Posted on 03/19/2012 4:15:37 PM PDT by xzins
Karilyn Bales, whose husband, Staff Sgt. Robert Bales is accused of killing Afghan civilians, released this statement on Monday:
What happened on the night of March 11 in Kandahar Province was a terrible and heartbreaking tragedy.
My family including my and Bob’s extended families are all profoundly sad. We extend our condolences to all the people of the Panjawai District, our hearts go out to all of them, especially to the parents, brothers, sisters and grandparents of the children who perished.
I know that all good people around the world, regardless of nationality, religion or political values, join me in grieving that such a terrible thing could happen.
Our family has little information beyond what we read and see in the media. What has been reported is completely out of character of the man I know and admire. Please respect me when I say I cannot shed any light on what happened that night, so please do not ask.
I too want to know what happened. I want to know how this could be.
I have no indication that my family’s own safety is at risk, but I appreciate the efforts that have been undertaken to protect us. I hope there will soon be no reason for protection of families, whether here or in Kandahar Province, or anywhere, because the pain inevitably inflicted in war should never be an excuse to inflict yet more pain. The cycle must be broken. We must find peace.
I know the media has a right to pursue and report news. As you do your jobs, I plead with you to respect the trauma that I and my extended family are experiencing. Please allow us some peace and time as we try to make sense of something that makes no sense at all.
All I can do now is emphasize my sadness and my condolences to the families in Panjawai for their terrible loss. The victims and their families are all in my prayers, as is my husband who I love very much.
End of Statement
Happy to see that one attorney stated that Panetta should just "shut up" and that unlawful command influence was brought up.
One issue that could loom large in the case is the risk that statements by those higher in the chain of command can have a prejudicial effect on members of the court-martial, a problem known as unlawful command influence.
The last third of the article is especially good.
Thanks for pointing that out (UCI). Panetta thought it was “likely” there was a confession? I missed that statement from Panetta. Bales’ lawyer sure doesn’t make it sound like he confessed, or if he did, he doesn’t remember it.
Exactly, Girl. Really glad it was pointed out Panetta is playing the political game. It looks to me that SSgt. Bales has a very good attorney in John Browne.
Amen to that and thank you both!
No, he craps in the house.
Funny I don’t hear of riots all over Afghanistan after this supposed massacre. Why not? Doesn’t that seem odd? Is this supposed crime worse than Abu Ghraib? Koran burning? How did muslims act after that came out? There are so many things that don’t make sense with this case. Something is not adding up here.
Hmm, very good point. I have read rumors (FOAF) that what happened is not as portrayed in the MSM.
The lawyer is right but it's too late. Panetta's been running his mouth alot. We've already got the taint of possible UCI. Add to that Panetta's total disregard for the presumption of innocence inherent in the UCMJ. Another damn Murtha.
“He went out in the morning, early morning, and went to these homes and fired on these families and then at some point after that came back to the forward operations base and basically turned himself in, told individuals what had happened,” Panetta said.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/03/afghanistan-leon-panetta-death-penalty.html
Your mom's-basement military-squawk is what is superfluous, which is why you used it to give trivia the impression of importance.
This is a decorated combat veteran who obviously had a psychological breakdown. The ROEs are literally, obviously and demonstrably the most lethal threat our military faces, as has been discussed and exemplified many, many times.
There are shills, and then there are things that are lower than shills. You're at the bottom.
Between this walking, talking CHARLEY FOXTROT and his buddy over at DOE.....
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Chu: I would give myself an ‘A’ for energy prices
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2861456/posts
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...I'm beginning to wonder if this entire administration is so out-of-touch with reality that they qualify for a rubber room right now, or if they're just trying to keep the lid on things until their Final Bunker construction project is completed.
Sheesh.
Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales initially asserted that he had shot several Afghan men outside a U.S. combat outpost in southern Afghanistan on March 11...
“He indicated to his buddies that he had taken out some military-aged males,” the senior official said. Soldiers normally use that term to denote insurgents.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/03/afghanistan-massacre-robert-bales-statements.html
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First I’ve heard of this. To speculate(given the way the enemy operates), he could have killed a couple of hajis, returned to base and all the other killings were done by someone else after he left the scene. He’s being set up for something he didn’t do. No wonder he can’t remember it.
The officials asked not to be identified discussing an ongoing criminal investigation.
I didn't count the number of times "official or officials" was used in the article but it was plenty.
Bunch of stand up guys or gals aren't they? They're feeding unofficial official info to the press.
Prayers on
Their careers would be done for commenting on a murder investigation to the press. They really shouldn’t be saying anything.
We know from Haditha and from other military cases that CID, the Army Criminal investigators, pretend neutrality but actually work for themselves and the prosecution. They are the same role as the Navy/Marine investigators.
If I’d bet on the source of an “unofficial info feed” I’d bet on CID.
You're absolutely right, FSN and I agree with xzins that it may well be coming from CID.
More about the murky events of that night and whether Bales remembered anything or has little recollection:
It’s the same story I posted from a different website, mine was LA Times, yours Chicago Tribune. Looks like the original source for both is Reuters.
There’s something fishy about this whole thing.
Absolutely, too many of those asshats are all about "career path enhancement", standards and protocol be damned.
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