# Do you think Sgt. Hassan Akhbar will be executed? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 23, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632 "2003-03-23T22:27:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/1 "2003-03-23T22:27:40Z")
The soldier who fragged his comrades in Iraq has been identified as Sgt. Hassan Akhbar (spelling uncertain). Given that A) He performed a treasonous act in time of war, and B) His act resulted in the death of an officer, do you think that he will be executed if found guilty? ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/2 "2003-03-23T22:38:07Z")
If all the evidence proves that he did this ( and so far, it’s looking pretty conclusive) I would say yes. The bastard. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/3 "2003-03-23T23:47:14Z")
Does the army still use firing squads or hanging? Or would it be lethal injection? ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/4 "2003-03-24T00:31:36Z")
According to CNN, his name is “[Asan Akbar](http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/23/sprj.irq.grenade.attack/index.html)”. And I’m pretty sure that fragging a captain would be punished by the death penalty even during peacetime. The article goes on to say that not only did he toss four grenades, but he then tried to blend in with other soldiers. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/5 "2003-03-24T01:21:46Z")
> [@](#): > > And I’m pretty sure that fragging a captain would be punished by the death penalty even during peacetime. Without trying to sound facetious, is there a difference between fragging an officer and fragging an enlisted man? **Johnny L.A.** said something similar > [@](#): > > His act resulted in the death of an officer ---
**Author:** ![CaptBushido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@CaptBushido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptBushido)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/6 "2003-03-24T01:34:43Z")
The words “It’s a trap!” came to my mind, but then I thought of how slim the chances are that anyone here would get that joke. … Notice how I say it anyway, though? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/7 "2003-03-24T01:35:33Z")
**samclem** : I don’t think that there is or should be a difference between murdering an officer and murdering an enlisted man. Had the one who died been a sergeant, I would have used that rank. **Punoqllads** : Are you sure he would be executed for murder during peacetime? I don’t remember the last time the federal government executed anyone. Unless… wasn’t there a drug “kingpin” that was snuffed a couple of years ago? Anyway, I don’t think the feds use capital punishment as often as some state governments. But this is the first case I can remember of a U.S. military person committing such a crime. I _think_ it’s treason, since he may have been acting against the war effort; but it’s possible that it was supposed to be a simple (mass-) murder. And if was suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrom from his duty in Afghanistan, he might have just “snapped” and get off with confinement in a mental hospital. So I wonder: Is it treason in the sense of “I am doing this to cause damage to my country’s military mission”? Is fratricide treason, when it’s committed in time of war? Whether it’s treason or simple murder and mayhem, what are the odds he will be croaked (assuming he actually did it and he is convicted)? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/8 "2003-03-24T01:55:21Z")
> [@](#): > > ? I don’t remember the last time the federal government executed anyone. Timothy McVeigh was the first Federal execution since 1963. Without looking it up, I would have forgotten this also. ---
**Author:** ![rafaelasantiago1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a87d85/32.png) [@rafaelasantiago1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rafaelasantiago1)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/9 "2003-03-24T02:31:20Z")
The plot thickens! I can’t believe it. If things were not already bad enough for Middle eastern people they will. There’s a lot of bigoted zealots out there. A friend of mine sent me a e-mail with a website, [911-survey.us](http://911-survey.us) or something like that. Can you believe that they ask if all Middle-Eastern people should be deported? I wouldn’t be surprised if the far-right is involved in this. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/10 "2003-03-24T02:32:03Z")
The federal government has executed three people, all pretty lately. Tim McV, some drug lord and just the other day a (Gulf War vet or course) who rpaed and killed a soldier in a very brutal way. No cite, I gotta get to work. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/11 "2003-03-24T02:36:21Z")
Right, I had forgotten about Tim McVey. **Paul** indicates I remembered the drug guy correctly. But what’s this about someone being executed “just the other day”? ---
**Author:** ![Convict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Convict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Convict)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/12 "2003-03-24T02:55:32Z")
He can be charged with at least two crimes under the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice). The first is Sec. 890 Art. 90 Assaulting or Willfully Disobeying Superior Officer. The punishment under this section is death or other such punishment as a court martial may direct. The second section is Sec. 918 Art. 118 Murder. Under this section punishment is death or imprisonment for life as a court martial may direct. [http://www.military-network.com/main\_ucmj/SUBCHAPTERX.html](http://www.military-network.com/main_ucmj/SUBCHAPTERX.html) I don’t think his actions would fall under treasonous behavior as defined in the Constitution. However, IANAL so I cannot answer that for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Convict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Convict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Convict)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/13 "2003-03-24T03:03:55Z")
I’m sorry, I need to make a correction to my previous post. If convicted of murder, punishment is death or imprisonment for life if found guilty of _premeditated_ murder. Otherwise punishment is as a court martial may direct. ---
**Author:** ![Slainte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Slainte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slainte)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/14 "2003-03-24T03:22:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*Right, I had forgotten about Tim McVey. **Paul** indicates I remembered the drug guy correctly. But what’s this about someone being executed “just the other day”? \*\* [http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20030318\_849.html](http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20030318_849.html) > [@](#): > > TERRE HAUTE, Ind. March 18 — > A decorated Gulf War veteran who claimed his exposure to Iraqi nerve gas caused him to rape and kill a female soldier was executed by injection Tuesday. > > Louis Jones Jr., 53, died by injection at the U.S. Penitentiary near Terre Haute after President Bush and the U.S. Supreme Court refused his two final requests that they intervene. > > Jones, who had no previous criminal record, admitted kidnapping 19-year-old Pvt. Tracie Joy McBride from a Texas Air Force base, raping her and beating her to death with a tire iron. ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/15 "2003-03-24T03:32:33Z")
It really doesn’t matter if this guy is executed or not, even if he gets life I’d bet he won’t last long in Leavenworth. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/16 "2003-03-24T03:34:26Z")
To answer the poll: no, I do not think he will be executed. No one in the U.S. has been executed specifically for treason since the Rosenbergs, in 1953 I believe. I think if he’s charged with ordinary murder, he might be executed. If they charge him with treason, he’s safe. Obviously, considering the forum and all - MHO only. ---
**Author:** ![Mothchunks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@Mothchunks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mothchunks)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/17 "2003-03-24T04:10:57Z")
I hope this doesn’t make our boys in uniform have any doubts about serving alongside Muslims. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/18 "2003-03-24T04:28:52Z")
I think the odds are the guy will be sentenced to death. Bush is big on executions. If the trial moves fast enough that Bush is still President at the execution date, the guy will be toast. He has a chance if Bush is out of office before the execution date. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/19 "2003-03-24T05:59:24Z")
Not toast, Boyo. Cheese. Swiss cheese. [Grinny.] * * * “Shoot straight, you bastards. Don’t make a mess of it!” What’s it from? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632/20 "2003-03-24T07:31:12Z")
A treason conviction requires two eye witnesses to testify…according to the news articles I’ve seen so far it looks like no one actually _saw_ him throw the grenades. He could certainly be convicted of murder, though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-sgt-hassan-akhbar-will-be-executed/163632.md?page=2)