The case is very representative of the push to prosecute alleged war crimes, and to second-guess decisions by squad leaders in the heat of combat.
The prosecution does not dispute that there was a gunbattle between these soldiers and insurgents. As detailed above, among the charges that Cpl. Justin Whiteman is facing is shooting an insurgent who was already dead. Both Cpl. Whiteman and Spc. John Torres are charged with attempted premeditated murder and with dereliction of duty for failing to administer aid (with the limited supplies they had) to an insurgent who had been shot some two dozen times. Sgt Trevino, fundamentally, is charged with murder for finishing off an enemy combatant.
The only evidence of a cover-up is from the prosecution's star witness. As with many other cases (including the Lt Pantano case), the prosecution depends on the testimony of a soldier who may be settling a grudge.
If you're interesting in helping the defense in this case, Sgt Trevino's wife has set up a website: SUPPORT OUR TEXAS SOLDIER
bump
Good thing we have the stalwart President Bush who loves the troops and will make sure our soldiers who are on a “kill team” won’t go to prison for, you know, killing.
*cough*
OK, I’ admit it - Bush is a deeply disappointing dope who commuted Scooter Libby’s sentence, (Marc Rich’s lawyer - that tidbit always seems to go down the memory hole on the Scooter worship Bushbot threads), but leaves Compean and Ramos, this guy, and other troops in jail for doing the job he sent them to do.
Could someone one tell me why in the hell the military lets this continue. If I was the commander of a military patrol and caught one of my men with a camera he would be trying to get it out of his rear for a week.
Why has the army brass not leaned anything about this picture taking BS.
If the last one killed was "all shot to hell" or not, I believe as soon as our boys walked into that room and saw the guy who they had just had a firefight with and who was making bombs, that killing him on the spot was the right thing to do.
It's war...and war against an enemy that is known (just like the Japnese were in World War II) for booby trapping themselves, for playing possum and then trying to kill our boys, etc. Under these foolish restrictions and circumstances, thousands fo marines would have been prosecurted in World War II, and thousands and thousands more of our boys would have died.
These soldiers are there to win and kill the enemy and destroy their ability, and their WILL to wage war against us. While we cannot tolerate predmitated murder of innocents in the least...IMHO, this circumstance is nothing like or close to that and we have to quit hamstringing our soldiers.
A "law" that pertains ONLY to the US military. THANK YOU, Commander-in-Chief George W. Bush. Nice job. Now let's see how many of our own brave soldiers and Marines we can throw in the brig.
By the way, I always have to wonder how much of the testimony for the prosecution is fabricated and compelled by the NCIS, which is known to be thoroughly dishonest and corrupt to the core?
I’d rather have 1000 Sgt. Leonardo Trevinos fighting for me than 1 million of those that turned him in for this BS......
Trevino kicked the man in the head and later shot him in the abdomen, even after Miller found no weapons under a pillow covering the man's bleeding arm, Miller said.
He should have shot the scumbag in the head. Sentenced to two hours at the firing range, to improve his aim.
As detailed above, among the charges that Cpl. Justin Whiteman is facing is shooting an insurgent who was already dead.
Cpl. Whiteman is hereby fined 25 cents to replace the cartridge he wasted.
All other charges dismissed.
20+ comments and no one questions The Source.
We know the agenda of The Source.
We know ‘editing happens’.
looks like the agenda is working....
cause we know that a wounded and dying soldier can't kill you...right?
/sarc
Unfreakingbelievable
This is disgusting that he should even be brought up on charges.
Okay, I have a question. Why is he charged with premeditated murder AND attempted murder. He either killed the insurgent or he didn’t. Are they trying to pile on with a charge of “he tried to kill him” right before “he really did kill him”. This is a stupid piling on of charges.
I notice the team where going after insurgents who were reported to be making IED’s. Hope the panel has veterans from Iraq. Most know the damage those do to our troops.