On September 11, 2001 the world was stunned with the horrific terrorist attacks on the United States. Every religions including the rest of Muslim's world expressing their sorrow and condemnation for this barbaric act of violence and terror. Many Americans already warned that the United States should not support the most treacherous, most criminal, most anti-democracy and anti-women Islamic fundamentalist parties because after both the Jehadi and the Taliban have committed every possible type of heinous crimes against Afghanistan people, they would feel no shame in committing such crimes against the American whom they consider "infidel". In order to gain and maintain their power, these barbaric criminals are ready to turn easily to any criminal force.

But unfortunately we must say that it was the "Barbaric government of the United States" who trained and supported Pakistani dictator General Zia-ul Haq in creating thousands of religious schools from which the germs of " Barbaric Taliban" emerged. In the similar way, as is clear to all, Osama Bin Laden has been the blue-eyed boy of CIA. But what is more painful is that American politicians have not drawn a lesson from their pro-fundamentalist policies in country and are still supporting this or that fundamentalist band or leader. Its barbaric American's way kind of support to the fundamentalist Taliban and Jehadies who is actually trampling the virtue of democratic, women’s rights and human rights values in Afghanistan.

If it is established that the suspects of the terrorist attacks are outside the US, our constant claim that fundamentalist terrorists would devour their creators, is proved once more.

The US government should consider the root cause of this terrible event, which has not been the first and will not be the last one too. The US should stop supporting Afghan terrorists,and the rest of the world's terrorists and stop their support once and for all, which underlying for the sakes for the corporation greeds .

Now that the Taliban and Osama are the prime suspects by the US officials after the criminal attacks, will the US subject Afghanistan to a military attack similar to the one in 1998 and kill thousands of innocent Afghans for the crimes committed by the Taliban and Osama? Does the US think that through such attacks, with thousands of deprived, poor and innocent people of Afghanistan as its victims, will be able to wipe out the root-cause of terrorism, or will it spread terrorism even to a larger scale.

Get real ,Too many innocents becomes the Victimised of Barbaric cause.

The real Question here! who are the true barbarians here?

"We have met the enemy and he is us" -- Pogo

There certainly was a big command break down at that Stryker outpost!

1.) How did the Sergeant leave the outpost undetected or why did the sentries leave?

2.) If he was drinking liquor, how did he get it in the base undetected?

3.) Didn't his commanding officer of the base notice anything unusual about his behavior?

4). Why didn't his direct reporting NCO/officer notice anything unusual?

5.) Why didn't his fellow NCO's that were drinking with him report that he left the base?

6). Did his fellow drinking partners know the intent of the Staff Sergeant and what he was going to do in the villages?

Too many questions and not enough answers.

Im just amazed at the people who spread complete misinformation on Newsvine, have NO concept of the military or military operations, make assumptions (often false) about subject matter they know little about so here LEIYA123 let me start from the beginning:

First of all IT WASNT A STRYKER BASE...it was part of a VSO operation which consists mostly of Special Forces and support personnel.

1. The outpost was barely that, Sgt. Bales left because the Local Nationals or ANA dont keep people in, just out. It is a VSO operation or a low profile village stability operation that is in close proximity with local communities.

2. They are all adults LEIYA123, alcohol IS permitted. People are supposed to act like adults. If its abused they will be punished. What other amenities would you want to restrict from US military living in mud huts or on the ground as a civilian?

3. His commanding officer was probably of the same rank - THEY ARE ALL MOSTLY SPECIAL FORCES

4. It was late at night, crimony buddy....low activity. Everyone was prob asleep.

5. They probably werent around...why do you think he had to be monitored 24/7?

6. Probably not. Operations require a CONOP or a conditional approval by a superior at another location usually within hours or days.

Too many ridiculous question that I cannot believe required an answer.

riley-1759556,

You have no idea about what this place is like, nor that base nor the conditions.

Where are you here at Afghanistan, and don't say you were here before. As the situation is not the same, and I have been here years observing while living with the locals.

