digg

Join DiggAbout

Call for questions
Submit and vote up questions you'd like to see answered by Kevin & Jay at the next Digg Townhall on 11/18.

Rape and Murder of Iraqi girl gets Soldier 110 years in jail

cnn.com — The consequences of America's war on terror - A soldier convicted of rape and murder in an attack on an Iraqi teenager and her family was sentenced Saturday to 110 years in prison.

show profanity settings
expand all
  • flamingbird, on 10/10/2007, -23/+114it would be great if the local courts in america tried criminals and held them to the same standards.
    • rossi92353, on 10/10/2007, -69/+6support our troops, ya right. OBL
      • gwolf, on 10/10/2007, -1/+25This has nothing to do with our troops, these scum might have done this at home. Personally I would have preferred they got the needle.
        • ScrewedThePooch, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Hopefully it's prison, not jail. They'll get the "needle" from big bubba.
    • morestar, on 10/10/2007, -10/+53The consequences of America's war on terror ?

      Are you ok?
      • sabach, on 10/10/2007, -5/+25Yeah I don't get that either.
      • Pritchard, on 10/10/2007, -15/+4Perhaps the consequences of any human being being in such an environment. Actually talk and listen to the soldiers. Hear how many, even early in the war when they all were hopeful of Iraqis and the cause, and few knew of the politicizes fallacies of being there, talking about just wanting to snap on Iraqi citizens sometimes. Now we're how many year into this war already? Is it 5 to 6 by now? How brave these soldiers have to be to resist going ballistic every single day they're stationed on duty in that country.
        • orientis, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Yeah, so brave not to snap and turn into a murderous animal. I guess this guy's courage just slipped a little, eh?
        • michaelinnotts, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1You're the reason why I hate military men.
      • syntex, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1What does this have to do with war on terror?

        Invasion of Iraq had nothing to do with war on terror to start with... and only became infested by Al Qaida after the invasion.
        What is going (or not) in Afghanistan and Warizistan for example, could be considered war on terror.
    • draegloth, on 10/10/2007, -5/+31It would... Each of the soldiers involved should have gotten the death penalty, and their CO should be demoted.
      • notque, on 10/10/2007, -23/+14They should receive treatment, and help. Not death.
        • gwolf, on 10/10/2007, -7/+12They should be treated like a vet treats any incurable rabid dog they should; be put down.
          • badjoke, on 10/10/2007, -4/+5Except we aren't unthinking animals. He isn't "incurable", he's not going to run around on the streets, foaming at the mouth, looking for girls to rape. People can get better through therapy.
          • orientis, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1You are thinking of humans as dumb animals. I don't think you should be put down, but I don't think you should be listened to either.
          • nihilite, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3he is worse than a rabid dog. a dog kills because that is it's nature. this guy had a choice of whether to fulfill his duties as a soldier,or to rape and kill a young girl. He CHOSE to rape and kill an innocent child. The fact that he CHOSE to do it does not compel me to any compassion for him; in a just world the same cruelty he showed would be revisited upon him. I hope he can feel that kind of pain before he dies.
        • nihilite, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1@notque: you should get treatment. he deserves death.
      • toonworld, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1instead of getting the death penalty, they now have the privilege of becoming Big Bubba's man-bitch for the rest of his natural life. How's that for Karma?
    • STARTSOMETHING, on 10/10/2007, -8/+33If this happened in America he would be executed by now.
      • bradley0123, on 10/10/2007, -0/+24only in texas, otherwise, he'd just be waiting
      • brucemanly, on 10/10/2007, -4/+4if this happened in america they would have framed a black guy
      • ScrewedThePooch, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1If this happened in America, he would be put on parole for 3 years for being too short or too white to go to jail.
    • etcimon, on 10/10/2007, -9/+14Have you ever heard of a war without murder and rape? I'm not saying they were symbolic soldiers, but this is the easy way to satisfy public opinion.
      • mayurpatil, on 10/10/2007, -13/+3110 years thats too less.220 would be appropriate.
        • therightclique, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2no one knows what you're saying.
    • xSEED, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1indeed
    • Pritchard, on 10/10/2007, -9/+4No, it wouldn't be great. Do you think this soldier would have done this if he was at home instead of at war? Our soldiers and our citizens need mental facilitation and guidance, not to be treated as if they aren't human, and thrown away like garbage...But no, the idea of good people committing horrible crimes is an impossible thought for such a lowly society, neh?
      • SamyIsMyHero, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4You want to treat them as human? Bring them back immediately to protect the borders and all entrances to this "*****".

