U.S. Soldier Sentenced to One Year for Iraq Murder

[bookwyrm]

[quote name='ICTHUS' date='Jan 15 2005, 07:18 PM'] Stupid [color=red] ----- [/color] Americans. [/quote]
That was unnecessary.

[Adeodatus]

:angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:

I am shocked by most of you on this thread.

First of all, to those using this news story to go America-bashing, do you know the facts of the case, and the circumstances? You assume this is a straightforward murder, and a one year sentence is certainly (in such circumstances) an utter scandal.
BUT, this is not a straightforward case.

Second, to those determined to exonerate Americans and blame Iraqis at any cost, what makes you all so sure this kid was a terrorist? Many of you say something along the lines of "he was probably a terrorist"---so that makes it alright to kill a kid?
Also, why bandy the term 'terrorist' around so freely? One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Look closely at the details of the case.

Now I do recall this story, and it is tragic. The American soldier mistakenly fired at a group of teenagers. One lad was mortally wounded, and was dying in great agony. The soldier, in a panic (and probably without moral formation in this area), decided to end the kid's misery by shooting him in the head and killing him. He did. The kid died. It was euthanasia, but don't forget the soldier was in a panic.

His mortal wounding of the boy would probably be judged as 'manslaughter'. His act of euthanasia was committed under duress, and he deserves our pity for that. One year imprisonment is more than enough surely?
BUT I would question his alleged accidental shooting of the lad. Was he trying to scare them, or did he do it deliberately? Did he know they posed no risk, or did he not care?


In any case, I am surprised that most of the Americans responding on this thread had never heard of the story. Do you think there might be a huge mismatch between the news Americans hear about their soldiers in Iraq, and what non-Americans hear? For example, how many of you have heard this story: [url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/middle_east_shooting_in_tal_afar/html/1.stm"]Shooting in Iraq[/url]? Can you begin to see why so many people have a negative opinion?

Please don't oversimplify things. Things are not, as Cmom said, black and white. Our soldiers are trying to bring peace and stability to Iraq, but some of them have killed a great number of civilians, and some have horrendously abused people. Many terrorist cell-groups function in the chaos which is Iraq today, and they attack American soldiers and Western and Iraqi civilians. But can't you see the people always caught in between are the ordinary Iraqis? Please don't triviliase their terror and grief by castigating them all as terrorists.

And likewise to the others, don't say daft things like "Stupid Americans". Do you imagine their whole nation is a gun-toting, belligerent society with nothing else to do but go around killing foreigners? Do you?! The people you disagree with are your brothers and sisters. You may disagree with them, but don't forget they are your own flesh and blood, and yes.... you are your brother's keeper.

[MichaelFilo]

[quote]
Please don't oversimplify things. Things are not, as Cmom said, black and white. Our soldiers are trying to bring peace and stability to Iraq, but some of them have killed a great number of civilians, and some have horrendously abused people. Many terrorist cell-groups function in the chaos which is Iraq today, and they attack American soldiers and Western and Iraqi civilians. But can't you see the people always caught in between are the ordinary Iraqis? Please don't triviliase their terror and grief by castigating them all as terrorists.[/quote]


I think this is the truest statement I've heard all day. However that link you put up puts such a passion in me to see my people set free from foriegn influence, be it other Arabic muslim extremists, or Americans who have caused the enterance of the former. At any rate, any hardcore, suppoort America or be wrong folk, for the sake of charity, cease and desist. For all those who bash the US, your cause is null, making America look bad won't help my country. But I will say this, both American and Muslim forces have ripped apart a country and culture with a beautiful history and people to match. A country that is the home of several Eastern Rites, and of tolerant Christians and Muslims.

As for the soldier, any man should act out of self defense in a war situation. But God is the only just judge, and will hand out punishment accordingly. There is little we can do about how he gets treated since we don't know the specifics. He may not even deserve jail.

God bless,
Mikey

[cmotherofpirl]

On that note this thread should end.

[Winchester]

[quote]a prime example of America's bureacracy and double-standards. [/quote]
I'm sure the Aborigine's haven't experienced any double standards from the Austrailian government.

Take off the halo, Aussie, the light from it's obscuring the facts.

[Winchester]

bump. shall bump until our shrimp on the barbie ingesting friend gets off his high horse and realizes he's just like us: A political descendant of GB's rejects.

[Phatmasser777]

[quote name='Winchester' date='Feb 18 2005, 06:52 PM'] I'm sure the Aborigine's haven't experienced any double standards from the Austrailian government.

Take off the halo, Aussie, the light from it's obscuring the facts. [/quote]
"Going Out in The Cotton Fields, All Day Long" - Sums up American Democracy & History Quite Well.