Your #1. Wrong.

Your #2. Wrong.

Your #3. Wrong.

Your #4. Wrong.

Your #5. Wrong.

Your #6. Wrong.

Other than Leiya123 thinking that was a Stryker Base of the Fort Lewis Stryker Brigade, Leiya123 questions are valid and pertinent. With your answers being typical WRONG from non participants.

David, are you military and special forces? Is every village the same in a situational day by day setting? Riley has some good points. I doubt that he is wrong on everyone, nor is Leiya right. No, I have never been in country. My best friends son has been there for four tours with Special Forces. We have spent a couple of evenings comparing situational and operational SOP between Vietnam and Iraq and Afghanistan. Different but the same. I am waiting for another email from him about this situation. He's over there on his 5th tour. I think he might know what's going on even if he is not at that exact location.

Ha David, I got a great laugh at your post. You apparently are quick to judge which is very much indicative of someone who has something to prove. Without eviscerating OPSEC entirely, I belong to the USMC of the 0311 MOS variety vand am currently deployed in theater and in the same province as the event in question. Im sure if you were anything of what you say or think you are, you know the name of the Camp I am stationed at, as it is in Kandahar area with thousands of meters of standoff. If you dont, you arent anything to be reasoned with whatsoever.

We have worked with / alongside ODA teams, spefically 1st Group, just out of Lewis whose primary mission was VSO. One of my closest friends was with 2nd batt Rangers and is now a Warrant Officer with 1st Group. I have seen him briefly in country as he never divulged their destination but we shared a great deal of shoptalk. We work with ANA, LGF and even NDS FNs all the time and you think what I am saying isnt factual. Boy are you clueless. Go on and tell me I full of @!$%#...haha, Im too busy loving this opportunity to read all your narcissistic junk.

Have all rules and theories on earth! Add all human rights and democratic manuals to the load!

1. Soldiers are also humans.

2. It is difficult to fight continuous battles in mad places like Iraq and Afghanistan, where one has to be on guard every minute!

3. Soldier was badly injured in Iraq. To deploy him again in Afghanistan can be done only by Gens who can play war/video games!

4. Now enquiries by all the armed forces or congressional committees, whose members may not be able to locate battle areas on map, can go on for days. After all someone else is fighting battles. Their re-election campaign teams will be loaded by the Saudis, oil companies and their lobbyists' monies!

You don't know much history, do you? The first Crusade was an overwhelming victory for European countries. Jerusalem was under Templar control for a good stretch of time, Tim. The first Crusade began in 1096 and they didn't lose any of their conquered cities until 1144, so for nearly 50 years the holy land was under control of the Crusaders. The subsequent crusades were not nearly as successful...

As far as calling the current war a "crusade" is really a bit of a stretch. While demographically our army is predominantly Christian, that is merely a reflection of our base demographics of our country-- we have more Christians than any other religious group. But it is also comprised of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists and others. We don't have a Christian requirement to serve in our military-- and our goals in the ME have little to do with religion. I'd not heard of the optics being engraved with religious quotes... You'd have to post a link.

WMG - while most of the previous poster's blathering is off course, the optics did have references engraved on them. Was it a big deal? No. Considering I had one for several years and never noticed, it didn't matter. It didn't make any difference at all what I did with it or anything really. You could engrave anything you wanted on that optic and it wouldn't matter. People just needed an opportunity to throw a fit. I think the verse referred to being the light of the world or something. I thought it was just a reference to the optic's fiber optic sighting system. Whatever.

What is the point of your post? Except for the the Bales incident, the things you list are inconsequential as proof that we are fighting Muslims. We are in Muslim countries fighting Muslims, but not because they are Muslim and we are predominately Christian, but because of the actions of those Muslims. You might notice that Muslims are killing Muslims throughout the middle east. Is that somehow a result of American bigotry as well?

Nice to read a Ramadan/Sufi style story!

Where did you get them?

You have only mentioned Christians and Muslims. Nice to know how you people can twist words to one's convenience.

