Is the soldier suspected of shooting the 16 civilians in Afghanistan. Sad they would identify this soldier. *Breaking* http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_new...-suspected-in-afghanistan-massacre-identified Bales, 38, was deployed to Afghanistan in December with the 3rd Stryker Brigade, based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, south of Tacoma, Wash., the officials said. "It's a tragedy, Gen. David Rodriguez, commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command, said at the base, home to about 37,000 Army and 6,000 Air Force personnel. Everyone knows this doesn't reflect our standards or values, nor does it reflect the soldiers that perform here and overseas. They are shocked, just as we are. Bales, a married father of two, has a clean record of conduct, the officials said. He joined the military after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He felt it was his calling to stand up for the us after 911 and then decided to make his career the military," said his civilian attorney, John Henry Browne, who spoke to Bales on Thursday night. (Read continues in LinK) Video Inside
How many tours had Bales served in a combat theater. Had he witnessed any of his brethern gunned downed or killed. Had anyone noticed any episodes of unusual behavior from him. I would like to see alot of questions answered before this soldier is thrown under the bus. I am not condoning what he did, but a normal family and outstanding soldier wouldn't just commit such an act. There has to be more at play here.
Apparently there was a second shooter ... but this hasn't been confirmed by independent *valid / reliable* sources ...
Wow, something we agree on. In another thread we had lefties actually saying they wanted to see him face the death penalty. I guess they aren't so resolute in their moral condemnation of capital punishment, after all.
Have you ever served in a forward area? Put your life in another man's hands, asked him to put his in yours? Combat stress is unbelievable and I find it hard to believable that a man of his honor would just go off and kill women and children just for the hell of it. This is one of the reasons I say bring back the draft, no soldier should have to serve in a forward area 3, 4, 5 or 6 times.
Sometimes people just snap. War has the effect on people. Sometimes without warning signs or anything. Seeing your brothers killed all the time over the course of multiple tours with an uncooperative public tends to get under your skin. There have been plenty of times where I was wishing we would just fly a few F-16s over and level some villages and be done with it. The human emotion system can only take so much. And before any of you say oh well if he cant handle the stress he shouldnt have been there, you know people will die its war etc. Well you don't know how you'll deal with the stress until you actually get there, NOBODY knows no matter what anyone thinks. I have seen a 15 year veteran Major crawl under a table literally crying and calling his wife when our base got hit. This was his 3rd tour I believe. But saying all that this idiot is the direct result of numerous US troop deaths and injuries since his little incident. And he murdered innocent people. I have no problem with parading him around. It needs to be known that he is a rarity in the armed forces and his actions will not be tolerated and shouldn't leave a bad stain on the rest of the majority of troops who perform their duties with honor.
If this guy killed these people...he is NOT honorable...no matter how many tours he had. And NO draft.
How many much combat time do you have under your belt. If you haven't walked the walk, then please don't try and talk the talk. Unless you have experienced combat stress you don't know or understand what this man has been through.
I understand what this man has been through but I still can't excuse his actions. I "understand" why he did what he did if he did it. There have been plenty of days where the Afghan population better be praising Allah that I wasn't the General in charge of RC South in Afghanistan. I understand why he did it, I understand because I know how he feels and I have dealt with those extreme emotions before. But I cannot condone what he did, just because I understand doesnt mean its ok.
I believe this murderer should not be subject to the death penalty. But it wasn't American children he killed in America, it was Afghan children in Afghanistan. They should have a say in the matter.
I don't condone his actions either, I am only speaking of what caused him to commit those horrible actions. What sane person could agree with the killing of innocent women and children. I am just saying pressure will make a pipe burst.
Nothing like the US wanting it both ways. http://torrentfreak.com/its-official-us-demands-extradition-of-megaupload-suspects-120305/
So, in other words, you don't want him to face our death penalty, but a more brutal death at the hands of primitive and barbaric Muhammadans in accordance with Sharia law. We have our own system of justice and military protocol to handle these situations. We don't need to make an exception in this case simply because those of you on the left have blood lust.
The world isn't fair. I will never condone leaving a US soldier to be dealt with by mob justice in a nation we are at war with. Im all for American citizens being subject to the laws of the nation in which they commit a crime. I am not ok with this view during a time of war. I dont care what he did, I would never be willing to turn him over to be stoned or something in Afghanistan.
Says you. I don't even begin to care if this guy had 10 CMOH's...he's dishonorable, sick and deserves to never be free again - IF he did it. Maybe he was honorable...but he destroyed ALL that cred a few days ago. You disagree...you are wrong.
Why did Gen. McCrystal get himself fired from his position as Commander, US Forces Afghanistan. He knew it was a cluster eff.
