Staff Sgt. Raymond L. Girouard, Spc. William B. Hunsaker, Pfc. Corey R. Clagett and Spc. Juston R. Graber have claimed they were ordered to “kill all military age males” during the raid on the island. According to statements from some of the soldiers, they were told the target was an al-Qaida training camp.
There certainly seems to be some thought on the part of these soldiers that they were in fact killing the “enemy”. I don’t get why all of a sudden guys who might have done exactly what was asked of them are now looking at the death penalty.
Evidently, they didn’t do what was asked of them. If they had, one of them would not have had to STAB THE OTHER, a la Scream, in order to claim that they were attacked.
Like the OP, I’m assuming, for the sake of argument, that the stabbing incident occured.
Someone who mocks the condemned, executes more than other governers and and claims that no one innocent has ever been executed in Texas ? Sounds pretty enthusiastic to me.
I’d support clemency if it were part of a universal commutation of all death row prisoners. But otherwise I see no extenuating circumstances that that warrant special mercy and I think it would set a bad example if we let soldiers off the hook just because they’re soldiers.
And even if such an order were given I don’t think rape is included in an order to “kill all … males.” And, order or no order, while in the process of committing rape they were on duty and on a military mission. No army can allow such behavior and maintain any sort of discipline.
In the army I was in a conviction for rape, all by itself, could bring execution. I also see from the story that a rape conviction in 1960 could also bring the death penalty.
Rape and plundering are taken seriously because it is a hazard to military operations. When troops are allowed to mistreat enemy civilians and to start looting after success they tend to continue that behavior. Mob psychology can affect armies just like anyone else. If an army gets a reputation for celebrating a victory in that manner it’s the easiest thing in the world to hand them a victory and then attack them with possible, or even probable, serious consequences while they are running wild.
The claims to be “only following orders” have apparently been investigated and considers as insuficiently supported to prevent trial. The army is quite properly going to try to punish severely gross misbehavior than can threaten the mission.
Flying Dutchmans response may yet prove to be instructive. Suppose that attitude is widely shared by some people, say a large portion of GeeDubs base, that mere Iraqis aren’t worthy of the same level of justice as we Americans. Oh, they might dress it up fancy, like suggesting that the Iraqis gratitude for our sacrifices should oblige them to accept a few unfortunate incidents such as these. War ain’t pretty, as they delight to remind us wussifists and liberal wimps.
Sound crazy? Remember the POW/MIA movement, that spread like wildfire across the US after the Viet Nam War? That was crazy, that was damn crazy! And remember: Rusty Calley did no hard time. There is an element of American society that is blindly pro-military, they ain’t gonna like this one little bit, and they damned sure won’t stand still for any hangings!
This much you can be sure of: this will be one long, drawn out process. And The Leader will remain entirely consistent with his refusal ever, ever to discuss it until every last “I” is crossed and every “T” dotted. Two bits says this whole pile of crap gets bucked to the next President. Compassionate conservatism means, first and foremost having compassion for conservatives.
This might not be the pit, but I can’t stand by and allow this preposterous, stupid asinine juvenile cretinous and slanderous drivil to go unchallenged. You sir are a fucking evil idiot.
Since the Uniform Code of Military Justice does provide for the death penalty for certain crimes, it’s quite obvious that “being a Soldier” is not grounds enough to protect a convicted individual from the death penalty.