Don't forget the history of Islamic cult since its birth.

Other religious groups (Hindus, Buddhists and others) were also badly affected by the barbaric beastly genocides by the followers of Islamic cult.

Look at Afghanistan and Pakistan region themselves before and after Islam came there.

It is your financers and promoters, Sunni Saudi, Kuwaiti, UAE and other beastly rulers, who invented 1991 Iraqi war.

With this Christian crusade, bigoted and seventh century despotic Sunni Saudi, Kuwaiti, UAE rulers saved themselves and gave back high oil prices.

Saudis, Pakis and UAE financers were behind 9/11.

2003 Iraqi war was invented by the Saudis, oil companies and their lobbyists through their cheap puppets like George Bush, Jr.

Oil prices which was hardly $30 shot up to $145.00.

Even the current Iran and Syria dramas and choking of Iranian oil supplies are stage managed just like Iraqi wars by the Sunni Saudi, Kuwaiti, UAE and other highly greedy, bigoted seventh century despotic rulers with least concern for others.

Of course, mad Israeli leaders and their lobbyists in the US have contributed their share!

And all this has been going on since the 8th century long before America existed.

For 1200 years now Muslim/Christian violence has been traded back and forth. They invade Spain and then cutoff routes to Jerusalm and Bethlehem for pilgrims we answer with the crusades. They cutoff trade routes to India and invade Albania Romania and Austria we answer by calling for help to defend and drive them from Austria to protect the entrance to the shortest pass to Italy through the mountains to Italy and Spain drives the Moors out and starts the inquisition. And so on and so on now if you can come up with a solution Please tell us.

In their investigation of the command climate, I hope they begin at the very top, and I hope they make him provide an explanation as to why we are still there.

@DingleB

I don't think anyone has what would be considered a good or reasonable explanation for why we're still in Afghanistan. At this point I just assume it's b/c our elected leaders are beholden to the military industrial complex and the corporations who provide various forms of 'security' (read: mercenaries), civilian reconstruction efforts and support services for the troops.

As I understand it our current mission there (which is quite different from the original mission) is to stabilize the country so that the existing government can remain in control and thus prevent our "enemies" the Taliban and their friends Al Qaeda from resurging in power and influence and returning as an ongoing threat to us. These organizations thrive on hatred of 'western' civilization and hatred of America in particular, so it has been a crucial part of our overall strategy there to "win over the hearts and minds" of the local populace so that they stop perceiving us as their enemies and instead help us to eradicate the 'enemy' factions of the taliban. This is how it's supposed to work.

However, there has been massive tension between our forces and the locals all along, and then when our service men went and accidentally burned some of the special books which the locals consider extremely holy, they understandably got a little miffed. Did they need to over-react the way they did, rioting and actually killing a few American servicemen in response? Of course not, that was completely over the top, un-necessary and ridiculous. But now, in response to that over-reaction one of our guys has completely flown off the handle and massacred a bunch of women and children. Great. Just fricken great. Together, these two events, along with the pissing on the corpses stunt, have set the entire "hearts and minds" campaign back to square one. Can you spell My Lai?

How and when will it end? At the moment, I personally don't see any successful outcome to the entire scenario. The Afgan president himself, Hamid Karzai, basically wants us to get the f**k out of his country. The people seem to basically perceive us as imperialistic invaders. Why are we bothering? Just to prove that we are finally going to be the ones, who unlike Alexander the Great, The British, the Russians and who knows who else, don't get their asses handed to them by the Afganis? Too late. I think we just did. Don't let the door hit it on the way out.

Sono

And the hunt for an appropriate scapegoat begins!

That statement says it all!

The sad part is the true culprits will never be touched.

You're a genius Bill. I couldn't have said it better myself. If I could count the number of innocents the military hung out to try vs the guilty... good Lord. It's bad.

I see they've fooled you. If they always tell the truth, go find the story about the Marine who called for air support as he was being overrun and the command told him that they were more concerned about civilian casualties than his death. I'll wait while you look.

