Iraqi 'beaten to death' by US troops

[Aidoneus]

Iraqi 'beaten to death' by US troops
April 14, 2004

AN Iraqi has died of his wounds after US troops beat him with truncheons because he refused to remove a picture of wanted Shiite Muslim leader Moqtada Sadr from his car, police said today.

The motorist was stopped late yesterday by US troops conducting search operations on a street in the centre of the central city of Kut, Lieutenant Mohamad Abdel Abbas said.

After the man refused to remove Sadr's picture from his car, the soldiers forced him out of the vehicle and started beating him with truncheons, he said.

--snip--

http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9282015%255E1702,00.html

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. I really worry about what life is going to be like in the communities of

these troops when they get home....it happened after Viet Nam too..sending a bunch of people back out on the streets with pst traumatic stress and a past history of acting out violent behavior (even if in combat) is a recipe for disaster.

[Kanary]

16. I've been thinking about this a lot, too.

I guess it was inevitable there would soon be a news story like this.

The rapes don't measure on their scales, so that hasn't yet shown up. I have heard something about the US women in the military being subjected to sexual harrassment and rapes.

Thanks, Georgie.... your "legacy" bears quite a resemblance to you....

Kanary

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

24. hell before the war started. the troops were frustrated with just being

there and I recall an LA Times story where they quoted service people as saying things ( ANd this is in the LA TIMES) such as "I just want to kill." There were similar quotes in mainstream news sources in the past few days.

While I DO respect our military, it's pretty clear we have left some of them over there so long we are turning them into animals.

[Kanary]

34. A good point.

But I'm afraid there's more to it than just the length of time.

We are a society that has BEEEG problems with violence, and we aren't addressing it. Some of these soldiers who are straining at the bit to kill are quite possibly the ones who would do that if they were right here at home, without having Been to war. We've just given them sanction for what they wanted to do anyway.

The military represents all different sorts of people. They don't become saints when they put on that uniform and pick up their military issue rifle. It's the ones who are the caring ones who often end up dealing with PTSD the rest of their lives.
Gak... it just makes me sick to even think about it.

BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!!!

Kanary

[Junkdrawer]

2. How many homicidal maniacs have they made by taking...

young men amd women and placing them in sniper's cross-hairs for over a year?

How many atrocities have they/will they perform there?

How many when they return?

[Auntie Bush]

3. Why is it necessary to post things like this on DU?

Doesn't make Democratic sites look to good and gives fodder for Republicans to ridicule us. I guess I'm putting my head in the sand...but things like that...I find upsetting.

[Aidoneus]

4. Are you being serious?

[Uzybone]

5. double post

n/t

[Disturbed]

10. If true

I posted this in the news section with a "?" because only one source
has published this story. If true and a video of it was available can you imagine to fallout if USA Media played it?

[Uzybone]

6. is this sarcasm?

who cares if Neanderthals ridicule us?

[w13rd0]

8. They beat a man to death...

...because of a picture he had in his car. Think about that, and then try and ask the same question. Why post it? Because it's news, a "current event" in the ongoing tragedy we call Bush's Baghdad Bilking. Bush took us to war for lies, and is ending and ruining THOUSANDS of lives in the process.

[Kanary]

14. You're right... we should be more "controlled" and hide the news

Just like the Replutocrats.

:crazy:

Kanary

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

26. I'd rather look bad than look ignorant because I couldn't face up to the

truth of what we are doing over there.

You can't beat democracy into people.


And furthermore...FUCK FREE REPUBLIC...right up their ignorant asses.

[DrWeird]

7. Why is "beaten to death" in quotation marks?

nt

[Aidoneus]

9. I believe it's a Murdoch paper

That it even appeared is more than can be expected..

[PfcHammer]

11. this was discussed in LBN yesterday

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=485356&mesg_id=485356

[Bread and Circus]

12. Aint democracy a bitch?

[kerryin2004]

13. I doubt this...

Until I see another source I will be very skeptical..I cant see USA troops killing someone unprovoked for a picture.

