US medic jailed over Iraq murder

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JTF
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US medic jailed over Iraq murder

Post by JTF »

US medic jailed over Iraq murder
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5415216.stm - link'

A US Navy medic has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his part in the killing of an Iraqi civilian in April.

But Petty Officer Melson J Bacos is expected to spend just one year in jail after agreeing to give evidence against seven marines charged with the murder.

Earlier Bacos told his US court-martial that the marines seized the man in the town of Hamdaniya, threw him into a hole and shot him in the head 10 times.

The case is one of several in which US troops are accused of killing Iraqis.

Bacos admitted kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to file a false statement as part of the plea bargain at the court-martial in Camp Pendleton, southern California.

Military judge Col Steven Folsom sentenced Bacos to 10 years in prison, but reduced the period he will actually serve to one year because of the plea agreement.

Bacos said he was on patrol with the marine squad who were looking for an insurgent - Saleh Gowad - who had been captured three times but released.

Bacos said the marines were angry the insurgent had been freed and, frustrated at not finding him, instead seized neighbour Hashim Awad from his home.

The medic said Mr Awad, 52, was put in a hole.

He testified: "I knew that we were doing something wrong. I tried saying something, sir."

But he said a marine told him to "quit being a pussy".

Bacos said squad leader Sgt Lawrence Hutchins III then fired three shots into Mr Awad's head followed by at least seven more rounds to the head from Cpl Trent Thomas.

Bacos said Sgt Hutchins called command for permission to fire on a man he had seen digging a hole.

Prosecutors say an AK-47 assault rifle, bullets and a shovel were placed next to Mr Awad's body to make it appear as if he were trying to plant a roadside bomb.

The medic said the incident in the western Iraqi town of Hamdaniya in April made him "sick to my stomach".

Speaking of why he had not chosen to walk away from the incident, Bacos said "I wanted to be part of the team. I wanted to be loyal".

"Now I feel as though my honour is gone and I have let down others who have looked up to me. I apologise to our country," Bacos was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying. "I also ask forgiveness from the Iraqi family we have done this to."

Seven marines are at various stages of the military justice process over the kidnap and murder.

Two marines - John Jodka and Marshall Magincalda - have both already pleaded not guilty to murder.

The US military has said the death penalty will not be sought against any of the marines.

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This angers me in several ways. While I find that this sort of behavior is disgusting, I also have to consider what these young Marines were going through. To be sent to war for reasons that are questionable, told that you have a job to do, yet not quite given what you need to do it, kept there longer than you were supposed to be with no real end in sight, and the body count that we see tabulated on the news every day seems to just be waiting to include you. Then you have to go out and find a guy, you have someone who is uncooperative and you get carried away... Would these men have just went out and killed a man if not put in such circumstances? Probably not. Does it excuse what they did? Not entirely. But how the hell are we supposed to tell our troops to do their job if we can't provide a solid reason for putting them in harms way, then crucify them if they step over the line when the enemy has no such lines?

I am not anti-war. I am anti-bullshit. We should need a reason to fight, not an excuse. "Nation-building" my ass... We have a great deal of work that needs to be done at home before we should be "Nation-building" around the world. But we can't do a damn thing at home without someone screaming "Socialism" and about how much money it costs. ]:o(
EddieHill
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Re: US medic jailed over Iraq murder

Post by EddieHill »

JTF, I would have a hard time putting those guys in jail if I were a judge. Maybe I would fine them and give them extra duty , war debriefing counseling ect. Ruining their lives when they were defending the US is totaly wrong. Those poor men and women are forced to be in the new {Vietnam} Iraq. The military or the CIA still have not killed Binladen and his little army of shitheads. I just wonder what the fuck is wrong with the people in the White House and why are they fucking things up so bad for everbody? I hope shit gets better after the 08 election.
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tamra
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Re: US medic jailed over Iraq murder

Post by tamra »

JTF,

YES I have a big issue w/this too. we hold the troops to a higher standard, but not the leaders who sent them to war w/out a plan, proper equipment and screw their beneifts?? ]:o( just not F'g right on any level.

warn them at best, reassign them away from direct fighting, but keep it moving. or better yet, end the war now until the leaders can come up w/a plan. @.@
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huh? what? who? damn, I'm always the last to know.
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