He was being sarcastic.

Read his other posts... I'm not so sure.

Bah Humbug!

You really are something. Good God! I love the folks so against our current president that they will say the most outlandish things and then lay the blame for their own outlandishness at the feet of those they don't agree with, as if it is their fault. I will be the first to admit I thought Bush was a lousy excuse of a president, pandering to Big Oil and the military industrial complex, dragging us into two different unfunded wars on false pretenses that he knew were false, destroying the good will of the world with his cowboy notions of American exceptionalism, etc, etc, etc. I don't think he was particularly bright, either. But I would never have blamed him personally for a specific individual in the military committing outrageous crimes against innocent people without orders to do so. Not blaming President Obama for the acts of this cowardly, gun toting drunk is not a double standard, as this member of the left would not have held Bush accountable for his actions, either. Nor would I have automatically have blamed Bush personally for a systemic issue within this specific chain of command. No president is omniscient, no president can be aware of or control for all contingencies within the military -- they must rely of specialists for that. What a president can be held accountable for is what comes after -- after a specific act or after a systemic issue becomes apparent. So far, President Obama has condemned the act, which is a good start. An inquiry is underway for the larger problem. Time will tell how the rest plays out and then judgements can be made.

Just because you have a problem with our current president, don't assume what the reactions of people you clearly do not understand might have been under different but similar circumstances that never actually occurred. Do not, ever, presume to put words in my mouth or in the mouths of anyone else on the left or anyone else with whom you happen to not agree. I do not do that to conservatives or others on the right. I would ask you, respectfully, to show the same courtesy from now on.

Nice emotive non factual opinions saddened-1829725

The War at Iraq, started by US Law, H.R.4655 "Iraqis Liberation Act of 1998" Justification Weapons of Mass Destruction, Section 2 "Findings". As demanded by President Clinton's 1998 State of the Union Address also justification Weapon of Mass Destruction. US Military Operation Desert Fox. This US Law eventually becomes US Military Operation Iraqis Freedom 1998 to 2011.

Candidate Obama's verbal contract to pull out the US Military from Iraq by December 2009 if he becomes US President. Candidate Obama's Solution to decrease the numbers of deployments and lengths of deployments, forcing the 92% of US Citizens that have NEVER Served in the US Military to "Do their Fair Share" by starting up the Selective Service and or Manditory Compulsory US Military Service. As Candidate Obama's Earned US Citizenship, "US Citizenship is not an Entitlement", and "US Military Service is a Civic Duty". see youtube.com to see for yourselves in context.

Oh, yes, by the way, President Obama is RESPONSIBLE and ACCOUNTABLE, that is why you hired him. And this is not the days of cowboys and indians, telegraph, etc. as now a days there are Daily Video Conferences with President Obama and the rest of the Chain of Command knowing everything. And yes, some of these Video Conferences go to the O-1 levels, and even Teams and squads.

So that "after the fact" baloney that you mention is just that. It is President Obama's indecisions, fear of missions destroying his Political Career, Political Distancing, Idealistic Academic Bad Decisions, not listening to his "Experts" that he nominated, getting rid of the "Experts" that do not agree with him, etc. that have created these situations.

What article do you think you're commenting on Daniel? This about Afganistan, not the fricken' Catholic church.

Some people need no excuse to spout off about their personal bigotries. What can you do? *sigh*

He is mad at me because I told him his nice little liberals are racists and speak hate speech all over the blogs about Whites and Catholics. Liberals do not like being told their speech is hate speech.

deb, you are contradicting yourself. This General is telling the Truth. Our current US military bases (at least JBLM) do not have the infrastructure to handle the amount of soldiers they have and to provide the medical and psychiatric services these soldiers need. This is the Pentagon's fault and most likely even more at fault is our political leaders who give orders to the Pentagon.

One General did stand up and say we didn't have enough troops. He was relieved of duty, forced to retire, thanks to Dandy rummsfeld and GW Bush/Cheney. The other generals realized that to keep their careers on track, to keep their mouths shut, just say Yes Sir, and continue doing whatever.

