Posted on 11/16/2006 10:21:35 AM PST by Barney Gumble
A soldier who pleaded guilty to conspiring to rape a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and kill her family described how he was approached by a fellow soldier with the plan to carry out the attack.
Spc. James P. Barker, one of four U.S. soldiers accused in the March 12 rape and killings, pleaded guilty Wednesday and agreed to testify against the others. He will avoid the death penalty, said his attorney, David Sheldon. Barker told military judge Lt. Col. Richard Anderson that 21-year-old former Army private Steve Green approached him with a plan to attack the family as they drank whiskey purchased from Iraqi soldiers. ....
Barker described in vivid detail how he raped Abeer Qassim al-Janabi with Cortez and Green before Green killed the girl, her younger sister and parents. "Cortez pushed her to the ground. I went towards the top of her and kind of held her hands down while Cortez proceeded to lift her dress up," he said. "Around that time I heard shots coming from a room next door." The defendants are accused of burning the girl's body to conceal the crime. Howard, Cortez and Spielman could face the death penalty if convicted...
At one point, the judge asked Barker why he had decided with the other soldiers to commit the rape and murders. "I hated Iraqis, your honor," Barker said. "They can smile at you, then shoot you in your face without even thinking about it." ...
Soldiers in Barker's unit were often asked to spend weeks manning remote checkpoints, where several from the unit died. Sheldon told reporters during a news conference following the hearing that Barker took responsibility for his actions, but he also said the U.S. Army was to blame for the way the war in Iraq was being fought...."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
"I hated Iraqis, your honor," Barker said. "They can smile at you, then shoot you in your face without even thinking about it."
Well, I guess they did do it. The media is so anti-American that when troops are brought up on charges you don't know whether it is legit or it is a witchhunt.
There were criminals in WWII as well, several were hanged, but it just didn't get the constant press as it does today.
The situation must be very stressful... having to patrol all the time, never knowing whether a IED will go off. When guarding a checkpoint, you never know whether the car speeding at you are terrorists or drunk teenagers.
I'm not condoning their actions, but perhaps the Army should start to think about why people faulter.
"They can smile at you, then shoot you in your face without even thinking about it." ............. Now where have I heard that before? Deja Vu?
It doesnt matter why...they should all get the chair!
No civilized people has ever accepted hatred or mistrust of another people or culture as an excuse for raping and/or murdering individuals of that culture -- especially children.
And I would venture to guess, that these shooters could be middle age, old or very young.
He's about two years late on that news.
I knew a guy who was in charge of a prison in the Phillippines during WWII stocked with 2000 American prisoners. He said the majority were AWOL, but there were scores of murderers and rapists.
Yes the situation IS very stressful, but no more or less than previous engagements.
In my little "war" (Vietnam) there were instances of atrocities, culminating with My Lai.
There were also much of the same as what is being described by this Trooper about Iraqis as we experienced in Nam: A cute little girl would give you a soda laced with ground glass or a little boy would try and throw a grenade in your jeep when you drove by.
That said, while this is a terrible tragedy (and crime) one MUST look at how many (and the figures escape me and I don't have the time to research) the total number of Military who have served in Iraq in the past 3 years and compare it to the number of these type atrocities committed?
I would venture to say (as I believe this is the FIRST to be shown to be true) the percentage would be infinitesimal--something like .00001%
I know in Nam, where there were about 2.3 Million who served in Country, the percentage of such atrocities (ALTHOUGH YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW IT FROM THE MSM AND JOHN KERRY'S LIES) were even less.
REMEMBER All, let's not let the MSM and the Murtha's, Kerry's, Iraq Vets Against War, et al., start sliming our troops because of one or a few, isolated incidents--which believe me, IS COMING.
The military has soldiers who are criminals, just like the regular population. Some join for the excitement and having the training, having the license, so to speak, to carry a weapon. I think the army does a decent job in recognizing most who would be dangerous, but in a time of war, some things can be overlooked, I'm sure.
If they committed the crime, they owe a debt to society, just like any ordinary criminal. Stress should never be a good reason to deny one's culpability in a crime. It might be a factor in their rehabilitation, but not an excuse to not face the consequences. Wrong message. Terrible consequences for society.
Iraq didn't break them. They were broke when they got there.
I would guess the ratio of sex deviants in the Army is statistically about the about the same as that of Congress.
LOL.
That's a *reasonable* excuse for *accidental* killing, not for premeditated rape and murder. These guys should hang for this.
Way to put down the military...
I know you weren't, but I bet Congress' percentage of deviants is way higher than the norm, which is where the military would be along with the rest of the country.
Heck, we know Congress would have a higher percentage of perverts just by knowing how many democrats and rinos are there. ;-)
Those guys, if they actually did this, should get the maximum. But, I also wish the media could get theirs as they try to paint the entire military by the actions of a few.
these guys should hang. then again, so should half of Congress.
1.0% = 1 out of 100
0.01% = 1 out of 10,000
0.001% = 1 out of 100,000
0.0001% = 1 out of 1,000,000
0.00001% = 1 out of 10,000,000
This piece of crap soldier and all of the others involved deserve the rope.
Period.
"I would venture to say (as I believe this is the FIRST to be shown to be true) the percentage would be infinitesimal--something like .00001%"
I would agree except how do you explain that nearly 100% of this unit decided it was a good idea?
Puts it in perspective, doesn't it? Rather difficult to win the hearts and minds of people when their children are raped and their families murdered.
I have a future stepson-in-law who is currently serving over in Iraq. He likes the Iraqi people and has found them friendly and eager to please. The one thing he did say, is when you're over there, you absolutely hate it but as soon as you're home you can't wait to get back. He's on his third tour there.
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