U.S. military court told GIs took turns to rape (1 Viewer)

[aps]

If these facts are true, these GIs should be castrated. I have a hard time believing that PTSD would cause these guys to hold down some young girl and take turns raping her.

U.S. military court told GIs took turns to rape
Graphic testimony in case of rape-slaying of Iraqi girl, murder of 3 others


BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. soldiers accused of raping and murdering a 14-year-old Iraqi girl drank alcohol and hit golf balls before the attack, an investigator said Monday at a U.S. military hearing to determine whether they should stand trial.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14208450/

 

[Jay R]

Rape doesn't carry a harsh enough sentence in the domestic courts anyway, I can't see a military court going much further. The murder charges should be enough to put them on death row, but personally I'd be happy to send 'em down for the rape alone. Let's see how the evidence plays out first though.

 

[Diogenes]

From the link:

“There’s nothing I’ve read that says what to do if your buddies have raped and murdered a family,” Watt said.

I've never read any such thing either, but I have daughters and granddaughters and I would know what to do.

If true, hanging is too good for them. But let's hear the rest of the evidence.

 

[jfuh]

Glad you agree with my castration punishment in the former threads on this topic.

As for what's going on? This seems to fall in line with lowering the requiting standards even more.

 

[aps]

I just cannot fathom what goes through men's heads when they take turns on a woman. How do you get that many men to agree to such a horrific act? And how could a man get excited in this kind of situation? It absolutely appalls me.

 

[Hoot]

Unfortunately, I think this is indicative of the type of soldier in the military today. We certainly don't have the well off and well educated rushing off to enlist, do we? No, we have the poor, lower middle class, struggling to exist, type of soldier. We have gang members in the military and hate groups.

I don't believe every soldier fits this description, but this element does exist.

That's why I'd like to see the draft...with no exemptions. Maybe if some of these rich kids started coming home in boxes, the republican voters would wake up a bit more to the realities of war?

 

[Symmetrical_Argument]

If these facts are true, these GIs should be castrated. I have a hard time believing that PTSD would cause these guys to hold down some young girl and take turns raping her.

They did the same in Pinkville in Nam then slaughtered 500 civilians. Nixon let the lead man out of prison after he's served just 3 days !!!!!
Some of the the people they raped were kids.
Remember the best soldiers are psycos. You don't think they's have turned down Charles Manson if he'd asked to join up before he got a criminal record do you ?
You people go on about Hezbollah. I don't condone what they do, but many have joined Hezbollah because they've seen thier families or friends killed, bombed or abused by israelis.
People that join the US army voluntarily do so for no better reason tha for fun, for action, thrills & adventure. Including killing & maiming.

But hey not all US soldiers are bad

http://pinkville.livejournal.com/100894.html

"My Lai Hero Hugh Thompson Jr. Dies at 62

Saturday, January 7, 2006 Associated Press

by Jessica Bujol


Hugh Thompson Jr., a former Army helicopter pilot honored for rescuing Vietnamese civilians from his fellow GIs during the My Lai massacre, died early Friday. He was 62.

Thompson, whose role in the 1968 massacre did not become widely known until decades later, died at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Alexandria, hospital spokesman Jay DeWorth said.
Trent Angers, Thompson's biographer and family friend, said Thompson died of cancer.

"These people were looking at me for help and there was no way I could turn my back on them," Thompson recalled in a 1998 Associated Press interview.

Early in the morning of March 16, 1968, Thompson, door-gunner Lawrence Colburn and crew chief Glenn Andreotta came upon U.S. ground troops killing Vietnamese civilians in and around the village of My Lai.

They landed the helicopter in the line of fire between American troops and fleeing Vietnamese civilians and pointed their own guns at the U.S. soldiers to prevent more killings."

 

[jfuh]

Unfortunately, I think this is indicative of the type of soldier in the military today. We certainly don't have the well off and well educated rushing off to enlist, do we? No, we have the poor, lower middle class, struggling to exist, type of soldier. We have gang members in the military and hate groups.