Re: Kevin post 10.1

You go with the medical support you have not what you would wish for. Yes, I paraphrased Rumsfeld.

Medical support will be overwhelmed in a time of high casualties-whether it be military casualties or civilian after a natural disaster or Friday and Saturday night. Its why there's a triage system.

Deb in post 10 wrote in part: "Telling Congress what's going on with the VA doctors, pumping pills to these soldiers and sending them back into the war zone. What are Generals for, if not doing the right things for his soldiers?"

Top tier Generals are political animals interacting with politicians. Lower ranking Generals are political animals interacting with their superiors. Top tier's put together a general plan, working within politically generated restrictions, to provide a path for the reaching of goal(s).

As things roll down the chain of command Generals decide the best way, via intelligence collected by staff and provided by superiors as well as the resources currently on hand to deal with their part of the overall goal(s).

'Pieces' get broken off and given to lower ranking individuals. There does reach a point where where individual shops' mission remains the same-except they may be deployed in other areas of the world. These folks in shop group A may be sent to deployment site 1. These other folks in shop group A may be sent to deployment site 2 and the rest remain in place.

A General will only know certain individuals. A rank and file person's name would only come to the General's attention if it has a hefty positive or negative impact on the mission including deployments.

The 'right thing' for a General is to provide underlings with the tools and resources to get the job done. The resource dispersement itself 'splinters' to smaller and smaller pieces as it is delivered to specific units.

Its entirely possible individual shops might have to be 'creative' to meet mission requirements-whether it is wartime, or not. People at the shop level may have to be creative-in peacetime-to meet mission requirements based on politics at an upper level repair facility. Here the meaning is; the ban on doing simple things to try and repair an item in shop. If the repair works-fine. If it doesn't then it gets sent to a repair location (Depot) where there's higher level diagnostic and repair equipment.

SallyAnn-4595694 - Dandy rummsfeld and GW Bush/Cheney

They were NOT in Office when President Obama asked for the Letters of Resignation from General McKiernan, General McChrystal, General Petraeus (that you call Betrayus).

Nice FAILED attempt at the Deflection of Blame Game. What happened to President Obama's "I Can" change to your "It's is everyone else's Fault".

How about this you come over here (Afghanistan) and Fight President Obama's "Right War" with all the Restrictions, Policies, etc. and the hundreds of US Civilian Lawyers sent here as part of President Obama's US Civilian Surge just waiting to prosecute you to justify their jobs.

We the 1% of US Citizens of the US Military (and going to get smaller with President Obama's RIFs, meaning less people to do more deployments and commitments):

We the unwilling, led by the ungrateful, are doing the impossible.
We've done so much, for so long, with so little,
that we are now qualified to do something with nothing.

Oh yes...the good General WILL investigate - rather thoroughly, I suspect. And just like the Abbu Gharib investigation was carried out rather "thoroughly", this too will meet the same fate. And at the end of it, after millions of dollars have gone into silk lined pockets, one low ranking officer will be fired (i.e. sent to bed without Jack Daniels and with full military pension). Justice served.

Come on boys, lets move on to the next killing field. Syria? Iran?

Just my observations!

F'n A David well said brother from one member of the real 1% to another. Already seeing an impact due to RIF..morale and equipment standards sub par at best..heck already did a few IA tours due to not enough boots on the ground to supplement the Army...best of luck to you and your continued service being my time is done (victim of RIF) and I would not give up those 12 years for nothing

Suval, welcome to War. These soldiers are but very young men. In this particular war situation there is no "front". The enemy is all around them all the time. Even those amongst the foreign population who we think are our allies many times are not.

Kevin, welcome to the new and improved Vietnam!

Exactly!

Suval-3946679 - If we are going to stupidly fight TEN YEAR wars then have the brains to re institute the Draft because it is obvious the current Military is beyond exhausted.