        Does anyone believe history repeats itself? I do. If you can remember back to your education you'd remember the result of imperialism in Britain. I talking about the first half of imperialism in the years before the American colonies. Britain fought 3 or 4 foreign wars and afterwards the British economy failed and most of everyone was jobless. Than the danish came and easily conquered Britain. Now I'm not suggesting that we will be invaded, but in general fighting foreign wars is very bad especially wars that can't be won.
    • Responder656, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Wait...people don't live that long do they?
      • therightclique, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1some live to be hundreds of years old...... oh... you're talking about people... not my creatures. .....

        .....
    • 4U55l3NlNJ4, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1nicely said, but the country would be one big jail cell.. and in states like CA, AZ, NM & TX, i don't think jailing illegal aliens for life would fly too well south of the border.. 2006 (First Quarter) INS/FBI Statistical Report - 95 % of Warrants in LOS ANGELES are for ILLEGAL ALIENS, 83 % of Warrants for MURDER in Phoenix Arizona are FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS - 86 % of Warrants for MURDER in Albuquerque New Mexico are for ILLEGAL ALIENS
  • rossi92353, on 10/10/2007, -67/+16Thanks for your service, I'm so proud of our soldiers! Hang Bush!
    • nyx210, on 10/10/2007, -4/+7Hmm... after that comment, it looks like we won't ever be seeing rossi anytime soon...
      • bradley0123, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5digg.com is going to be shut down for treason :(
    • prosemite2isgay, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4I guarantee that someone new will be knocking on your door tomorrow
    • hmunkey, on 10/10/2007, -10/+2The government isn't out to arrest us all...
      Remember that the government only will work if the people are satisfied enough.

      Right now USA is the wealthiest and most powerful nation on Earth so the govt. works.
      • mtheoryx83, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5And I bet you really believe all that crap you just said.
      • iticu, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1And Harry Potter is real, and I can't wait till I meet Santa Claus!
      • brucemanly, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1and george bush has a high IQ, just like you hmunkey
      • kinseyincanada, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2so the what 23% approval rating of Bush and 14% of Congress is what you call a satisfied public?
    • Stevejsam, on 10/10/2007, -4/+4reported to the secret service for threating the life of president bush
    • therightclique, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1you do, of course, KNOW that if you are in the united states, you can go to jail for what you just posted, if it can be traced back to you? lets hope you're on that pirate bay island.
    • therightclique, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1digg double posted me. sorry.
  • i6koi, on 10/10/2007, -22/+97His sister, Paige Gerlach, screamed: "I hate the government. You people put him (in Iraq) and now, this happened."
    • Darrelc, on 10/10/2007, -13/+124So its the governments fault? Bollocks. Mr. Bush / The US Government didn't force him to go against everything he knew was wrong.
      I knew as soon as I saw this headline that about 2 comments in someone would blame bush.

      You don't believe Minoru Yamasaki for what happened on september the 11th, just because he put the buildings there?, So why should it be The Governments?
      • bitcloud, on 10/10/2007, -28/+13"The US Government didn't force him to go against everything he knew was wrong."
        I'm not even going to comment...

        "War don't enoble men. Turns em into dogs. Poisons the soul"
        • DocHoliday22, on 10/10/2007, -5/+47War enables people to be what they really are. The sadists become torturers. The psychopaths make brave frontline troops. The bullies and the victims alike have scope to play their roles to the hilt. And the whores are always busy - Ken Follett (2001).
        • notque, on 10/10/2007, -6/+7You are exactly right. Thanks for speaking up for the truth.
        • malkir, on 10/10/2007, -3/+10If that were the case then every man that ever fought in a war would have committed the same atrocities. Since we know many had the chance to, and didn't, we find that your logic sucks and you are convicted of being a moron.
          • bitcloud, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1I don't think I've ever heard the case of someone gang raping a 14 year old girl and killing their family...
            Before Iraq I'd never heard of people being hooded, wired to electrodes, stripped naked, beaten to death, forced to perform sexual acts, water boarded etc... You might have, but then again you live in a country where the predominant culture is violence. You're raised to try and find nobility in the murder of others.

