US Army seeks death penalty in 16 Afghan killings

By artappraiser on Wed, 12/19/2012 - 9:33pm |

By Gene Johnson, Associated Press, Dec. 19, 2012

SEATTLE — The U.S. Army said Wednesday it will seek the death penalty against the soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers in a predawn rampage in March, a decision his lawyer called ‘‘totally irresponsible.’’

The announcement followed a pretrial hearing last month for Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, 39, who faces premeditated murder and other charges in the attack on two villages in southern Afghanistan. [....]

Bales’ defense team has said the government’s case is incomplete, and outside experts have said a key issue going forward will be to determine if Bales suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. [.....]

URL:

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/2012/12/19/army-seeks-death-penalty-afghan-killings/sD4X4Rn0Hofk5KpLveiJxO/story.html

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This is wrong.

I have done posts on Judgment At Nuremburg.

And I came to understand some things.

The leaders, those in command should be punished; Goring should have been hung.

I dunno about staff seargents.

Walk a mile in the other man's shoes.

Apocalypse Now.

We send folks into hell and some of them act hellious!

I do not like this at all.

by Richard Day on Thu, 12/20/2012 - 12:35am

It may be unfair by civilian standards but I am not surprised, I would expect them to prosecute like this as a preventative message directed towards others in their forces who might have some troubled thought processes and also as a message to the population of Afghanistan. Especially if they think they can't win that sentence, all the more reason to use the opportunity to look like they tried.

Part of the code of military life is the team is more important than the individual, not only do they sometimes sacrifice the individual for the team but heroes are defined as the ones who offer to sacrifice themselves for the team....if you like to strike out on your own, or your mental condition can't handle following orders, don't bother joining, etc.

by artappraiser on Thu, 12/20/2012 - 11:10am

My opposition to the death penalty is wavering on this one.

by Aaron Carine on Thu, 12/20/2012 - 8:21am

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