December 20, 2012 - Updated 915 PKT From Web Edition
LOS ANGELES: Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for an American soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers in one of the most appalling atrocities of the war, the US military said Wednesday.
Staff Sergeant Robert Bales faces 16 murder charges, six of attempted murder, seven of assault and two of using drugs. Seventeen of the 22 people killed or wounded were women or children and almost all were shot in the head.
If sentenced to death, Bales could be the first US soldier executed in over half a century: the last was in 1961 when Private John Bennett was hanged for rape and attempted murder, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
The 39-year-old is to face a full court martial authorized to sentence him to a maximum penalty of death for the alleged March massacre, the military announced.
"This decision was made after reviewing the Article 32 report of investigation," said a statement from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, referring to the report compiled from last month's so-called Article 32 hearings.
"The government will seek the death penalty," base spokesman Gary Dangerfield told. The court martial will take place at the base, in the western state of Washington, but no trial date has been set.
"If convicted of all charges (and specifications), the maximum punishment is death," said the base statement.
But it stressed that for capital punishment to be imposed, the court martial must unanimously agree certain conditions.
These are that Bales "is guilty of the eligible crime; at least one aggravating factor exists; and that the aggravating factor must substantially outweigh any extenuating or mitigating circumstances," it said.
Bales allegedly left his base in the Panjwayi district of southern Kandahar province on the night of March 11 to commit the killings, which included nine children. He allegedly set several of their bodies on fire.
Prosecutors at the Article 32 pre-trial hearing alleged that Bales left the base twice to carry out the killings, returning in between and even telling a colleague what he had done.
The week-long hearing included three evening sessions -- daytime in Afghanistan -- to hear testimony by video conference from Afghan survivors and relatives of those who died.
At the time of the incident, Bales was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Pending his trial he will remain in custody at the base, south of Seattle.
At the end of the pre-trial hearings, Bales' family stressed that he was innocent until proven guilty, while his lawyer raised questions about the role of alcohol, drugs and stress in the tragedy.
But prosecutors lashed the "heinous and despicable" alleged massacre.
"Based on the sheer brutality and nature of the crimes, it is our recommendation to proceed to a general court martial," prosecutor Major Rob Stelle said last month.
On Wednesday Bales' wife Kari issued a statement demanding that her husband be considered innocent until proven guilty -- although suggesting she thinks that may be difficult given what has been reported about the case.
LOS ANGELES: Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for an American soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers in one of the most appalling atrocities of the war, the US military said Wednesday.
Staff Sergeant Robert Bales faces 16 murder charges, six of attempted murder, seven of assault and two of using drugs. Seventeen of the 22 people killed or wounded were women or children and almost all were shot in the head.
I can't understand how they don't see us a "liberators".
If Gallup conducted a poll, I wonder if Afghan women would rather be submissive and property to Afghan men, or executed by American "liberators"?
America goes ape sh*t and talk about banning assault rifles after a school massacre, and we expect Afghan, Pakistani, Yemeni, Iraqi, Libyan, and what ever other country we are currently performing drone strikes to understand that we are there to protect them from their own "terrorists" when we massacre their women and children.
The collective America that Box subscribes to are absolute morons.
I can't understand how they don't see us a "liberators".
If Gallup conducted a poll, I wonder if Afghan women would rather be submissive and property to Afghan men, or executed by American "liberators"?
America goes ape sh*t and talk about banning assault rifles after a school massacre, and we expect Afghan, Pakistani, Yemeni, Iraqi, Libyan, and what ever other country we are currently performing drone strikes to understand that we are there to protect them from their own "terrorists" when we massacre their women and children.
The collective America that Box subscribes to are absolute morons.
We are building new terrorists every day with each death.
This soldier murdering people is no different than the CT shooter murdering people. Both are acts of unstable minds. The US Military has rules of engagement that cover how and when deadly force should be used. This soldier (it appears) didn't murder these people in the heat of battle or mistake them for the enemy, he just killed them... for what ever reason... similar to the CT School Shooter.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
This soldier murdering people is no different than the CT shooter murdering people. Both are acts of unstable minds. The US Military has rules of engagement that cover how and when deadly force should be used. This soldier (it appears) didn't murder these people in the heat of battle or mistake them for the enemy, he just killed them... for what ever reason... similar to the CT School Shooter.
This would never have happened if he only had a knife like the Chinese attacker.
I guess the military need better mental health screening and better gun control rules.
Maybe the soldiers can turn in their guns after each mission and keep them in storage for them.
Of course i don't really mean any of these stupid ideas, but they are all ideas submitted by you kooks.
Box probably got a hard on from this story, reminds him of the good ol days back in Nam where little gook kids were easy pickings. So Box what did this guy do wrong to get caught, not enough drop rifles to spread around the bodies.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
Box probably got a hard on from this story, reminds him of the good ol days back in Nam where little gook kids were easy pickings. So Box what did this guy do wrong to get caught, not enough drop rifles to spread around the bodies.
"Gook Kids"? Really Henry? Don't ya think that's a little racist? For some, racism is so ingrained, the don't recognize it when they use it.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
"Gook Kids"? Really Henry? Don't ya think that's a little racist? For some, racism is so ingrained, the don't recognize it when they use it.
Oh come on that is just typical military slang for the VC, are you saying your buddies or yourself never used that word back in the bush?
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
Oh come on that is just typical military slang for the VC, are you saying your buddies or yourself never used that word back in the bush?
I've heard the word used often... I've also heard derogatory words for Jews, Blacks, Catholics, Italians, The Polish, the Irish, Muslims, Koreans etc etc etc.
But as I posted above... For some, racism is so ingrained, the don't recognize it when they use it.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
But as I posted above... For some, racism is so ingrained, the don't recognize it when they use it.
Nah I knew what I was saying, I was just trying to get you back in the moment. Well if that didn't work maybe this will
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
Nah I knew what I was saying, I was just trying to get you back in the moment. Well if that didn't work maybe this will
Henry... You do know that this video is fiction right? I mean, you know it's not real... Right?
So... the views of some Hollywood director is how you are portraying life in Vietnam to a person who was in Vietnam... I guess I should just forget what I know from personal experience and go with your Hollywood video as the 'truth'! Fiction becomes the reality for some!
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
That is known as the 50 caliber save the world plan.
Looks like a M60, 7.62mm caliber to me... but what do I know.
I will defer to your vast experience in these things.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
We are building new terrorists every day with each death.
It's a battle that cannot be won with firepower.
you said a mouthful here!!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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