Candidate Obama's verbal contract stated that his solution to force the 92% of US Citizens that have Never Served in the US Military to do their fair share was to institute the Selective Service and or Mandatory Compulsory US Military Service so that the 1% of US Citizens of the US Military are not continually deployed. Candidate McCain vehemently opposed this based on his experience during Vietnam with "Draftees", personally having been a young kid as a LRRP/Ranger calling in airstrikes at Plei Can (Ho Chi Minh Trail (Super Highway)) so that the rest of the US Military could unarse Vietnam I still don't understand Candidate McCain's opposition to Candidate Obama's Solution (would work, just need to learn from the previous mistakes, and no exemptions no deferments unless imprisoned or institutionalized). They finally changed Policy to allow women as "Combatants".

The real pisser being promised (verbal contract) that we would be leaving here (Afghanistan) by 2012, that was lined thru to 2013, then now 2014, the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces leave. With the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces stuck here decades after 2014.

KEVIN-749492 - Suval, welcome to War. These soldiers are but very young men.

Nope. Most of the young of the US refused just like the 92% of US Citizens to join the US Military to fight President Obama's Right War. A combatant in the 30s may as well be a 60 year old civilian due to mental and physical stresses.

And as far as leaving Iraq, US Conventional Warfare Forces now at Kuwait, Jordan. Then to provide security for the 104 acres of the US Embassy at Iraq are the 16,000 conducting combat patrols to keep the snipers, mortars, rockets out of range minus the 1,500 US Embassy Personnel.

Michelle Obama on Letterman Show ("young" in relation to Letterman's age):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e1R0lliFHc

The Reality versus Candidate Obama's verbal contract (as to why many US Military Voted for him to stop the continuous deployments). President Obama's currently being implemented Reduction In Forces (RIF) of the US Military: 80, 000 US Military Personnel + 27,000 US Military Personnel returning from the Wars + 10,000 US Military Personnel returning from the closed US Military Installations at Germany + 5 Brigades + Forced Retirements. Not mentioned are the xxx,xxx US Civilians that provided support to those US Military that are to be RIF'ed will also be thrown on US Unemployment.

This means less US Military Personnel to accomplish the US Commitments (United Nations and NATO) Worldwide, resulting in less personnel, longer deployments, more deployments, our case years of consecutive tours, less intervals between deployments.

darrell-1708517 - Kevin, welcome to the new and improved Vietnam!

And you and stoney-1938546 know how? What were your Selective Service Card Numbers? What is your personal EXPERIENCE, and not some baloney that you read based on information from other non participants.

Ever since the Prehistoric days when I went to Command and General Staff College and War College, it was stated before the Defeat of the USSR that all Wars after the Defeat of the USSR would be Asymmetric Wars and NOT Conventional Wars. With Conventional Warfare Forces attempting to win an Asymmetric War a Historically Documented Automatic Failure.

One of the First Successful US Asymmetric Wars was after British General Cornwallis and Henry Clinton seized the Colonist's Militias Armories (Weapons) before the start of the "Colonist Rebellion" aka the American Revolution, with the Colonists Militias (Uniforms, Napoleonic Conventional Warfare) fleeing with the Founding Fathers to Philadelphia the "Hot bed" of the Revolution with the British Regulars, British Bounty Hunters, British Mercenaries, British Loyalist, etc. hunting them (gave a whole new meaning to the Founding Fathers of Failure, as if they failed and were caught they would be hung by the neck as "Traitors to the Crown" (High Treason) as "one term" US Politicians).

The successful start of the American Asymmetric Warfare started when the Individuals as shopkeeps, merchants, fur traders and trappers, hunters, mountain men, etc. without uniforms and no real formal military training stopped the British Regulars by using Asymmetric Warfare (Insurgency, "Guerrilla Warfare") until the Founding Fathers would stop arguing and formed the First (Colonial) Continental Army.

