Army Officer Found Guilty in Iraqi's Death

AP ^ | 1/21/6 | JON SARCHE

[SmithL]

FORT CARSON, Colo. -- An Army interrogator was convicted of negligent homicide late Saturday in the death of an Iraqi general at a detention camp.

A panel of six Army officers also convicted Chief Warrant Officer Lewis Welshofer Jr., 43, of negligent dereliction of duty but acquitted him of assault after six hours of deliberations.

Welshofer was accused of putting a sleeping bag over the head of Iraqi Maj. Gen. Abed Hamed Mowhoush, sitting on his chest and using his hand to cover the general's mouth while asking him questions in 2003.

Welshofer, who stood silently and showed no reaction when the verdict was announced, faces a dishonorable discharge and up to three years in prison

[oolatec]

What an idiot.

[oolatec]

Sorry... not you Smith... the Army Officer. :)

[SmithL]

After the first few-thousand times, I no longer get upset at being called an idiot.
; )

[Choose Ye This Day]

Guano happens.

[tbeatty]

We don't torture. The arrest, trail and conviction of those who do torture is as important as the defence of the techniques that are NOT torture.

[stuartcr]

I still can't completely understand why it is ok to kill someone one way, but not another?...the end result is the same

[SmithL]

CIA Role a Mystery at Army Court-Martial

[demlosers]

Yes, a logical disconnect.

[oldenuff2no]

I'm a retired Ranger and I will tell you the truth that most don't want to hear.
Any military officer worth his salt will do whatever it takes to defeat the enemy and to keep his men safe and alive while doing so.
This is his obligation to his troops. This is why they will blindly follow a leader into battle. Each solider knows that his CO is worried about his butt and places his life above that of the enemy.
That's war, and that's the loyalty and trust that each person must have in their superiors.

[stuartcr]

OK

[JoeSixPack1]

... convicted Chief Warrant Officer Lewis Welshofer Jr., 43, of negligent dereliction of duty but acquitted him of assault

Reads like he had the ok to beat this guy into talking but oops, the guy died. Big oops.

[rogue yam]

I did not follow this case, and I have no idea what this soldier did. And if he disobeyed his orders, then he must be held responsible. Yet I consider him an American who tried to do his duty and, at worst, made a terrible mistake. He is not equivalent to our enemies, and we should not treat him as a pariah. We demand great things from those who volunteer to serve (as we must) but when one falls short, those of us who are not serving should refrain from condemning too harshly, in my opinion.

[DeaconRed]

"What an idiot."

Yes I agree.
He got caught.
The retired Ranger (oldenuff2no) is 100% correct

[elfman2]

" I still can't completely understand why it is ok to kill someone one way, but not another?...the end result is the same"

One’s justified by the cause of defense, the other is not.

[jch10]

Thank you for your service to our country.

I am proud of the military. Some mistakes are made but not to hurt America, to help.

[JOE43270]

Thank you for saying that. I'm glad you said it and I wish more people would understand this. This Soldier did what he had to like you said and the sad part is he probably knew he would be court martialed. I know there are rules though when will some people learn that the bad guys don't follow the rules and we need Soldiers that will give up everything they have earned and been paid much less than they have deserved to help the rest of us. God Bless this Soldier.

[Thombo2]

"I consider him an American who tried to do his duty,at worst(he)made a terrible mistake..."I agree.This CWO is probably a good soldier.

[stevie_d_64]

Like I said in that "other" forum...

I find it interesting to speculate, that if the iraqi army had captured one of our "generals" that things might be a little different...

And that they would have positively, definitely had everyone sit down to a nice cup of tea or coffee and had a wonderful and pleasant chat about the weather they were having at the time...

(my sarcasm only goes so far)

And to the others here...Yes, I agree the Chief screwed up...But you have to ask yourself...

In the big picture, did he really???

[moog]

Heck, I have learned to call myself an idiot. It stops all the other people from doing it.