U.S. soldiers investigated for alleged rape, killing in Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=nation_world&id=4321352

(Beiji, Iraq -AP, June 30, 2006) - Five U.S. Army soldiers are being investigated for allegedly raping a young woman, then killing her and three members of her family in Iraq, the U.S. military said Friday.

The soldiers also allegedly burned the body of the woman they are accused of raping.

Maj. Gen. James D. Thurman, commander of coalition troops in Baghdad, had ordered a criminal investigation into the alleged killing of a family of four in Mahmoudiya, south of Baghdad, the U.S. command said. It did not elaborate.

"The entire investigation will encompass everything that could have happened that evening. We're not releasing any specifics of an ongoing investigation," said military spokesman Maj. Todd Breasseale.

[OKNancy]

1. LBN thread for those interested

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2364723

[anarch]

2. winning their hearts and minds...

Ah, the grand traditions of war. :puke:

[leftchick]

3. are the dead soldiers from two weeks ago retaliation for this massacre?

it sounds like a real possibilty....

<snip>

The official said the killings appear to be unrelated to the kidnappings but that a soldier felt compelled to report the killings after his fellow soldiers' bodies were found.

[anarch]

4. sounds like a distinct possibility

Jesus. We are so fucked, you know?

[leftchick]

5. yes

extremely fucked. :(

[dogday]

6. Oh man, this is so terrible

If this is true, it is going to shake the ground in Iraq....

[The Stranger]

7. Are they going to parade this all over the television?

Or does a brutalized, raped, massacred, burned woman get forgotten in all of the "Support the Troops" bumper stickers, personal news pieces on the soliders, and red-white-and-blue celebrations?