War crimes in Iraq

[sergej]

This makes me really upset!!!

FOXNews.com - Sailor Testifies That Marines Shot to Death Iraqi Civilian in Hamdania - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by sergej

This makes me really upset!!!

FOXNews.com - Sailor Testifies That Marines Shot to Death Iraqi Civilian in Hamdania - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

If it's true, it's upsetting to all of us.

But Bacos struck a deal with prosecutors under which he pleaded guilty to kidnapping and conspiracy and agreed to testify Friday at his court-martial about what he saw.

Someone out to save their own neck is not always the most reliable though. Time and evidence will tell.

[milmor_1]

I am NOT saying that this atrocity did or didnt happen (as the court case is still going on) But for one of the accused to plea bargain, I am NOT happy at all. This leaves one open to questions such as; what was his real part in all this? Why all the secrecy about the plea bargain? And why NO dishonouranle discharge?

Medic gets year in prison in Iraqi's death - Yahoo! News UK

CAMP PENDLETON, California (Reuters) - A U.S. medic who helped kidnap an Iraqi grandfather later killed execution-style by an American squad was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday, but will end up serving a year under a plea deal.

Military Judge Col. Steven Folsom gave the sentence after Petty Officer Melson Bacos, 21, said his patrol leader's anger at the release of a suspected "terrorist" from Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison prompted the murder of the man's neighbour.

Bacos agreed to a plea deal earlier on Friday in which he agreed to testify in exchange for a lesser sentence.

The judge appeared surprised to learn the plea deal set a year limit on the sentence and also nullified his earlier sentencing that called for a dishonorable discharge. The judge learnt the details of the plea agreement on sentencing only after announcing his ruling.

In the Hamdania, Iraq, incident Bacos and seven Marines on an April patrol were charged with kidnapping 52-year-old Hashim Ibrahim Awad, a father of 11, killing him and placing an AK-47 and shovel next to his body to suggest he was trying to plant a roadside bomb.

"I wanted to be part of the team. I wanted to be loyal," Bacos said solemnly of his involvement. "Now I feel as though my honour is gone and I have let down others who have looked up to me. I apologise to our country.

"I also ask forgiveness from the Iraqi family we have done this to."

The killing in the middle of the night in Hamdania was one in a series of incidents in which the conduct of American troops in Iraq has damaged the country's image worldwide.

Shedding new light on the death, Bacos told Folsom that squad leader Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III had devised the plan to kill a different Iraqi who was "a known high-value individual whom he had detained who was later released from Abu Ghraib."

"He was just mad that they kept letting him go when he was a known terrorist, sir," Bacos said. "He was detained and released three times, sir."

Yet the squad did not find their intended target, Saleh Gowad, and instead seized Awad next door, Bacos said.

SHOVEL, RIFLE FIRED

He described how the squad entered a random Iraqi home to seize the AK-47 and shovel, then later fired off the assault rifle to create a justification to return fire.

The medic said he eventually suggested letting Awad go. "I knew that we were doing something wrong. I tried saying something, sir," Bacos said. Another soldier replied, "Quit being a pussy," he testified.

In videotaped testimony, Awad's two brothers served heavily armed U.S. investigators tea and said their deceased brother worked as a policeman from 1969 to 1990 before injury forced his retirement. They also introduced his 11 children and said he had four grandchildren.

Bacos said Hutchins fired three bullets into the man's head and another soldier fired seven to 10 rounds into his chest. Prosecutors showed gory pictures of his corpse.

"I was shocked; I felt sick to my stomach," Bacos said.

Hutchins' military attorney declined to comment after watching the testimony through a video link on the base.

A Purple Heart recipient, Bacos was the first to admit his role in the case. In his plea deal, which the judge later accepted, prosecutors dropped the original seven charges, which included murder, and added two charges, kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap and make false official statements.

The son of Philippine immigrants, Bacos, a former high school varsity wrestler, had hoped to become a doctor.

He was first deployed to Iraq in 2004 and redeployed for a second tour in Iraq this year.

Other Camp Pendleton-based Marines are under investigation in a separate incident in November 2005 in which 24 civilians were killed in the Iraqi town of Haditha.

[Snowden]

We have to realize that some men who join the military are not all we would want or expect them to be. As in all other walks of life, sometimes an undesirable element can get in and no doubt does.

Think of it as being in a civilian court - the man is squealing to save his own life. We have a word for people who do this. Fortunately, this type is in the minority in our military. But, like all scum, they do come to the top.

We all hate it - but there it is.

[milmor_1]

well said Marianne, we cannot prevent this type of individual from joining up, but when we find them them we can deal with them with the utmost severity, irrespective of pleading.

the likes of this individual and other wrongdoers besmirch the honorable name and reputation of the US military and indeed the USA.

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by milmor_1

well said Marianne, we cannot prevent this type of individual from joining up, but when we find them them we can deal with them with the utmost severity, irrespective of pleading.

the likes of this individual and other wrongdoers besmirch the honorable name and reputation of the US military and indeed the USA.

The military reflects the society and the individual soldiers are the product of their upbringing. We're seeing that, both for good and for bad.

[BrianK]

Originally Posted by sergej

This makes me really upset!!!

FOXNews.com - Sailor Testifies That Marines Shot to Death Iraqi Civilian in Hamdania - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

More upsetting if true would be living with a belief system that rewards such actions.

When has anyone read about the atrocities of islamic radicals being tried in any legal setting.

With the bad if done there can be some good found, in this instance the military justice system is doing it's work.