            "my logic" that you're so adamant to "find sucks" is a quote from the THIN RED LINE by the way. You should consider watching it.
          • malkir, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1You seem to have issues following a rational though process. It only takes one good man to prove your theory wrong that war makes evil men out of good men, and I'm quite sure there have been many more than one. The claim that I have been raised to find nobility in the murder of others is patently ridiculous, I abhor such actions, and your lack of reason is the type of thing that leads to violence. Also, I've seen the thin red line, I knew it was a quote (you actually put in quotes, shocking, I know), and it was garbage. Just because someone says something and puts quotes around it, or puts it in a movie doesn't make it magically true.
        • Malakym, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3From the Article: "Spielman's sister, Paige Gerlach, screamed: 'I hate the government. You people put him [in Iraq] and now, this happened.'"

          Yes. Blame the government. I'm sure the military handbook says "When deployed, you may have urges to rape little girls in their homes. This is totally our doing. Thumbs up, soldier!"

          Does this mean that when a man gets transferred to another city because of his job, and then he rapes someone, we can blame the company?
          • bitcloud, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1It's not so much the rape thats concerning. It's the rape and the MASS MURDER that occurred.

            If the company you're talking about trains it's employees to murder, and endorses inhumane treatment of others and preys upon certain intellectual and social demographics, then YES the company has a great deal of blood on their hands.
        • hmunkey, on 10/10/2007, -2/+8The US military is VOLUNTARY, am I right?
        • Sporky023, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1It's only voluntary before you get into it. Then you're stuck until you're discharged, as far as I know. Generally those who make the choice to join the military do so before they are faced with combat, and before the country decides to wage ill-defined war with little-to-none in the way of moral justification. Has anyone ever seen a gun being fired in an Army commercial? Is there even any implication of conflict AT ALL in an Army commercial? It is a well-known fact that the purpose of boot camp and military training is to break down the individual so he or she can be built back up again. Considering that the person who steps onto the front lines is therefore, by defnition, a DIFFERENT person than the one who walked into a recruiting office (at the wise old age of 18) and signed up, NO. US MILITARY SERVICE IS NOT VOLUNTARY. Someone please check my logic.
          • TheOther1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1It's a contract you sign and swear to uphold, like buying a house. Then you are stuck with a mortgage until you're paid out. Generally, those who get a variable rate loan do so before they are faced with sky rocketing interest rates and before the banks decide to screw the little guy. Have you ever seen foreclosures on a mortgage loan commercial? So by your logic, buying a house with an ARM is not voluntary. Stupid.
      • gwolf, on 10/10/2007, -9/+3The government, more specifically the military, has a great deal of responsibility for this, starting with their commanders in the field. They failed to control their troops, the responsibility of every commander in the field. The military tends to dehumanize the "enemy" and in a conflict where the opposition doesn't wear uniforms that means everybody that doesn't wear the same uniform you are is the enemy. Normal human beings have an aversion to killing other human beings so soldiers are taught to think of people they may have to shoot as being something other than human. That's only one of the reasons war is something to be avoided and done only to defend ones self from eminent danger not imaginary threats. Everyone touched by war is scarred including the winners. I suppose that's why most of the people who got us into this one have never known war.
      • Coded1, on 10/10/2007, -12/+4"The US Government didn't force him to go against everything he knew was wrong."
        Umm you mean like .... killing?
        I could see someone snapping when put into these situations. The Army trains you to kill not just 'people' but anyone they want. It's not like you are killing people that come up to you and threaten you, you are killing people who have no armour, weak firepower, limited ammo, little to no technology and low group cohesion. It's basically like fishing in a barrel.

