Marine investigated for war crimes after newspaper interview

smh.com.au ^ | May 1, 2003

[11th_VA]

Washington: A US Marine sergeant is under investigation for possible war crimes committed in Iraq based on statements he made to his hometown newspaper, military officials said today.

Gunnery Sergeant Gus Covarrubias became the target of the preliminary inquiry after he described for the Las Vegas, Nevada, Review-Journal daily how he had hunted down and shot two Iraqi soldiers after a firefight.

"A preliminary inquiry has been initiated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service to examine the circumstances surrounding the statements made by Gunnery Sergeant Covarrubias," the statement said.

"The preliminary inquiry will determine if the actions described by Gunnery Sergeant Covarrubias during combat operations met the established rules of engagement and complied with the law of war."

A Marine Forces Reserve spokeswoman refused further comment, referring media inquiries to naval investigators.

In the interview published Friday, Covarrubias, 38, said he was searching for the source of a grenade attack during the April 8 battle and found a soldier in a nearby home with a grenade launcher next to him.

Covarrubias told the daily he ordered the man to stop and to turn around. "I went behind him and shot him in the back of the head - twice," he was quoted as saying.

Covarrubias said he noticed another Iraqi soldier trying to escape and also shot him, then grabbed their identification cards, a rifle and one of their berets for souvenirs.

Covarrubias is assigned to the Second Battalion, 23rd Marines, a reserve unit from the western United States.

In the interview, he was quoted as saying the killings were "justice", but the daily quoted a military expert as saying the first one could have been a war crime.

"We do not allow our soldiers to execute (prisoners of war) at their own discretion. And this, as described, looks like the summary execution of a (prisoner of war)," said John Pike, director of globalsecurity.org.

[11th_VA]

This stuff sucks ...

[anymouse]

More John Pike crap. The guy has no credibility.

The Iraqi soldier was in posession of a grenade launcher and did not surrender.

If anything this marine would have to answer to a court marshall hearing.

The Belgians can go bake a waffle.

[CyberAnt]

The last paragraph says it all! I can even understand why he might have done it ... but it still doesn't seem it was the right thing to do.

I think he should have reported what he knew about the shooters (and their location), and allow his superior to determine if they should go after them.

[Leftymasher]

We should give him the benefit of the doubt, but if it turns out to be true we gotat mak e an exampel of him to show that we are a just nation maybe that'll finally shut the Euuro commies up.

[Mr. Lucky]

Is there any independent confirmation for this story?

[He Rides A White Horse]

In the interview published Friday, Covarrubias, 38, said he was searching for the source of a grenade attack during the April 8 battle and found a soldier in a nearby home with a grenade launcher next to him.

Covarrubias told the daily he ordered the man to stop and to turn around. "I went behind him and shot him in the back of the head - twice," he was quoted as saying.

More information, please.

[11th_VA]

maybe that'll finally shut the Euuro commies up

I don't think so:

War crimes lawsuit against US

A Belgian lawyer said on Tuesday he would file a lawsuit against General Tommy Franks, commander of US forces in Iraq, despite a warning from Washington against politically-motivated legal cases. Lawyer Jan Fermon said he would file the lawsuit in a Brussels court next month on behalf of 19 Iraqis whom he described as victims of US cluster bombs and alleged US attacks on ambulances and civilians. The case is based on evidence, including videotaped testimony, gathered by a group of Belgian doctors working in Baghdad, Fermon said.

[Leftymasher]

I've heard this a couple places and it came out of the marine's own mouth. I don't want to believe it, but if the Iraqi awas following his orders it kinda sounds like he was surrendering and he shouldn't have shot him in the back of the head. I sure as hell don't trust the ICC, if he answers to anywon it should by the US milirtay

[11th_VA]

Here's another source:

Inquiry into possible war crimes by Vegas Marine could take weeks

[He Rides A White Horse]

Covarrubias told the daily he ordered the man to stop and to turn around. "I went behind him and shot him in the back of the head - twice," he was quoted as saying.

It's somewhat unclear. He encountered the man in a house, ordered him to stop....stop what? Running?

"I went behind him and shot him in the back of the head - twice"

Went behind him---if the guy is lying on the ground having surrendered, then you don't pump two bullets in his head. 'Went behind him' doesn't necessarily equate to an execution.

[Mr. Lucky]

OK, but I'm always just a little suspicious of a miliary official who refers to a Marine as a Soldier.

[He Rides A White Horse]

Shooting a fleeing soldier isn't a war crime. The Iraqis on the Highway of Death were fleeing also; that is not the same as surrendering. They were a legitimate target.

[11th_VA]

Found one more story from the original newspaper:

INTERVIEW FALLOUT: Inquiry to focus on Marine

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Gus Covarrubias faces an investigation for possible violations of rules governing battlefield conduct. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

[Dan Zachary]

Here is the original Review-Journal article. link

[LibWhacker]

Well, you can't shoot a prisoner who isn't trying to attack you or escape. But there's nothing wrong with shooting an enemy combatant who won't surrender.

[He Rides A White Horse]

"As soon as (the Iraqi soldier) had surrendered and obeyed a command to turn around, he was no longer an enemy combatant. He was a POW," said Pike, one of the nation's leading civilian experts on the U.S. military.

I'll say one other thing.......I don't know who this man Pike is, but it seems to me that he is the one saying the Iraqi had surrendered. What he is basing this on, I don't know.

[Leftymasher]

The Republican Gaurd was definetly scum, but there's even rules to war. Even if they don't follow them we do. I think we've got to make an example of him. I'm sorry that he's going to have to pay. He was just doing what he thought was right, but we can't have breakdowns in discipline in our military.

[templar]

I think he should have reported what he knew about the shooters (and their location), and allow his superior to determine if they should go after them.

I take it you've never been in combat.

[Dan Zachary]

I would agree with you that he must be made to pay. I was only posting a link to the original article that started all this.

[American Soldier]

one of the nation's leading civilian experts on the U.S. military.

WTF? HAHAHA. I'm not saying Pike is dumb but what a lousy setup for a piece that that implies he is credible - it's like saying "a leading virgin expert on lovemaking."