Within Asymmetric Warfare the Asymmetric Warfare Strategic Goals automatically Defeat the Strategic Goals of Conventional Warfare Forces and in most cases also Defeat that Nation's Strategic Goals. Just achieving one of the Asymmetric Warfare Strategic Goals can cause the collapse of an enemy Nation, collapse of their Government, economic disasters, etc..

For those trained and experienced in Asymmetric Warfare it is easy to recognize the use of Asymmetric Warfare and by using experience and skill attempt to stop them from achieving any Strategic Asymmetric Warfare Goals, for those NOT trained nor experienced in Asymmetric Warfare like Conventional Warfare Forces, Politicians, Civilians, etc. they wonder for decades why they lost after spending so much money, the significant loss of lives, etc..

There are/have been methods of Asymmetric Warfare to negate or marginalize the effectiveness of "High Tech", as by doing so also helps Asymmetric Warfare Forces achieve a Strategic Asymmetric Warfare Goal.

Sure darrell-1708517, stoney-1938546, you both know so much about my job of US Military Asymmetric Mountain Warfare; how about both of you coming here (Afghanistan) so that in less than 2 months most of us (experienced) can finally go back on Retirement again. Both of you can stare at each other while living in 6 degree F near arctic weather and high altitude conditions (above 6,000 feet) while being paid below minimum wages doing those things that the 92% of US Citizens refuse to do (In accordance with President Obama's Orders as Commander In Chief).

But the situation is completely different isn't it if your arses are at risk, or you have to suffer due to the US Military Defense Budget Cuts so you have no toilet paper.

Well it took thousands of people out in the streets to teach them we meant business about getting out of Vietnam anybody want to print the signs and set the date.

Swan: 1) He may not have even committed these acts. 2) He may ( I suspect) had a post-ictal (after seizure) temporary episode of violent psychosis precipitated by his combat incurred head injury. 3) The court martial jury will all be military officers who can see right through his Lawyer.

1) He may not have even committed these acts

OK granted their MAY be an ever so small chance that he didn't do it. He gets his chance to prove it in court. This however is a forum not a court and by most accounts he has admitted to it already, so I'm thinking is most likely guilty. In any case, things that are said here won't change his fate.

He may ( I suspect) had a post-ictal (after seizure) temporary episode of violent psychosis precipitated by his combat incurred head injury.

LOL whatever. Maybe that happened to the Columbine killers too or maybe some other mental disorder. Maybe child molesters have some issue that should let them off the hook. Face it if he came back here and killed your family you wouldn't be so hot to give him the benefit of the doubt. In fact if he killed American kids you can bet few would care about all the mental BS. In my book he's a child murderer. He doesn't get to be functional one day, go crazy and kill children and go back to being OK the next. More likely he had too much booze and was having a bad week or some crap. But that shouldn't let him off the hook. This was not in the heat of battle.

The court martial jury will all be military officers who can see right through his Lawyer.

Yeah and baring any unforeseen turn of events where he actually did not do the crime, I hope they hang him from the highest tree.

Kevin, 1. he admitted to the killings. If not him then who?

2. Maybe, but it seemed to have cleared up by the time the MP's found him and he asked for a lawyer. My husband has PTSD and takes his meds, doesn't drink, and is currently deployed. Funny he hasn't gone out to kill any unarmed people. My husband has been on several deployments and is currently on his last one (we hope), there are soliders who have been hurt, have PTSD, lost limbs, etc and NEVER felt the need to kill children and women. My husband still has nightmares from what he has seen, had to do, and from when he was shot (flown out of Afghanistan, died on the table...still doesn't go out and kill UNARMED women, children, and men).

3. This last one I am not quite sure where you are going with it. You seemed to started out defending the SSGT with the "He may not have even committed these acts" and now it seems (at least to me ) you are ending with a he did do it and the military jury will "see through" the lawyer's PTSD defense.

Swan, your points are well taken. BUT post-ictal (after seizure) psychosis is physical and NOT PTSD. PTSD is a poor defense because it is psychological and relative from person to person. BUT Post-ictil psychosis is caused by a PHYSICAL head injury and this injury (head) can be proven via PHYSICAL evidence. IF this soldier incurred this physical injury in combat and the CAT scans, MRIs and EEGs can provide PHYSICAL evidence that he developed a seizure disorder due to this PHYSICAL head injury, then such would be a palatable legal argument.