        For a second I don't think what this man did was right or even should be condoned but to say living a life of killing others evreyday doesn't ***** you up just a little bit, you have your head up your ass.
        • CMOSLogic, on 10/10/2007, -3/+7What a ***** loon you are
        • hmunkey, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7They train you to defend innocents and protect your nation. Not to rape children and kill families.
          • Coded1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2LOL, innocent of what? If I am a solder and kill another solder(on the other side) that makes sence right? Now that I'm in the guys family's backyard while I'm doing it and his kid brother comes out with a gun, is he innocent too? Did you know that there are no solders left? Did you know there are no 'generals' left to command the Iraqi's? These people do not impose a diplomatic problem with the rest of the world, they have no power, no planes, no cars, what the ***** are they gonna do swim across the ocean to kick your asses?
          • Sporky023, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1@hmunkey, they're not called the "armed forces" for nothing. Guns are meant to kill unless they're firing water, paint, or rubber. The military trains you to kill, plain and simple. Furthermore, it trains you to make a coordinated deployment into foreign territory, handle the logistics of providing and maneuvering firepower, and then kill. Tell me, does a good soldier know how to use a topo map and compass (or GPS perhaps) to navigate in unfamiliar territory? Does a good soldier know how to set up a camp or outpost? If you answered yes, then you must agree that what you consider to be a good soldier is trained to invade, not defend.
        • iticu, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Why's this guy getting dugg down?
        • bitcloud, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3You're spot on coded.

          Seriously has everyone forgotten vietnam? WW2? the idea that war doesn't ***** up peoples heads is MORONIC... honestly I can't express enough how completely wrong you are if you consider that killing people doesn't ***** you up and desensitize you. You would seriously be in denial of EVERYTHING that people know about warfare and would definitely have your head firmly entrenched in your own ass

      • tony4moroney, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1pretty ***** abysmal analogy
    • draegloth, on 10/10/2007, -1/+50I can sympathize with her, but, much like the underpants gnomes, she left out step 2. Step 1, got sent to Iraq Step 2, ... Step 3, raped a girl and murdered her and her family.
      how is that a logical progression that can be traced back to the government?
    • STARTSOMETHING, on 10/10/2007, -26/+13its hard to fight "the enemy" when the enemy is us
    • blackjack75, on 10/10/2007, -4/+5Being in a "war" is just a situation where you see how people would act if they had no limits. He probably wouldn't have raped anyone in the US... unless he had a good occasion. War is like alcohol. It makes you do and say things you actually want to do and say but never do normally.
    • VEGETAble, on 10/10/2007, -1/+12I don't recall a draft, that guy went to Iraq on his own accord.
    • shanomaq, on 10/10/2007, -2/+10what a dumb bitch! got forbid her brother having to take responsibility for his own actions.
  • iceninja86, on 10/10/2007, -59/+6Wow. That just goes to show how messed up and irrational our government is....
    • atdigg, on 10/10/2007, -2/+32I'm not sure I understand the comment, what's the government involment in this issue?
      • CourtesyFlush, on 10/10/2007, -4/+19I believe the post was just keeping to diggbot posting standards.

        They're programmed to respond in a certain way.
    • insanebrain, on 10/10/2007, -24/+3The soldiers do as the are thought. .. . by their superiors. ..
  • Ulisses, on 10/10/2007, -53/+18Your choice: we can rape them over there or here in the homeland.
    • hooksie, on 10/10/2007, -1/+10Or we don't rape anywhere. Ya know, the logical solution.
    • tehxen3, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Let's rape you.
    • VSLOATHE, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1He's being ironic and making fun of people who support this "war". Why is he being dugg down? Some of you guys need to wear your hair up so ***** doesn't go over your head so much.
  • zestyhedgehog, on 10/10/2007, -4/+212It just doesn't sound right - he served as a lookout and got 110 years, while other three soldiers, who actually raped and killed the girl, her mother, father and younger sister got fro 5 to 100 years. I'm aware of felony murder charges, but still think that those other guys should have gotten life with no parole. *****, they killed 4 people after all, 5 years is not the right sentence.
    • mikelieman, on 10/10/2007, -12/+80What they *should* have gotten is hanged by the neck until dead.
      • bitcloud, on 10/10/2007, -30/+7cause two wrongs make a right...
        • mikelieman, on 10/10/2007, -4/+23Sorry, But I just will never accept that it is somehow *wrong* to execute the rapists and murderers of children. Call me old fashioned that way.
        • sidwheat, on 10/10/2007, -1/+16Christ, this isn't the 2nd grade. Anyone who can consciously rape and kill in cold blood - in my humble opinion - doesn't deserve to live. There is *no* excuse.
        • BrewBeau, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2It's natural to feel like killing the rapists and killers is right and just. They do deserve death. But when you're an adult and have control over your emotions, that's when you discover that lowering yourself to their level doesn't make you feel any better in the long run. Besides, having to live in prison and think about what you did for the rest of your life sounds much worse than the easy way out that is execution.
        • Touchy610, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1The only thing about it, Brew, is that there is a big-ass chance that they won't be in prison for the rest of their lives. This really does sadden me, and at the same time, makes me wish that they would be thrown straight into the pits of Hell, right where they belong.

