US officer describes alleged murder of Iraqi prisoners

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2006/July/focusoniraq_July149.xml§ion=focusoniraq&col=

WASHINGTON - A US sergeant has described the allegedly deliberate murder of three Iraqi prisoners and its cover-up by his squad, and how his squad leader threatened to kill anyone who talked, The New York Times said Friday.

A sworn statement on June 15 by Sgt. Lemuel Lemus contradicted his earlier account of a May 9 raid on a suspected insurgent compound near Samarra that ended with the death of three Iraqi prisoners during an attempted escape.

The New York Times obtained a copy of Lemus’ statement that will be included at an Article 32 hearing—the military’s equivalent of a grand jury hearing—next Tuesday in Iraq for four US soldiers charged with premeditated murder in the case.

Lemus said that, under orders from their squad leader, three of his comrades shot dead three Iraqi prisoners they had captured and handcuffed during the raid, making up a story that they had broken free and punched and stabbed two guards before running off.

[uppityperson]

1. I am glad that these war crimes are coming out, getting some press

[catnhatnh]

2. Nice but you are ex-service,no ???

....which of course means you know the difference between an officer and an nco....Just sayin' officer is a different kettle of fish...

[NNN0LHI]

3. Not ex-service here. Just went with the original headline

I do know that a sergeant is a nco but I didn't put two and two together when I posted it or I would have fixed the headline accordingly.

Too late now to edit it now. Sorry.

Don

[catnhatnh]

4. Hey, I apologize....

I thought I had seen you post as a vet,but was obviously mistaken.Hell,I was a bad serviceman and knew that.But for others,Non-commissioned Officers are just enlisted men who have risen through the ranks to command a squad (10-15) up to a platoon (60) men and are still subject to orders from the lowliest officer, who has been "commissioned" meaning that they have, A. Gone to a service academy (West Point, Annapolis, Etc),B.Gone thru "officer candidate school (shake and bake, 90 day wonders) or C.Been directly appointed as an officer because of A.meritorious performance on the field of battle, B.desperately needed skill set (doctors and lawyers) or,C.People with no current skill set who are passed over others and given a highly desirable slot due to family influence (see:GW Bush and how he got a direct commission and a million dollar flight training program to fly a jet no longer used in Viet-Nam)....
Anyhow,I apologize for my mistake...I got snarky because when I saw "Officer" in your post I thought it was new info and thought you were service....My misunderstanding and Mea Culpa to someone whose posts I normally enjoy....Peace, Cat...