No firing squad it messes with the heads of the guys who have to shoot him. Lethal injection preferred method.

Again Jake! Get the word out!

Jake, the problem is that (ironically) these women and children have become dependant on us for their safety. I believe that as we now have all these solders on the ground and this is war we separate the women and children from the men and just start killing ALL the men. This is war and THERE ARE NO RULES IN LOVE AND WAR.

@KEVIN are you locked up in a padded room? Beating your head against a wall? Don't worry, somebody will come along, and look in on you shortly. Hold your breath while you are waiting! That always works for them to open the door.

This is war and THERE ARE NO RULES IN LOVE AND WAR.

Except for their ARE rules in war. It;s called the Geneva convention. I'm 99.9999999% sure that busting in to some civilians house and executing innocent men, women and children is against the rules, and if it's not it should be.

Demetrrious, I tried that and my jail guards still won't give me the padded cell I need.

Swan, The Geneva convention is a CONTRADICTION to the entire concept of war. War is not a game. War is that you COMPLETELY CONQUER your enemy. One cannot COMPLETELY CONQUER their enemy if their are rules of restraint.

Swan do you know these individuals were innocent? If you do then stand to your opinions, if you are sure and have proof of it. Then just maybe you need to contact the command center and give them all the details. I heard the kids were dressed in small vest with anti-American slogans on them, thats why they were burned. Seems crazy I know, but, not any more crazier than what you are saying.

Oh and what you are discussing from the geneva convention is military policing not wartime situation.

Let justice prevail.

Ya beat me too it Kevin. Good for you and if ya need some extra pads I'll see if I can lend ya a couple.

Swan do you know these individuals were innocent?

The only one I think might be guilty is the two year old.

I heard the kids were dressed in small vest with anti-American slogans on them

Actually I think you are lying, or read some made up story on newsmax or some other place. Like poor Afghan families bother to spend the money to have shirts made up with anti-american slogans on them. You have a link for that, then post it. Second NO SMALL SLEEPING CHILDREN ARE GUILTY OF ANYTHING THAT DESERVES A BULLET: " Amir you didn't put your toys away! Naughty Naughty. It's a bullet in the head for you". Yeah like I can really see that.

No Swan just pulling at ya. The reason for the little story is we really don't know what happened other than what is being reported. The way they report things now days, I don't know if I can put too much merit into it.

Print the signs and set the date I'll be there. The President doesn't read msnbc but he couldn't miss 2000 people marching circles in front of his door.

@Dfrom Just like I stated above. His immediate CO will be a target, and even though he 'didn't have anything to do with this' it will come down to if he could have tried to prevent it from happening. I believe he could have.

Hind sight is always 20/20. The neatest trick is to know 'then' what you know 'now'.

Well in most instances it is a code word for cover our a$$ and throw the enlisted man to the wolves.

Fine, don't make him a scapegoat, just turn him over to the Afagnis and let them tear this triggerhappy jackhole to smithereens.

Scapegoating's a national political event.

Mikeymike the army does not let civilians try their people even if it is American civilians for killing American civilians.

The services game directed by the medical retirement review board stopped when I contacted my Congressman. The medical findings weren't a problem. It was based on extensive investigation. My stance was to base a determination on the medical findings. I said the same thing to the three judges at my formal medical board-and prevailed. I wasn't aware until a couple months later my Congressman sent a 'letter of concern' to the Pentagon.

I get my medications and am on monitoring status with the VA. I see civilian doctors. I learned real quick about doctors (3 of 4) who got their licenses from 'Cracker Jack' and a casual tendency to lie at department level. I was issued a Fee Basis card and, later, a Medicare card.

The folks at the local VA Clinic are fantastic. The problem is Regional. I view the organization- as a whole- as a political organization.