          Screw all the "psychological problems" war may cause, you would think at least ONE of them would THINK, for one ***** second, "Hey! Maybe this isn't the greatest idea after all!" If they're mentally well enough to go through trial, then they must be mentally well enough to realize what they did was sickening. They were no better than the racists from a few decades ago, in that, I guarantee, they thought that nobody would find out because the family was Iraqi.

          The ones that committed this crime are no better than filthy dogs, and deserve the worst any of you can think up.
        • bitcloud, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1"how many killers would a killer killer kill if a killer killer did kill killers"

          it's the logical conflict that you have to face. Maybe they executed that family as capital punishment.
          • Touchy610, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Are you suggesting that raping a young girl and shooting her sister, who was barely a toddler, in the head is acceptable "punishment"?

            Please, tell me I read what you said wrongly.
      • funkyrenegade, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4When you can say that it's wrong to end someone's life, somewhat more peacefully than those 4 people he was an accomplice in the murders/rape of, there's something seriously wrong with the world. (replied to the wrong person, aimed @ bitcloud)
        • bitcloud, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1you're sentence is too long.

          "it's wrong to end someone's life"
          Follow this rule and we won't have families being raped and murdered...
    • snarfbot, on 10/10/2007, -2/+19yeah thats what i dont get is that the 2 rapists, Barker and Cortez are getting a lighter sentence than the lookout, speilman.

      and why dont they just clearly state what sentences these guys are facing, they are all accomplices to murder afterall. the article is so vague that its possible that the rapists were both sentenced to 5 years while Howard, (whos actual role in the whole thing is also not even mentioned, other than that he plead guilty.) got 100 years for his involvement.

      the only facts that i can determine are that there was at least 1 sentence of 5 years and 1 sentence of 100 years, so hopefully the rapists got 100, or close to that. although the whole thing is ridiculous as being an accomplice to the rape and murder of a 14 year old girl and the murder of her entire family should be life in prison not 5 measly years.

      theres something really wrong with our justice system. particulary in regards to the military courts, its probably impossible to even get access to the court documents and any evidence of what actually happened anyway. were probably reading a heavily spun version of what actually happened anyway, it was probably worse.
      • pppower, on 10/10/2007, -7/+0I think that US/Bush administration is trying to encourage soldiers to rape / kill Iraqi child and women. You only watched?! Get "10 years in prison bonus and next time be sure to also have some fun". Anyway maybe someone will try to explain me what is the difference between US and Nazi Germany? And where is that ***** freedom US officials talk all the time when they prosecute Iraqi for burning their own oil fields in their own country.

        I think that US legal system is pretty ***** up. You can have 500000USD fine for sharing an MP3, then 10 years in prison for killing four people. I mean 100 years (omg), but anyway killers will be free after 10. Maybe they'll kill some fat-ass american or rape some american child when they get out so somebody will realize that child rapists / killers should be isolated from society until dead, instead of getting 10 years vacations in warm prison cell with food and medical care.

        That's not so funny because freedom US troops brought to Iraq means that locals can't even have privileges they give to american rapists and killers.
        • mtheoryx83, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Wee bit early in the conversation to throw down the Nazi card, isn't it?
    • TheOther1, on 10/10/2007, -14/+6Five years is more than they would have likely received in NYC or LA for killing four people.
    • Mist0r_Wiggles, on 10/10/2007, -12/+1Dude I'm sorry, but I cant agree with you on this one. The way you are presenting this case sounds like these guys were just "normal" Americans that went on the rape/kill rampage for no reason. Now if this was in a city like LA and these 3 guys raped/killed an family I'll definitely ask them to serve Life or death, but the circumstances in this case case is different. Now I'm not saying their action is appropriate for any circumstances (therefore they did got convicted and have to serve time), but there was definitely physiological stress from their combat experience. We as average digg users can judge these people as inhuman animals/savages, because we live in a such perfect environment. We don't see our best friend getting blown to pieces. We get to hold our new-born babies and play with our kids. We don't shoot innocent people on check points just because they refuse to stop or can't understand English. We don't see Iraqi kids with no limps, no food, no shelter.

