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=506941§ion=news

[the Kelly Gang]

4. "The other quarter of the time was trial and error."..that's the worrying

part !

[saigon68]

5. THE DEFENDER OF FREEDOM

Sergeant Terry Stowe of the California National Guard 870th Military Police Company looks at a photo taken of an outdoor compound at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison as he sits in his home in Redwood City, California, May 7, 2004. Stowe, who was a guard at Abu Ghraib and shot dead two Iraqi prisoners during a riot there in November 2003, says some force is necessary to run a military prison. REUTERS/Lou Dematteis

[Ms. Clio]

6. that is one plug ugly inbred-looking murdering POS n/t

[saigon68]

12. EXAMPLE of a defender of freedom

yikes

[0007]

13. 'Tis indeed hard to tell a man by his looks

But I may succumb to the same feelings if this man is found guilty.

Peace!

[Columbia]

7. Quite an old Sgt...

[The_Casual_Observer]

8. I jumped at the opportunity on taking a life

He said it, nobody else. The specimen is clearly sub human

[Bandit]

9. You might be a little excessive today. We were dealing with a lot of stres

Oh okay since we now know war can be stressful anything you do is okay. As long as it was because it was stressful. I wouldn't want to think this was done to intimidate or just for enjoyment. Since it was stressful all is excused.

[LiberalFighter]

10. Right!! If it was that stressful then they don't belong there.

[saigon68]

11. There's quite a few more

itchin to kill a Rag head or 2

[anarchy1999]

14. Christ, I am so sorry for saying Christ, but damn!

I am just a few years older than this sick guy. Please let us bring everyone home now. This is going to go so much worse if we do not. PLEASE!

How large a "focus group" do we need to have to make it happen? How many more millions do we need on the street. Just let me know and I will do everything I can to make it happen.