[Karenina]

15. I guess you're young

and really haven't seen much.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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

[Junkdrawer]

22. What truman said...

Something truly awful is going down there and they're using my money and my country's name to do it.

[kerryin2004]

25. Wait, where do you see reference to Fox??

All I said is that I wouldnt believe it till I see more than one source.. She is the one that referred to my age as if my age should be an issue as to my comment. It was an obvious stab at me.

[trumad]

28. You didn't say Faux

and that was my way of sticking up for a great DU'er for calling her an Ass. Ok..not Faux...How about MSNBC?

[kerryin2004]

30. okay how about the following..

Al jazeera, reuters, and associated. none of these have this story.. Are any of these related to Faux or msnbc?? She is the one that insulted me by attempting to bring age in this to negate my comment.

[Aidoneus]

18. Are you being serious?

Other confirmations from papers all over the world:--

http://www.emedia.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/World/20040415073702/Article/indexb_html
http://www.novinite.com/newsletter/print.php?id=33404
http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1274&storyid=1198530
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,9282015%255E1702,00.html
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,9282015%255E1702,00.html

from Malaysia, to Bulgaria, to 3 others in Australia.. song remains the same.

They're not pure as driven snow. They invaded and occupy a country, killing thousands of people and continue to do so on a daily basis. Fresh mass graves have been dug in the ruins of their recent handiwork. I see nothing within certain bounds as unimaginable with such credentials under consideration.

[kerryin2004]

19. Never said they were...

I have seen video from PBS of them running over a mans car with a tank for looting, but to think that they would kill a man for a picture just strikes me as far fetched..

[kerryin2004]

21. If I see it on Associated or Reuters than...

I will believe it, until I will continue to hold out hope that our soldiers representing America did not do this.

[kerryin2004]

29. Al, Jazeera doesnt have this either n/t

[KG]

32. our soldiers wouldn't do anything bad in iraq!!!

perish the thought!

[kerryin2004]

33. Nice photoshop n/t

[KG]

35. ok, believe what you like

far be it from me to interupt your reverie.

btw - the marines are investigateing this moron right now:


http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/nation/8432359.htm

[Djinn]

23. I can't beleive people here

a) have a hard time beleiving this is true (BTW Murdoch papers were ALL very pro-war so it's not like they're pushing some radical hippy lefty agenda
b) think we shouldn't talk about this - this IS NOT the same as getting jittery when a car full of Iraqi citizens pulls up near a young frightened soldier or "caught in the crossfire collateral damage" or even the shooting of demonstrators which can be exlplained away due to "confusion" and the possibility of armed agitators in a crowd. (btw I don't excuse any of these myself but people can often explain these events away)

When you beat someone to death for having a picture of someone it's Saddam territory - what conceivable right do the soldiers have to tell someone which pictures to display (if one assumes they have a right to be there in the first place - that's another argument)

Even IF Sadr IS guilty of the murder of the opposition cleric displaying his picture can not possibly be a crime - if a US citizen displayed a photo of Charlie Manson they would be considered sick and treated with contempt but NOT beaten to death by the police.

By outlawing the pro-Sadr newspaper and actions like this the US forces (and their coalition puppies) are forcing people into the arms of the resistance (is there anyone out there who is still swallowing the "Baathist remnants and foreign terrorists" line?)

Just how far should the soldiers and their command be able to go before people accept criticism of them - if THIS doesn't make you criticise them what will?

And I think kerryin2004 seriously needs to look into the actions of US (and others - no nation's forces blameless) soldiers in other conflicts - this pales into insignificance compared to some war crimes. Also check AFP's coverage - they're running this story

[Mattforclark]

27. That's no good

The soldiers get issued truncheons? Is there any training with them??!

[Zorra]

31. These things always happen in wars.

I'm not justifying it in any way, but it should not come as a shock to anyone that this happened.

People snap and can go temporarily insane in a war environment.