Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Some Soldiers Take the Deal
There are three or four major cases out there involving multiple American soldiers and Marines in Iraq accused of major crimes: The Haditha group, accused of a rampage against civilians after an IED killed one of their number; the kidnap the innocent guy and kill him group; the worst of the lot, the rape the 14 year old, murder the whole family group, and, the group accused of shooting prisoners (they say it wasn't clear there was any surrender). Horrible crimes, if true.
There is no news on the Haditha guys or the shooting prisoners guys, but bad news for the others--members of the groups are taking the deals and pleading out. They no doubt will have to testify against the others as part of the deal.
Money quotes:
One of four Army infantrymen charged with raping a 14-year-old girl in Iraq last March and then killing her and her family pleaded guilty today to all charges in a military court at Fort Campbell, Ky.
[...]
At Camp Pendelton, Pfc. John J. Jodka 3d was scheduled to be sentenced today for his part in the killing of Hashim Ibrahim Awad, 52, who was suspected of being a terrorist. Private Jodka, 20, was part of a squad of seven marines and a Navy corpsman who were accused of kidnapping Mr. Awad in the town of Hamdania, taking him to a roadside hole, shooting him and trying cover up the incident.
Private Jodka pleaded guilty on Oct. 27 to charges of assault and conspiracy to obstruct justice, in exchange for prosecutors agreeing to drop other charges including murder and kidnapping.
As part of the plea agreement, Private Jodka testified that he participated in a plan formed by the squad leader, Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins, to kidnap and kill a known insurgent. In the dark, the squad kidnapped and killed the wrong man.
Private Jodka’s sentence has already been determined as part of the agreement, regardless of what the judge rules today.
Another member of the group, Navy Petty Officer Third Class Melson J. Bacos was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison, but will only serve one year because of the plea agreement.
I don't want to rush to judgment here, but it's beginning to look like some of our guys are war criminals. Wanting to kill an insurgent but getting the wrong guy in the dark--isn't that negligent homicide at worst?
There is no news on the Haditha guys or the shooting prisoners guys, but bad news for the others--members of the groups are taking the deals and pleading out. They no doubt will have to testify against the others as part of the deal.
Money quotes:
One of four Army infantrymen charged with raping a 14-year-old girl in Iraq last March and then killing her and her family pleaded guilty today to all charges in a military court at Fort Campbell, Ky.
[...]
At Camp Pendelton, Pfc. John J. Jodka 3d was scheduled to be sentenced today for his part in the killing of Hashim Ibrahim Awad, 52, who was suspected of being a terrorist. Private Jodka, 20, was part of a squad of seven marines and a Navy corpsman who were accused of kidnapping Mr. Awad in the town of Hamdania, taking him to a roadside hole, shooting him and trying cover up the incident.
Private Jodka pleaded guilty on Oct. 27 to charges of assault and conspiracy to obstruct justice, in exchange for prosecutors agreeing to drop other charges including murder and kidnapping.
As part of the plea agreement, Private Jodka testified that he participated in a plan formed by the squad leader, Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins, to kidnap and kill a known insurgent. In the dark, the squad kidnapped and killed the wrong man.
Private Jodka’s sentence has already been determined as part of the agreement, regardless of what the judge rules today.
Another member of the group, Navy Petty Officer Third Class Melson J. Bacos was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison, but will only serve one year because of the plea agreement.
I don't want to rush to judgment here, but it's beginning to look like some of our guys are war criminals. Wanting to kill an insurgent but getting the wrong guy in the dark--isn't that negligent homicide at worst?
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 5:37 PM 
