Carriage/Miscarriage of Justice - you decide

FredHayek wrote: It does look like he lost control of his squad but troops going bezerk has been going on forever. It doesn't excuse their acts but I would judge them less harshly. And I think the punishment for the sarge is about right.

Fred the SSgt did not lose control, he gave orders to shoot first talk later, that is where the problem came into all this. That was a violation of the ROE. When I look at the facts of the case thou, I can see why he did it. An IED just blew their vehicle, killed one Marine, wounded two others. Then just after that a car drives up with 5 men in it. They get out and see the Marines and start running away. Emotions are running high, they get killed. Had they not started to run things may or may not have been different. Will never know. These Marines were also recieving small arms fire, the SSGT suspected it was coming from the row of houses. (Not uncommon). He ordered his men to clear the houses and to shoot first talk later. As they went into the houses, emotions running high still, they threw in grenades, then proceded shooting, thus we now have a bad situation. I am glad that he accepted responsiblity for what happened and will only get the 3 months if it gets approved by the General. The war in Iraq is over to a point. We still have military there approx 180. The people we were fighting over there, were constantly hiding behind innocent civilians, or in Mosque etc. They knew this, this was part of the History of the terrorists. They did not care for thier own people. This was war, nothing good about it.

I just love the comments from hippies that never served but can judge the actions, and those that have to keep stating they were a vet.

Martin Ent Inc wrote: I just love the comments from hippies that never served but can judge the actions, and those that have to keep stating they were a vet.

Love you, too.

Extenuating circumstances

In law, extenuating circumstances in criminal cases are unusual or extreme facts leading up to or attending the commission of the offense which, though an offense has been committed without legal justification or excuse, mitigate or reduce its gravity from the point of view of punishment or moral opprobrium.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extenuating_circumstances

Extenuating circumstances render a crime less evil or reprehensible. They do not lower the degree of an offense, although they might reduce the punishment imposed.

Extenuating circumstances might include extraordinary circumstances, which are unusual factors surrounding an event, such as the very young age of a defendant in a murder case.

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictiona ... cumstances

In my opinion combat would qualify as an extenuating circumstance. The recent lost of a brother in arms due to an IED strike in a village would qualify as an extraordinary circumstance. I have been in combat and I get it.

I love this sort of philosophy...if you don't, who cares?

Written by a housewife in New Brunswick, Canada , to her local newspaper. This is one ticked off lady...

"Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not, started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001 and have continually threatened to do so since?

Were people from all over the world, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan , across the Potomac from the capitol of the USA and in a field in Pennsylvania ?

Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

Do you think I care about four U. S. Marines urinating on some dead Taliban insurgents?

And I'm supposed to care that a few Taliban were claiming to be tortured by a justice system of a nation they are fighting against in a brutal Insurgency.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East, start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere belief of which, is a crime punishable by beheading in Afghanistan .

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head, while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called insurgents in Afghanistan , come out and fight like men, instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in Mosques and behind women and children.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of Nirvana, care about the innocent children within range of their suicide Bombs.

I'll care when the Canadian media stops pretending that their freedom of Speech on stories, is more important than the lives of the soldiers on the ground or their families waiting at home, to hear about them when something happens.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a CANADIAN soldier roughing up an Insurgent terrorist to obtain information, know this:

I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank:

I don't care. Shoot him again.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed 'special' food, that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe, in your heart of hearts:

I don't care.

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran' and other times 'Quran.' Well, Jimmy Crack Corn you guessed it.

I don't care!!

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering, if during their life on earth, they made a difference in the world. But, the Soldiers don't have that problem."

I have one last thought that I would like to share:
Only five defining forces have ever offered to die for you:

1. Jesus Christ

2. The British Soldier.

3. The Canadian Soldier.

4. The US Soldier, and

5. The Australian Soldier

One died for your soul, the other four, for you and your children's Freedom.

AMEN! GOD BLESS CANADA AND AMERICA AND AUSTRALIA AND GREAT BRITAIN .

Thanks LionHead for posting that. I was just trying hard to stay out of this, all I do is get wound up

but in the words of my last Chief Engineer, Cdr Gardiner, "ENOUGH SAID"