Marines await their fate: General to decide if they face court-martial.

The Orange County Register ^ | Sunday, February 8, 2004 | ALDRIN BROWN

[kimosabe31]

A general will decide if they will face court-martial in the death of an Iraqi POW.

CAMP PENDLETON

[kimosabe31]

Crucifying our own again. When the US military can no longer recruit these outstanding young people to fight for our country and perform every kind of shit detail handed them, maybe the politically correct military brass and world comunity will defend the nation.

[Dubya]

They went to Iraq to do their duty. They returned accused of war crimes

I am praying for these Marines.

What a shame our country is doing this to them.

[steplock]

As a Marine - I agree with the decision to investigate and if needed prosecute.

This has always been the rule in the USMC, but it is normally not plastered around for all to ogle and slobber over.

Crimes were committed in VN by fools and evil people, like crimes have been committed in Korea, WWII, etc, etc - even in peace time in CONUS crimes are committed - Marines are investigated, tried, and if found guilty - punished.

Simply - Quickly - Fairly

No political correctness here. Just HONOR and INTEGRITY (words lost on the left)

[thinktwice]

"If the world community sees that we adhere to the Geneva Convention, it may convince enemies to give up earlier," Jamison said.

Horsepucky! Ameerica's enemies are tyrants, religious fanatics, or both -- enemies to whom the Geneva Convention means nothing.

In point of fact, trying American servicemen in a "Geneva Convention" showoff trial has no reason -- or justification -- for either trial or conviction in it.

If dragging or forcible methods are necessary in handling unruly prisoners, they've asked for it.

These men had a tough job and they did it.

[banjo joe]

Except for the "dragging by the neck" stuff that resulted in a death, this sounds just like the old "NCO justice". Some of our guys were subjected to harsher treatment in basic.

[meenie]

I don't have the particulars so I can't make any more judgement than you can. The Geneva convention is not horse puckey. If we want our soldiers, if captured. to be beaten, kicked, and killed then disregard the behavior that the Geneva convention outlines. It sounds to me as though discipline is breaking down in our forces. When I was in the service, we would have been court martialed in a minute and sent to Leavenworth for abusing prisoners. This is part of the military code and I am sure it still is. Pride and honor mean adherence to the rules and behavior befitting an American. Giving the appearance of being military thugs as some of the Grermans and Japanese were disgraces the force.

[meenie]

I don't have the particulars so I can't make any more judgement than you can. The Geneva convention is not horse puckey. If we want our soldiers, if captured. to be beaten, kicked, and killed then disregard the behavior that the Geneva convention outlines. It sounds to me as though discipline is breaking down in our forces. When I was in the service, we would have been court martialed in a minute and sent to Leavenworth for abusing prisoners. This is part of the military code and I am sure it still is. Pride and honor mean adherence to the rules and behavior befitting an American. Giving the appearance of being military thugs as some of the Grermans and Japanese were disgraces the force.

[thinktwice]

The Geneva convention is not horse puckey.

That is not what I said. The "Horse Puckey" is in holding a trial to show that America is adhering to the Geneva convention.

A trial is not meant to honor and glorify a court, a convention, a law or anyone connected to that law. The only valid reason for trial is violation of law.

Some person named Jamieson said: "If the world community sees that we adhere to the Geneva Convention, it may convince enemies to give up earlier."

And that, to me, is no "reason" to hold a trial. It is liberal talk. It is horse pucky.

[AdequateMan]

The USA does have an obligation under the Geneva convention. We agreed to it and we MUST adhere to it.
Interesting though, that we have never been to war against a country which even attempted to.

[river rat]

"If we want our soldiers, if captured. to be beaten, kicked, and killed then disregard the behavior that the Geneva convention outlines."

Our adherence to the Geneva Conventions has not protected our warriors from being tortured or killed..
In every conflict to which we sent troops, captured Americans have been tortured or killed.

The REAL reason that we in the Marine Corps consider it our duty to comply to the extent possible is to keep from becoming animals instead of warriors..
This is more difficult than some may imagine - when warriors have had their lives threatened and their brothers killed or maimed by the enemy.

Discipline and respect for the laws of humane behavior must not be lost...and there have been few units in long and dangerous contact with the enemy that have not been tested... it is easy to lose control...

The G.C. does not promise or guarantee a prisoner will be treated as a welcomed guest - but it should provide him reason to believe he will survive if he does not behave in an aggressive or threatening manner...

Semper Fi

[cynicom]

Military Justice...what a farce.

[kimosabe31]

When I was in the service, we would have been court martialed in a minute and sent to Leavenworth for abusing prisoners.

Were your prisoners muslims? I don't believe islam subscribes to any geneva convention. The GC was conceived and adopted by relatively civilized nations. I don't believe the provisions of the GC should apply to any group or state that does not, itself, apply those provisions to captured enemy soldiers. Do you want to be "kinder/gentler" to a prisoner who would cut your throat without batting an eyelash if the shoe were on the other foot??

[meenie]

Your imagination is running away with you. I don't suppose you think there weren't prisoners that would like to cut our throats then. Any war prisoners include the fanatics as well as the benign. The secret is not to make fanatics out of them all which will happen if you start killing and abusing. Civilized peoples don't murder, whether you are on the streets in the inner city or in a war zone. As long as an enemy has a weapon to defend himself, you have a liscense to end his life. As soon as he is deposed of his weapon. and you kill, you are committing murder as well as cowardice.

[texasflower]

I would like to thank all of you that have served this country and still continue to uphold such high standards of courage and honor.

Thank you all.

[kimosabe31]

War is hell Meenie.