U.S. soldier kills 16 Afghan civilians, including children

[TripleDigitRide]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/11/world/asia/afghanistan-us-service-member/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

I can't say that I'm surprised. I was just discussing with a friend the likelihood of something just like this happening.

[Jonnin]

Its happened before, it will happen again... I would say turn him over to the afgans for their justice, and the next guy may think twice about doing this sort of thing.

[mk19]

Acts like this puts the lives of our folks in jeopardy.

[TripleDigitRide]

They retaliate against us, we retaliate against them. It's going to be a vicious cycle until we get out of there.

[Daniel]

Interesting stuff. We have heard a few more rumors than are being reported. I am going to guess we will be held at base for awhile.

[Chucktshoes]

At this point the mission, nebulous as it was, is over. After this last month, it is time to pack it in and come home, the hearts and minds of the everyday Afghans are now out of reach.

Edited March 11, 2012 by Chucktshoes

[mikegideon]

Interesting stuff. We have heard a few more rumors than are being reported. I am going to guess we will be held at base for awhile.

Glad you checked in. I kinda feel like Chuck. Time to get you guys out of there

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Wish it would happen, but this is election season and the soldiers are pawns. Stay well, Daniel.

[Raoul]

Wish it would happen, but this is election season and the soldiers are pawns. Stay well, Daniel.

And a second from me.

[QuietDan]

I think this story as reported doesn't pass the smell test.

After a lot of screaming and yelling and jumping up and down and rioting, the real story will begin to emerge.

We have not heard the last of this, and it's gonna jump ugly before the real word comes out.

We're being played like checkers.

[Caster]

This has been happening since man has been warring with one another. You just have to have dish out justice in it's harshest form and move on. Lingering about and dragging the subject on in discussion [media] doesn't do ANYONE any good. You can't fix it, men break in war. Some would say that ending war would solve it and that may be so, but wars will never end. World peace is a lie.

I hate it. Give the guy to the Afghans for judgment which will be a swift execution and write him off.

[gjohnsoniv]

I'm feeling like there is more to this than being reported. Apparently everyone has a different story, but isn't that true of everything.

[TMF]

With over 150,000 troops in Astan there are bound to be a few crazies. What percent of the US male population are sociopaths? Now, put a few of those crazies in an environment with access to weapons and ammo. Sprinkle a little poor supervision from leadership on top and give the perception of a consequence-free environment. It's gonna happen sometimes and I think our military does a pretty good job of mitigating that risk to a realistic level.

Nothing more to the story; crazy people do crazy things. How is it easier to believe conspiracy here?

[c.a.willard]

It does kind of bother me that the guy is a SSG (if the reportings accurate). TMF's dead on, every organization is bound to have a few crazy folks. It is what it is

[Major Kong]

Its happened before, it will happen again... I would say turn him over to the afgans for their justice, and the next guy may think twice about doing this sort of thing.

I hate it. Give the guy to the Afghans for judgment which will be a swift execution and write him off.

Turn a US soldier over to the Afghans for justice? Are you serious? I'm not even sure how to respond to that.

[Caster]

Turn a US soldier over to the Afghans for justice? Are you serious? I'm not even sure how to respond to that.

Ohh, okay. Protect him. I mean, he just killed children, but he's a US soldier and that means soooo much more. Pfft. Scum bag. Let him rot from a rope and low tree limb.

[Major Kong]

Ohh, okay. Protect him. I mean, he just killed children, but he's a US soldier and that means soooo much more. Pfft. Scum bag. Let him rot from a rope and low tree limb.

My bad, had no idea you were there and knew about any/all mitigating circumstances. Judge, jury, executioner. Sweet.

[Caster]

Well, the article [if accurate] says

"NATO's International Security Assistance Force said the soldier acted alone and turned himself in after opening fire on civilians. "

Why would he turn himself in if he did nothing wrong?

Edited March 12, 2012 by Caster

[Major Kong]

Caster, I don't know all of the details of this story any more than you do. I know it's tragic that innocent civilians were killed. I know that the killer needs to pay for the crime. I also know that PTSD and other factors can make people act in ways that a normal, sane person wouldn't. I've given well over a year of my life to the third-world craphole that is Afghanistan. I've buried more than one friend as a result of it. I'd prefer not to lose any more American lives at the hands of the Afghanis, especially someone who might be suffering from a stress-induced mental break.

Let's at least let our sham of a justice system play out before we convict this soldier of being a mass murderer and sentence him.

[TMF]

Still a citizen, still deserves a trial. Unfortunately our military doesn't carry out executions anymore. If we did I would like to see the trial and sentence carried out in-country.

[Caster]

Still a citizen, still deserves a trial. Unfortunately our military doesn't carry out executions anymore. If we did I would like to see the trial and sentence carried out in-country.

If they did that, I bet it would go a long way toward relations.

[Major Kong]

If they did that, I bet it would go a long way toward relations.

I'm sorry I stuck my nose in this one. I'm out. Good luck with Afghan relations. Appeasement has certainly been a good strategy to this point.

[c.a.willard]

I wouldnt say we never impose the death penalty anymore, its just rare. Hasan Akbar was the most recent sentenced (Still in apeals). Nidal Hasan is also a good candidate to be sentenced to death. It definately isnt swift, but it does happen

[Caster]

Wasn't talking about appeasing being a good strategy. Should have been gone a long time ago. BUT if you're going to be there, being in decent relations with the civilians can't hurt.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

The ones the American soldier is trying to protect are also the ones who are also killing American

soldiers. I wouldn't give the Afghans the time of day. And as far as appeasement goes, you don't

send a soldier to do that kind of job. You let him do his job. State Dept, can appease all they want.

What happens to that soldier is something you don't do by giving someone else jurisdiction. What

about the rest of the soldiers over there? Our system can take care of this matter.

One guy I know was in Iraq for at least one year, maybe two. He said his time there really screwed him

up. After he got out, he said he stayed drunk, most of the time, lost his wife and his family relations went

straight to hell. I imagine he's not alone.

We don't need to be judging our soldiers because of a news report that probably is lacking, like most

news reports. It's a tragic event and I'll leave it at that.

Edited March 12, 2012 by 6.8 AR