1st ID soldier charged with killing one Iraqi prisoner, mistreating others

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=27412

A 1st Infantry Division senior noncommissioned officer was charged this week with killing one prisoner and mistreating others last fall during the unit’s deployment to Iraq.

Sgt. 1st Class Jorge L. Diaz, 34, of Company C, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, appeared Wednesday before a military judge in Würzburg.

<snip>

Diaz, a 17-year veteran, pleaded innocent to one count of premeditated murder, one count of maltreating a prisoner, two counts of assault, one count of making a false official statement and one count of trying to impede an investigation.

Diaz is accused of committing the crimes during a cordon- and-search operation of Iraqi buildings near Balad on Oct. 24-25. According to the charge sheet, Diaz is alleged to have forced a blindfolded prisoner on Oct. 24 to hold a smoke grenade with the pin pulled, pointed a pistol to his head, and punched and choked him.

The next day, during a separate search, he allegedly shot and killed an Iraqi, Thaher Khaleefa Ahmed.

[lebkuchen]

1. Let's see, unit deployed Mar 2004, crime committed late Oct

Eight months in the Sunni Triangle does strange things to a soldier, and this guy had already put in 17 years. He's supposed to be the one the younger enlisted look up to.

Many returning soldiers will be suppressing their rage, only to take it out on their unsuspecting spouses post-redeployment. I only hope the VA will be there to help them.

[Erika]

2. Me too.

We turned over the gov't to the Iraqis and Bush said things, would be better. They were worse. Then there were elections and Bush said things would be better, they are worse. See www.icasualties.org

[lebkuchen]

3. The 3rd ID is in for a surprise, heck, already had one yesterday

The 3ID was involved the initial assault, "Mission Accomplished" and so forth. The division just arrived for its 2nd tour of Iraq, expecting to keep the peace. Now they've got a guerilla war on their hands.

The 3ID is the division I'll be watching in the next 12 months. This could be a tough adjustment.

http://www.rednova.com/news/display/?id=130922

[Erika]

4. My marine nephew will be headed back in August

for this insane war for his second tour. Bush's uncle made $450.000 in the last quarter.

[lebkuchen]

5. How is he feeling about that?

Marines are a unique bunch. I've been told that (many? most?) don't mind returning for a 2nd tour (though suicides are up 29%) because they can be with their male friends and make $250 or so extra dollars a month.

[saigon68]

6. Just a youthful frat Prank

As in another Islamic "Bites the Dust" </sarcasm>