Posted on 07/12/2006 5:59:31 PM PDT by churchillbuff
Ever since the case of the raping and killing of an Iraqi and the alleged murder of three of her family members by U.S. troops went public, the age of the rape victim had been in dispute, ranging from about 15 to 25. Two days ago, Reuters and others news agencies produced proof that she was 14, based on a passport and identity card. Most news organizations then started calling her a girl -- but some persist in referring to her as a "woman."
The girl was apparently born August 19, 1991. Yet a widely published AP story today by Robert H. Reid repeatedly referred to the girl, whose last name was al-Janabi, as a “young Iraqi woman" and later again as a "woman." The story was in reference to the gag order being requested by attorneys for Steven D. Green, an ex-soldier who is one of the men charged with the rape and murders. It begins: "An al-Qaida-linked group posted a Web video today purporting to show the mutilated bodies of two Fort Campbell soldiers, claiming it killed them in revenge for the rape-slaying of a young Iraqi woman by American troops from the same unit."
A separate AP story today by Juan Lozano, on the soldiers' families defending them, also refers to the girl as a "young woman." Another Reid story later in the day on suicide bombings also used "young Iraqi woman."
In Tuesday's Washington Post, an article by Joshua Partlow refers to the teen as an “Iraqi woman.” USA Today featured the AP "young woman" story. The CNN site called the victim a "young female" and a "woman." A CNN report aired Tuesday by Nic Robertson continued to refer to the child as a "young woman." So did the BBC.
Jim Lehrer on his PBS "NewsHour" last night referred to her a "woman." At the CBS News site today, a joint CBS/AP story uses "young woman." The Houston Chronicle goes with "young Iraqi woman" in an article by James Pinkerton for Wednesday's edition.
Yet a full day earlier, and again today, The New York Times was calling her a "girl." The Los Angeles Times on Tuesday referred to her as a "teenage Iraqi" and later as a "teen." Bloomberg used "girl" and McClatchy's dispatch chose "teenager." Reuters simply stated her age: 14.
Other stories continue to offer caveats, claiming that the age of the young victim was “in dispute.” The Reid AP story referred to an FBI affidavit concerning Green’s charges, which estimated al-Janabi to be about 25. The article went on to say that “a doctor at the Mahmoudiya hospital gave her age as 14. He refused to be identified for fear of reprisals.” The AP story does not mention the Reuters release of al-Janabi’s passport and the other supporting documents.
An AP wire photo published with many of the stories does refer to the victim as a "girl."
***
UPDATE: In a story for Wednesday's Washington Post, following the E&P story above, reporter Joshua Partlow, who had earlier described the 14-year-old as a woman, now refers to her an an "Iraqi girl."
If you're a liberal idiot, a 14 year old is a 'woman' if it means she is mature enough to select an abortion doctor.
This case is so screwed. But you know our own government is going to railroad this kid into prison, and possibly life at that. He can't get a fair trial anywhere on the planet, much less in the U.S.
Do you know he's innocent? If he did what they're accusing him of, should he be punished?
He's innocent until proven guilty or does that only apply to terrorists??
Pray for W and Our Troops
ANSWER: When she is twenty one(21). P.S. Even then there is some doubt with many of them.
Agreed. But if he's guilty, should he be punished? Is it wrong to rape and kill a girl - unless she's Muslim?
Does that mean that OJ is innocent?
When does a chicken become a hen?
When she looses her first foot race.
Crude!
A 14 year old is enough of a *woman* to marry off in most muslime countries. Maybe that's how they define it.
And in some Southern states.
"Innocent until proven guilty" applies to the judicial system. I, as a private citizen, can decide, based on the evidence that I am aware of, that I think someone is most-likely innocent or guilty. Doesn't mean squat in a court of law, but that's not where I am.
Better check your laws, bud. In some northern states, too.
The guy hasn't even been tried yet, and from the information that I've read, the reports that were given, It is very unclear whether he was even involved.
The guy hasn't even been tried yet, and from the information that I've read, the reports that were given, It is very unclear whether he was even involved.
Innocent until proven guilty.
It's sad that our court system is so much nicer to confessed child rapists and murderers than to our own troops (who are automatically considered guilty because hey! they're in the military).
"Alleged" should be the 7th word in that sentence not the 15th. So much for a fair trial.
Without question if he did it he should be punished.
This a nation ruled by law, and our strenth is that when we find incidents like this we prosecute. Other countries snicker and promote the troops who did it for persuading the locals they mean business. We are America and should never accept that behavior out of our troops in the same uniforms as warriors.
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