I don't believe every soldier fits this description, but this element does exist.

That's why I'd like to see the draft...with no exemptions. Maybe if some of these rich kids started coming home in boxes, the republican voters would wake up a bit more to the realities of war?

I can not agree with this the least bit. Most stats I've seen have shown that the overwhelming majority of recruits are actually quite knowledgable. Perhaps the most professional military in history. The Draft would do just the opposite of the current recruiting measures; and as has been proven in the past, the Rich kids would simply either run to England and take an education at Oxford or they'd have daddy bail them out and put them in the NAtional gaurd to which they'd never need to show up.
First we need to take great caution to what Eisenhower warned us of the Military Industrial Complex. So that we do not engage in war the moment we disagree with other nations.
Secondly reduce the bs middle beauracracy that overspends on military - ie what happened to 21billion given to Haliburton?
finally dropping the recruitment standard in order to meet quotas is irresponsible, it only leads to Abu Garib and Mahmoudiya.

 

[Nexus]

Unfortunately, I think this is indicative of the type of soldier in the military today. We certainly don't have the well off and well educated rushing off to enlist, do we? No, we have the poor, lower middle class, struggling to exist, type of soldier. We have gang members in the military and hate groups.

I don't believe every soldier fits this description, but this element does exist.

That's why I'd like to see the draft...with no exemptions. Maybe if some of these rich kids started coming home in boxes, the republican voters would wake up a bit more to the realities of war?

Do you have any data to show that's the case? Here's some of the demographic information collected from various sources by the Heritage Foundation.

Household Income of Recruits

We found that recruits tend to come from mid*dle-class areas, with disproportionately fewer from low-income areas. Overall, the income dis*tribution of military enlistees is more similar to than different from the income distribution of the general population.

Education Levels of Recruits

We find that, on average, recruits tend to be much more highly educated than the general pub*lic and that this education disparity increased after the war on terrorism began.

Racial Representation Among Recruits

We found that whites are one of the most pro*portionally represented groups—making up 77.4 percent of the population and 75.8 percent of all recruits—whereas other racial categories are often represented in noticeably higher and lower propor*tions than the general population.

Regional Analysis

This section focuses on two questions of regional concentration of enlisted recruits. First, we asked whether recruits come predominately from urban areas. Second, we asked whether troops enlist pre*dominately from Southern areas.

In April 2005, the Chicago Tribune cited a statistic that 35 percent of those who died in Iraq and Afghanistan were from small, rural towns, in con*trast to 25 percent of the population. (con't.)
http://www.heritage.org/Research/NationalSecurity/cda05-08.cfm

It's really bad form to wish for someone to come home in a pine box based on their politics.

 

[jfuh]

It's really bad form to wish for someone to come home in a pine box based on their politics.

It most deffinetely is bad form to wish for such. However, you have to admit, that were it these congressman's children who were dieing over there, it most certainly would make a big difference in thier outcries to "stay the" stubborn "course".

 

[Voidwar]

The gripe is not realistic.

How many children can 535 legislators have anyway ?

The real question is are they providing recruits to the military above or below national rate per capita.

While I understand that this is merely an anecdote, I have seen another poster from another forum ( who was a good stickler for detail and references ) go through this and find that compared to America at large, the "Legislators" actually do have progeny in the service at a higher rate than the american populace at large.

Again, I apologize for not having a link handy, but the real spirit of my posting here is to consider the structure of the comparison.

 

[jfuh]

The gripe is not realistic.

How many children can 535 legislators have anyway ?

The real question is are they providing recruits to the military above or below national rate per capita.

While I understand that this is merely an anecdote, I have seen another poster from another forum ( who was a good stickler for detail and references ) go through this and find that compared to America at large, the "Legislators" actually do have progeny in the service at a higher rate than the american populace at large.

Again, I apologize for not having a link handy, but the real spirit of my posting here is to consider the structure of the comparison.