      What these soldiers did was WRONG. PERIOD. But given the circumstances, I am willing to say a 10 year parole is fair.
      • pppower, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6So what are you trying to say? You as a fine american citizen (upper-class human) have right to go some third world country with low-class or low-grade humans and kill or rape as many as you like?

        Niceee. Im curious if you give a damn if that soldiers came to your home, ***** your mother and then killed your sister. They are in military, so they should have some phunnn from time to time, right? What would you do then? Maybe give them a blowjob for serving the nation so well?

        You ***** nazi. For judging people I think that you are no better human that those pigs you trying to defend. I think that somebody from military should rape or kill someone from your family before you have the moral right to defend people that rape, then killed a child.

        >>>
        I am willing to say a 10 year parole is fair
        >>>
        Good. You should send that poor "victims" some gifts to prison.
    • dynamitehacker, on 10/10/2007, -0/+11Although I agree that it doesn't make sense that the guy who acted as lookout got a longer sentence than the ones who raped the girl, it should be pointed out that the guy accused of the murders hasn't been tried yet. FTA: "Steven D. Green, who was discharged from the Army before being charged, faces a possible death sentence when he is tried in federal court in Kentucky."
  • Junkyarddawg, on 10/10/2007, -15/+49Unusually harsh sentence.
    The guys who planned and murdered an innocent elderly iraqi man, then obstructed investigation, mostly walked (having spent more time in jail during the trial than they actually got sentenced to), only one of them got a serious sentence (15 years).

    Even in the case of the pre-planned rape-murder of the 14-year-old-girl and her parents and 5-year-old sister, this sentence is unusually harsh; as zestyhedgehog points out all but one of the other conspirators got sentenced to only a few years in prison.

    The impression I'm getting is that when it comes to war crimes committed by US military the average sentence is about 1/4 of what it'd have been if the same crime had been committed in the USA - except for one random guy in each case who gets the book thrown at him.
    • Fascist, on 10/10/2007, -6/+2Whoops, wrong one. Edited.
    • breadbin, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9FTA it was implied that the lookout who got 110 years plead not-guilty whereas the others plead guilty and hence their sentences were probably trimmed a little to account for the fact that they 'fessed up and didn't waste the court's time. That was my take on it anyway, I don't know.
    • fluxion, on 10/10/2007, -0/+14the main guys plea bargained to spill the beans on the others involved, it would seem. Spielman didnt have anyone else to rat out so he got butt-raped.

      we should drop them all off in the middle of Iraq and let them face the true brutality of their crimes.
    • dygel, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Unusually harsh my ass. He's elligible for parole in 10 years.
      • Junkyarddawg, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2That IS unusually harsh when it comes to US war crimes. Most cases so far have resulted in ridiculously lenient sentences.
    • nihilite, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Too harsh!?! They should beat this ***** to death with a louisville slugger! If someone did this to your mother, what would you want his sentence to be?

      I hope he gets the proper welcome when he gets to prison. you guys defending this guy remind of this article:
      http://www.theonion.com/content/news/study_iraqis_may_experience
  • nosajman, on 10/10/2007, -27/+13God bless America and no place else.
    • breadbin, on 10/10/2007, -1/+13What does that even mean?
      • DavidtheDuke, on 10/10/2007, -3/+8probably that we can rape who they like, cause, you know, they're not even American
        • DRINKxREDxBULL, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Yea, and we Americans tolerate the rape of people from other countries, which is why this guy was never even charged, right? Oh, wait, thats right, he was sentenced to 110 years.
          • Junkyarddawg, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1He was the lookout. Most of the guys who planned and committed the actual rape and murders, including that of her 5 year old sister, are already free because the sentences they received were so short that they had already spent longer time in jail waiting for the trial.
      • joe7845, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1It's from a movie, with Michael Douglas I think. I can't recall the name.
    • nox327, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8That is from the 'Head of state" movie with Chris Rock. That was a pretty funny movie,

      -
      oh and the solder deserves the sentence if not even a death penalty along with everyone involved in the case.
      • GliTCH82, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1This solder didn't rape and kill the girl, he was just a lookout, and there's conflicting stories about whether or not he knew about the plan to rape and murder in the first place. Having said that, he didn't do anything to stop them.
    • clyspe, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0best comment of the day... others a fr00b haters...
  • OJdidntdoIT, on 10/10/2007, -11/+145If you read closely he is able for parole in 10 years. He won't serve more than that I assure you. The 110 year thing was just for the Media and politics.

