Marines may face murder trials

[RadioactiveMan]

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/nation...s05262006.html

[Swiss Miss]

It really sucks that the bigger problem will probably not be held accountable for any of this. By bigger problem, I mean these troops' Commanders and all the people who oversee them.

Originally Posted by The Article

"There was no firefight, there was no IED [improvised explosive device] that killed these innocent people. Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood," said Democratic Rep. Jack Murtha.

I think it is really just the mindset of the troops in that war environment that causes them to "overreact" as the article said. I doubt this is the first or last war to have something like this happen... and I'm sure much more of it happens than is actually reported. A lot of these troops are over there and reported to have developed serious mental illness but are not being sent home. They are in a war where the reasons are unclear and they are not properly equipped... Gee, wonder why they're going crazy?

Justice prevails...

US soldier jailed for Iraq murder
Friday, 23 February 2007, A US soldier gets 100 years in prison for the gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl.

Sgt Paul Cortez admitted four murders, rape and conspiracy to rape. His plea meant he avoided the death penalty. He received a dishonourable discharge and will be eligible to seek parole in 10 years.

In November, Specialist James Barker, 24, admitted rape and murder over the killings and was jailed for 90 years. In court on Thursday, Cortez broke down as he confessed to raping the girl as her parents and sister were shot dead in another room.

The case is one of several in which US troops are accused of killing Iraqis. According to the plea agreement, Cortez admitted conspiring with three other soldiers, Private First Class Jesse Spielman, Specialist Barker and Steven Green, a now discharged soldier, to rape Abeer Qassim al-Janabi.

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