U.S. soldier accused of beating Iraqi prisoners says, `It is war'

SFgate ^ | (11-25) 10:26 PST PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- | DAVID B. CARUSO

[ConservativeMan55]

U.S. soldier accused of beating Iraqi prisoners says, `It is war'

One of four American MPs charged with beating prisoners of war at a detention camp in Iraq said Tuesday: "We were doing our jobs. ... It is war. It is not back home where everybody is safe."

[ConservativeMan55]

No one else ever said that she wasn't acting in self-defense.

Thats all you need to know. She was the only one that actually described what happened.

But yet you still take the side of the Iraqi terrorist.

I hope that they don't let you out during the daytime hours.

[Steel Wolf]

I don't see anything wrong with wanting high standards. Yes, this is war, but unnecessary brutality against unarmed prisoners should be avoided. EPWs should be cared for and treated with respect. As PC as it sounds there is tremendous advantage for our side if we know we're better than the enemy, and it's good for them to know that if they surrender they'll be treated well. I'm all for treating EPWs in a professional manner.

That having been said.

There is a point where this is not feasible. Some people do not want to graciously accept leniency, but instead see it as a weakness to exploit. These rules can be twisted back against us. As we can see in Baghdad, Baathist dead enders are firing mortars from civilian neighborhoods because they know we won't fire back. We could fire back, but then we'd be hitting civilian areas.

It's a very delicate balance, but overall it is best that we take every effort to be in the right. We should also understand that we're not perfect. We often put our people in very, very dicey situations and expect perfect performance, but that's neither realistic nor fair. Given how careful we have been in every other aspect, we should at least give our guys the benefit of the doubt.

[r9etb]

The American Soldiers did not testify that she beat the prisoner!

According to the article:

Fellow soldiers testified that the four Pennsylvania reservists punched and kicked prisoners who were being brought to an American camp in southern Iraq on May 12. One prisoner suffered a broken nose.

So you might want to revise your opinion.

Unless perhaps you'll next be trying to tell us that punching and kicking do not qualify as "beating," at least not when "it's war?"

[ConservativeMan55]

Amen again! You are really hitting the home runs today!

[SAMS]

Don't forget she has to sit on the couch across from Diane Sawyer, tear up a few times, and tell the American people how the Army "used her" only then can you be called a true American hero...

[ConservativeMan55]

"Fellow soldiers testified that the four Pennsylvania reservists punched and kicked prisoners who were being brought to an American camp in southern Iraq on May 12. One prisoner suffered a broken nose."

Where does it say anything about the actions of the prisoner? Unless you can cite that you are wrong.

[Lijahsbubbe]

EPWs should be cared for and treated with respect

I don't think they deserve any respect. They're Baath Party officials and Syrian terrorists.

[ConservativeMan55]

They certainly wouldn't treat us with respect.
They'd kill us and drag our bodies around the streets.

[r9etb]

But yet you still take the side of the Iraqi terrorist.

Yeah, right.

The facts of the story are there for you to read. When you care to behave like a rational being, then I will be happy to discuss this further.

Until then, have a nice Thanksgiving.

[ConservativeMan55]

Happy Thanksgiving to you to. Enjoy it.

[r9etb]

Thanks for spitting on his grave.

That soldier didn't die so that Americans could beat prisoners with impunity.

[r9etb]

Abuse button hit.

[Centurion2000]

Edmondson said she will see if she can get her old job back at the university. Her discharge, which came after a demotion from sergeant to private, will probably bar her from pursuing her plan to become a police officer.

Edmondson said she joined the reserves 41/2 years ago with the intent of getting training that would be useful in a career in law enforcement.

Texas Department of Corrections would probably hire her ... they don't screw around with mercy.

[ConservativeMan55]

Nope. He died because unruly prisoners took control of a prison.

[laotzu]

There's just no apologizing to some people.

[r9etb]

Touche' -- however, Spann was questioning prisoners, not guarding them.

And if he'd been beating prisoners unprovoked, then he would have deserved punishment, too.

[Steel Wolf]

I don't think they deserve any respect. They're Baath Party officials and Syrian terrorists.

I understand what you're saying. The deal is, once they surrender, they should be disposed of by as fair and legal means as possible. For Baathist thugs, I'd hope that would be a speedy trial and speedier execution. For Iraqi conscripts, I'd hope they get a slap on the wrist and sent on their way. Weed out the bad ones, and make the neutral ones yours.

Once you build a reputation, like we have, of dealing with prisoners lenienly, then wars become pretty easy. We had entire divisions surrender to us, mostly full of people that didn't want to be there. There was no 'Stalingrad at Baghdad' because their army collapsed rather than fight us. It saves American lives, it saves non-U.S. lives and it saves time and effort.

Now, as always, our military has no sense of perspective. Put yourself in the mind of the average Iraqi. If you heard that the occasional former Baathist official or Syrian fighter got a little roughed up while in an EPW camp, would you think that the Americans are all that terrible? Think about it.

[MPJackal]

How do you know she did nothing wrong? I will wait for the evidence. The military does have a legal system that works pretty well. We don't have the smoke and mirrors of the civilian system. The facts will come out.
The one thing that seems to be a trend on FR is people forgetting that one of the foundations of the military is discipline. Without that we won't defeat anyone. Soldiers must obey orders even when they do not agree.
And dealing with 25 million civilians is complex no matter where you go in the world. And actions such as this have an effect on that. No matter how much you may want to, we can not and will not kill all Iraqis. So we have to try to deal with them. It is not my policy, it is GW's, and I support him. So I will do as ordered so long as it is a lawful order, even if I don't agree with it.

[TexasRepublic]

Anyone that can't stomach the worst ugliness that un-humanity can dish out shouldn't be in a war. That's the real world -- I can't wish it away. Those cutthroats won't offer mercy, and none should be given. </Barbarian>