Private tells of ‘death walk’ morale in rape-murder trial

Columbus Dispatch ^ | August 9, 2006 | Ryan Lenz

[MizSterious]

Private tells of ‘death walk’ morale in rape-murder trial

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Ryan Lenz

ASSOCIATED PRESS

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A U.S. Army private yesterday described the ever-present fear of death gripping his unit, some of whose members stand accused of raping and murdering a 14-year-old girl and killing her family.

"You’re just walking a death walk," Pfc. Justin Cross told a hearing to determine whether five fellow soldiers must stand trial in the March 12 attack near Mahmoudiya.

But prosecutors argued that the threats of war, arduous missions and frequent loss of life were no excuse for rape and murder.

"Murder, not war. Rape, not war. That’s what we’re here talking about today," prosecutor Capt. Alex Pickands said before the hearing concluded. "Cold food didn’t kill that family. Personnel assignments didn’t rape and murder that 14-year-old little girl."

Pickands said the suspects "gathered together over cards and booze and came up with a plan to rape and murder that little girl."

The hearing officer must forward a recommendation to the brigade commander, Col. Todd Ebel, who must decide whether to order a trial.

Spc. James P. Barker, Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, Pfc. Jesse V. Spielman and Pfc. Bryan L. Howard are accused of raping and murdering the girl and killing her parents and 5-yearold sister. Another soldier, Sgt. Anthony W. Yribe, is accused of failing to report the attack but not of participating.

[MizSterious]

Mahmoudiya pinglist--if you want on or off, let me know via freepmail.

[Mr. Jeeves]

"You’re just walking a death walk..."

So, the thinking is that if you don't hurry up and rape and murder a girl now, you might never get the chance to do it back home?

[ClearCase_guy]

I haven't followed this closely, and if I had any sense I'd probably keep my mouth shut. But ...

Four years of war, 3000 dead. This is a Death Walk? We lost more than that storming the beaches on the morning of D-Day. What a pathetic excuse for rape and murder.

I have great admiration and sympathy for the guys fighting in the ME. It's a hard job and they have my thanks. But others have had it harder without devolving to that sort of beastly behavior.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Or that it had to be done to break up the otherwise unbearable suspense?

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

The defense presentation DURING AN ART 32 HEARING (arraignment) attempts to invoke extenuating circumstances?
That is usually done between a finding of guilt and sentencing!

This is looking bad.....

[Shimmer128]

Guys, guys. This is the AP. It could be a reporter asked for a quote.
"tell me, what was it like over there??" and then applied the answer to a different scenario.
Yeah, might have happened, let's see....
believe in the media, the AP.....believe in our soldiers.... hmmm.

I think i will wait and give them the benefit of the doubt. I find it difficult to trust the media at ALL.

[johnny7]

Sounds like he's been spending his down-time watching CNN. I'm not dismissing the danger of death/dismemberment in Iraq... but “Death Walk”?

It ain't Bataan dude... and rape/murder is not a way to vent stress!

[monday]

"But prosecutors argued that the threats of war, arduous missions and frequent loss of life were no excuse for rape and murder."

I have to agree with the prosecutors, however, would this have happened, or something similar, of they had not been in Iraq? Are all these guys really murderers and rapists who would have raped and killed in the US if given the opportunity?

It doesn't say much for the quality of our troops if four out of five members of the same squad can be convinced that rape and murder is a good idea. It doesn't say much for the leadership in Iraq if four out of five thought they could get away with rape and murder.

Personally, I don't know what to think. No one who hasn't served in Iraq knows what soldiers go through over there. I know I would harbor more than a little resentment towards a people who were constantly trying to kill me.

In most wars one has an enemy that one is not only allowed to kill, but encouraged to kill. That isn't the case in Iraq. I suspect the psychological pressures of Iraq are much different than those of normal wars, and due to this, we can, unfortunately, probably expect more of this type of deviant criminal behavior.

[MizSterious]

What I do think--not saying guilty or innocent here--is that conditions like what's going on in Iraq will bring out the best or the worst in people. Some find themselves performing heroic acts they might not have thought possible--others might react in the way the prosecution is alleging here. MOST, in my opinion, are in the first category--heroic.

[tumblindice]

While riding the (Grey) Hound many years ago, I had the bad luck to sit next to a young man who had just been released from the Ft. Riley disciplinary barracks, dishonorably discharged and sent home.
He complained vociferously about his treatment by the `Green Machine' but after listening to him for a few minutes it was obvious what the real problem was: it was him. He was a section `8-ball'.

[monday]

"MOST, in my opinion, are in the first category--heroic."

If this squad is any indication, four out of five might be criminal and the fifth anything but heroic. Hope you are right.

[Wristpin]

"It doesn't say much for the quality of our troops if four out of five members of the same squad can be convinced that rape and murder is a good idea. It doesn't say much for the leadership in Iraq if four out of five thought they could get away with rape and murder."

Have you been paying attention or just swallowing the lib BS hook, line and sinker?

We've had nearly one million troops rotate through Iraq with 99.999999 percent of them have conducted themselves in a sterling manner despite the conditions. Just compare them to the UN "Peace Keeping" troops systematically raping African girls or even against the 18-24 year population of the US. You will find that they are better.

[monday]

Please explain how four out of five members of the same squad can be convinced that rape and murder is a good idea? Do commanders group all the psychos in the same squad?

[Wristpin]

You've already convicted them apparently.....

I will say this though...similiar to the Abu Gharaib case there doesn't seem to be a Senior NCO or Junior Officer within a mile of these guys. We just don't know enough at this point and this is an extremely isolated case. No need to smear the entire military.

[jpsb]

"If this squad is any indication"

It's not. There are thousands of squds. Only one bad squad in three years indicates NOTHING.

[MizSterious]

I must say you have a Clintonesque way of viewing the military. First, they have not yet even been tried (this procedure is similar to a grand jury hearing), and we don't know what will come out. Some of the lawyers are claiming their clients are innocent (see Attorney representing soldier in Iraq returns (Mahmoudiya case)) of all the charges--so it's possible some or even NONE actually did this.

Second, coming from a family that's fought in every war since the Revolutionary War against England, I take high offense at your insinuation that four out of five members of the military are murderers and rapists. OUR military, unlike the those who fight with the terrorists, are held to much higher standards than what you imply.

[Valin]

Bump

[jpsb]

I've make that point myself in other threads, where was th company CO? Where was the company senior NCO. Poor leadership at Company level for sure.

[af_vet_rr]

So, the thinking is that if you don't hurry up and rape and murder a girl now, you might never get the chance to do it back home?

Or maybe it's more difficult to get away with being a murderous pedophile in the US?