    IMHO anyone who can be a look out for someone who is raping a young girl should be shot to death once found guilty, and let god sort out his appeal.
    • m0d0, on 10/10/2007, -6/+4One of the most intelligent things ive heard said on Digg!
  • reddevil3, on 10/10/2007, -14/+123It's pretty clear...to American courts (and Americans in general) an Iraqi life is worth much less than an American life.
    • ZZeke, on 10/10/2007, -4/+11Got some real humanitarians here on digg...what a bunch of sociopaths.
      • bIuebonics, on 10/10/2007, -4/+3so where is your monument to every other american and non-american who has died over there? nowhere. how interesting...
        • jakem1, on 10/10/2007, -7/+5I fail to see why a single dead American deserves to have even a tear shed on their behalf. Lets not forget who is responsible for the current state of Iraq. Now digg me down you yanky scum,
    • nathron, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2shouldn't the title be:
      The consequences of America's war on terror - Iraqi girl gets raped and murdered.
      • DRINKxREDxBULL, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Yes, because girls don't get raped and murdered here in America, or anywhere else. This rape/murder phenomenon has never happened before Bush was elected.
    • Arcesius, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1That's pretty obvious. Are the American deaths or the Iraqi deaths more reported on in the American MSM? It's pretty ***** up.
  • jmpeagle, on 10/10/2007, -12/+126"He will be eligible for parole after 10 years."

    for rape and murder? That's f_cked up.
    • noblepaladin, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4"Military prosecutors did not say Spielman took part in the rape or murders but alleged that he went to the house knowing what the others intended to do and served as a lookout." If he didn't take part in the rape (only served as lookout), 10 years is a fairly strong sentence for being the lookout. I mean if you were in the military and your platoon wants to rape someone, and you didn't, would you really be able to stop them? It's easy for us to say that we would do differently, but you really don't want to piss off people who are going to rape and kill somebody (and people you have to depend on to survive).

      Also, it is true that many rapists in the US only serve months in jail, even if they are repeat offenders.
  • leviv, on 10/10/2007, -13/+8I don't like this headline. It kind of says that the fact he got punished is bad.
    • breadbin, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4It says no such thing. You can read it either way. The headline could easily be someone cheering for the 110 years. The way I see it is that 110 years is an incredibly long amount of time (regardless of whether it's deserved or not), so it's an attention grabber, nothing more.
  • IamBobX, on 10/10/2007, -3/+23Fark.com said it best

    "Soldier convicted of rape, murder of Iraqi girl sentenced to 110 years in PMITA prison. At least he didn't get life"
    • catalysis, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8That would be clever if it wasn't for the fact that he is eligible for parole in 10 years. Now it's just retarded.
  • IsmailOo, on 10/10/2007, -9/+35They should hang them all, I mean look... even if you didn't rape the girl or didn't kill the people... and you knew, to me thats just as bad. ***** assholes.
  • funkmasheen, on 10/10/2007, -7/+116"The consequences of America's war on terror"

    Well no actually. It's the consequence of this man being a rapist.
    • rationalist, on 10/10/2007, -3/+8Ignoring environment is just stupid. It doesn't justify the actions to acknowledge the cultural and circumstantial pressures that lead, inevitably, to an increase in criminal behavior among soldiers toward noncombatants - particularly in circumstances such as our presence in Iraq. People behave differently in a war zone, particularly if they are the aggressor (perceived or real doesn't actually matter in terms of the cultural and psychological pressures an individual faces).

      To acknowledge that is not to remove personal responsibility, it is to acknowledge society's responsibility for putting people in extreme situations which we know induces extreme behavior.

      Everything doesn't have to be reduced by binary thinking into a simplistic either-or. It is perfectly reasonable, and backed by historical empirical evidence, to hold *both* the individual soldier responsible for his actions, *and* the people implementing the policies that put aggressive males in situations where they hold all the power - and the weapons to back that power up - as well as the voters who put those decisionmakers in office. No one comes out of this with clean hands, and simplistic answers don't prevent bad things from happening.
      • CourtesyFlush, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5Ignoring the fact that no one in this discussion actually knew the soldier enough to gauge the effects of his environment does nothing to support your argument.