I'd very much like to see a source for the legislators.

 

[aps]

Unfortunately, I think this is indicative of the type of soldier in the military today. We certainly don't have the well off and well educated rushing off to enlist, do we? No, we have the poor, lower middle class, struggling to exist, type of soldier. We have gang members in the military and hate groups.

I don't believe every soldier fits this description, but this element does exist.

That's why I'd like to see the draft...with no exemptions. Maybe if some of these rich kids started coming home in boxes, the republican voters would wake up a bit more to the realities of war?

Hoot, I couldn't agree with you more. Do you know how many members of Congress and the White House have children who are in Iraq? I believe it's les than 10. But we need to stay the course, right?

 

[Nexus]

It most deffinetely is bad form to wish for such. However, you have to admit, that were it these congressman's children who were dieing over there, it most certainly would make a big difference in thier outcries to "stay the" stubborn "course".

Historically, people who have influence, have almost always managed to find a way to keep their kids out of harms way. The exceptions are the ones who volunteer for the duty. I'm not saying it's right but that's just the way it's always been.

What do you think of the idea of 2 years of National Service for everyone (not necessarily military)?

 

[jfuh]

Historically, people who have influence, have almost always managed to find a way to keep their kids out of harms way. The exceptions are the ones who volunteer for the duty. I'm not saying it's right but that's just the way it's always been.

What do you think of the idea of 2 years of National Service for everyone (not necessarily military)?

Mixed emotions. Here's why, I see it as a great idea in every aspect except of my fear for the Military Industrial Complex. It's already a huge influence today without required military service.
Another reason would be of professionalism, the situation now has afforded perhaps the most professional military ever.

But you mention - not neccesarily military service. I think that would be good if it were some form of public service - coast gaurd, national forest service and so on. But then, another country did just this - Communist China - prooved to be a total waste of time and highly backwards.

But we all know, those in power will still get out of it some how.
How about this, never served? Can't be in congress hahahaha.

 

[Hoot]

I have never wished for anyone to come home in a pine box.

What I said was...with a "no-exemption draft," we'd see more rich kids, and yes, children of those who support this war, come home in a box, and perhaps, more would see the realities of war?

As it stands now, who cares if the poor and lower middle class are coming home dead? Certainly not those who support this war.

As far as todays military, I believe the intense demands placed on recruiters, to "make the numbers," has created a certain element of undesirables. The type of undesirables that commit these rapes, and, yes, shoot civilians.

Here's just one article...take it for what it's worth, or do your own research on hate groups in the military. This element is more widespread than many would care to believe.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/07/w...4e2aac8d3&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

 

[Nexus]

I have never wished for anyone to come home in a pine box.

What I said was...with a "no-exemption draft," we'd see more rich kids, and yes, children of those who support this war, come home in a box, and perhaps, more would see the realities of war?

As it stands now, who cares if the poor and lower middle class are coming home dead? Certainly not those who support this war.

As far as todays military, I believe the intense demands placed on recruiters, to "make the numbers," has created a certain element of undesirables. The type of undesirables that commit these rapes, and, yes, shoot civilians.

Here's just one article...take it for what it's worth, or do your own research on hate groups in the military. This element is more widespread than many would care to believe.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/07/w...4e2aac8d3&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

Let me rephrase my reply to you then, I'm not here to start an argument. If you had said only a small percentage of families are sacrificing, I'd be in complete agreement. It's the use of the term "pine box" that I object to. It may not hold the same meaning for you as it does for me.

My objection to a no-exemption draft is this. I don't want my friends or family members who are serving in the military to be put at risk by someone who's incompetent or unwilling. It's as simple as that for me.

This leads to the other point about so called hate groups. Yes, I'm aware that individuals who are members of hate groups are being encouraged to enlist for the weapons training. They've also been told to lie to get in. No right thinking NCO is going to tolerate having a racist or bigot in their unit because it destroys unit cohesion. When they are found out, they definitely have to be weeded out.