G.I. Tells of Ordering Execution of Unarmed Iraqi

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Times

A top Army sniper testified Friday in a military court that he had ordered a subordinate to kill an unarmed Iraqi man who wandered into their hiding position near Iskandariya, then planted an AK-47 rifle near the body to support his false report about the shooting.

Under a grant of immunity, the sniper, Staff Sgt. Michael A. Hensley, an expert marksman and sniper trainer, testified in the court-martial of Sgt. Evan Vela. Sergeant Vela is accused of murder, impeding a military investigation and planting evidence to cover up an unjust shooting. An earlier charge of premeditated murder was dropped.

Sergeant Vela is the third soldier to be charged in the death of the Iraqi, Genei Nesir Khudair al-Janabi, last May. Sergeant Hensley and another soldier, Specialist Jorge G. Sandoval Jr., were acquitted of murder charges last year, but were convicted of planting evidence.

All three were elite snipers with the 501st Infantry Regiment, Fourth Brigade (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, based at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

The military trials have highlighted a secret baiting program, begun in early 2007, in which snipers placed lures like fake explosives or other weaponry to draw insurgents into the open, where American soldiers could kill them.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/09/world/middleeast/09iraq.html?hp

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Despicable!

[sjdnb]

1. "Under a grant of immunity" Disgusting

I'm assuming a Staff Sgt. outranks a Sgt. Just like everywhere else in Bush World, 'rank' trumps justice.

[gratuitous]

2. Yeah, this is real character building

Berkeley is absolutely correct to kick military recruiters out of town.

These cowardly fuckers need to be tried and judged by the civilian authority in the country where they murdered the man, instead of by their pals and cronies in arms.

[laconicsax]

3. Hearts 'n' Minds!

[ConcernedCanuk]

4. The guy that ORDERED the murder gets a walk?

.
.
.

And a trained sniper shoots an unarmed man.

Home of the brave . . . .

right.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. Okay, let's look at this another way.

"The guy that ordered the murder gets a walk, and a trained SNIPER" takes the fall.

Now, if you were the guy who gave the order and got away with it because of the immunity, would you ever feel safe knowing that a trained sniper has a grudge against you?

Hope he dies of a heart attack from the stress.

[jgraz]

5. "I think the Iraqi people owe the American people a huge debt of gratitude"

George W Bush
Jan 14, 2007

[Afje]

7. They knew that anything will fly if it's done

to an "insurgent". Only Iraqis who support our occupation are good Iraqis.