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."

[Squantos]

I think I smell a rat.......a big female rat........she's free, home and out of the service (alledged deal) and her fellow MP's are still under the legal gun for mistreating the enemy ?

Something ain't quite right here.....:o) Gonna have to wait for more of this story to make a sound decision. BTW has anyone heard of Lt Col West's situation ?

Stay Safe !

[Holly_P]

http://www.mnsnews.org/articles/1_ds_219064.asp


All say they acted in self-defense and used minimum force to subdue unruly prisoners who had attacked them. The soldiers also said conditions at Camp Bucca were chaotic and that guards were being assaulted by prisoners daily.

[tubavil]

BUMP!

[Holly_P]

she's free, home and out of the service (alledged deal) and her fellow MP's are still under the legal gun for mistreating the enemy

She chose to receive separation and demotion. The others chose the court martial. As I read it they all had the same choice to make as she did.

[Squantos]

That's what the article says......gonna follow it for a few days and see.

Hope ya have a great Thanksgiving Holly. Stay Safe !

[BeerSwillr]

First of all I'm entitled to my opinion, whether I'm posting an opinion or a fact is moot, who cares?

Second, I have first hand familiarity with the UCMJ, following orders, and the need for discipline.

These soldiers, if actually guilty of anything, don't deserve court marshall action or dishonorable discharge from the military. Good ol' Article 15 action is all this story warrants.

So what if they whacked around a couple of Iraqi POWs? I don't care, and while I won't pretend to represent the opinions of other people, I will guess that the majority of Americans wouldn't care either.

This situation is just another example of namby pamby political correctness run amok.

[Valin]

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.

One soldier said that during the attack, a beaten prisoner was "screaming for his life." Another testified that Edmondson told her that the attack was to "teach the prisoner a lesson on how to treat women."

If she's guilty, she should be punished to the full extent of the law.
Beating POWs is not what we're about.

[r9etb]

Satellite orbit analyst.

[PLMerite]

Okay, that's what I thought.

[jaykay]

Are you French?

You've solved the mystery! I've been reading through this thread trying to figure out why so many here prefer to give the benefit of the doubt to terrorists over American soldiers. Now, I see what has happened. The French have invaded FR! Everybody, arm yourselves: grab some deodorant cans and air freshener.

[FixitGuy]

"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."

Big deal. He'll live! This is war. Amidst all the killing, what's a little ass-whooping, to get the info to save lives.

Sorry but all this pansy, liberal thinking is gonna get a lot of people killed.

What would Saddam have done?

[MPJackal]

"So what if they whacked around a couple of Iraqi POWs? I don't care, and while I won't pretend to represent the opinions of other people, I will guess that the majority of Americans wouldn't care either.

This situation is just another example of namby pamby political correctness run amok".


The one thing that has become clear in all of this is that the military can not concern itself with what the public thinks. That goes for not caring if a soldier "whacked" a POW around, all the way to pulling out because freedom is expensive in so many ways.

[FreedomCalls]

I don't see how this could prevent her from becoming a police officer?

It's the equivalent of a felony conviction.

[FreedomCalls]

I presume that means IF she is convicted she won't be able to carry a firearm as well?

That is true -- she will not be able to carry a firearm. She has already accepted the equivalent of a conviction. No "if" involved.