        You can blame his environment all you like........but unless you can prove he wasn't capable of rape before entering the military or Iraq, your theories are remarkably empty.
      • dezmo, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3also, compared to previouse wars, the situation in iraq is very mild, it's nothing that a healthy soldier shouldn't be able to handle
        • VSLOATHE, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Thanks for bringing that news to us. I assume you've been to Iraq? A close friend of mine was with the Marine battallion who carried out many of the first strikes in hot zones like Falujah, and he could only recently talk about it.

          When you're ordered to secure the borders of a town and explicitly told to allow no one out alive - when you are forced to kill women and children fleeing for their lives - you will be ***** up for the rest of your natural life. No 2 ways about it.
    • Jugalator, on 10/10/2007, -2/+7Not necessarily true. Under war, people are put under stress sometimes messing with their heads enough to rape people when they otherwise, if not being in a war, wouldn't. I'm not saying this to defend the rapist -- it's still wrong. There's lots of documentation and history on this behavior.
    • reddevil3, on 10/10/2007, -4/+2If it wasn't for the war this wouldn't have happened. So yeah, it's a "consequence" of the war.
      • funkmasheen, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2And if you'd never been born you wouldn't be able to make such intelligent comments. So I blame your parents.
  • cr4ft, on 10/10/2007, -20/+29Good riddance, fighting for our freedom my ***** ass
    • BESTenemy, on 10/10/2007, -3/+3Fighting for freedom is like ***** for virginity.
      • CaptainNoPants, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Um, American Revolution?


        No taxation without representation and all that good stuff
      • venom8599, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3No, no it's not.
      • mtheoryx83, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I believe it's "Fighting for [world] peace is like ***** for vigninity."

        Freedom has always been fought for...not that it matters, we have less freedom now than before we went over there. So if we're fighting for freedom, I think we might be losing.
  • RyukShinigami, on 10/10/2007, -3/+37If you read what actually happened to this poor innocent girl, lookout or full participant, this barbarian deserved what he got. I wish he had got more.
    • DangerCollie, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Where are the right wing apologists to start opining about how difficult it is in a combat zone...blah, blah, blah? Like that justifies any crime committed under arms. I still remember that discussion here. 14 Iraqi people slaughtered and a bunch of sanctimonious douchebags going on about how we can't judge what happens in a combat zone. Someone mows down women and children...we can judge. Even from the relative comfort of this side of the pond.
  • darthgarlic, on 10/10/2007, -2/+43Will someone explain to me in a professional tone, why these soldiers aren't going to be executed? What happened to UCMJ article 93, 118 and 120? Did something change since I was in?
    • otakushark, on 10/10/2007, -11/+16Bush was elected?
    • TheCount, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10The courts basically let them weasel their way out of death (or a real punishment for that matter) by squealing on each other and pleading guilty because otherwise they would not have had any proof to get any of them on trial.
    • breadbin, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5I'm no legal expert, military or otherwise, and I don't know what those codes refer to, but I'm wondering why they aren't being charged additionally with war-crimes. I suspect that charge has to be laid by some kind of civil court rather than the military themselves (they're not going to shoot themselves in the foot so to speak). But you're right. Even though I'm against the death penalty in civil matters, I realise that the military by it's nature has to have a different set of codes and standards. If you can be shot for desertion or treason then why not for something as clearly abhorrent as this act? In fact something like this SHOULD be treated as treason for a soldier because this kind of behaviour puts every other person in uniform in danger when the local civilians seek retribution. And when you're dealing with a community that is as easily inflamed as the wider muslim community then the knock-on effects of any of these incidents (Abu Ghraib, Haditha, etc) cannot be trivialised. The best thing to do is show the people you're trying to win over that there is zero-tolerance with no double standards.
      • parasitewasp, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I spent some time in the US Army. The US military has it's own courts and prisons. Usually much harsher than civilian justice. In this case I wonder why these guys wee not made examples of. They really deserve it.
      • parasitewasp, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I spent some time in the US Army. The US military has it's own courts and prisons. Usually much harsher than civilian justice. In this case I wonder why these guys wee not made examples of. They really deserve it.
      • Cmonkey67, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2They aren't being tried for war crimes because the United States has taken itself off of the International Courts list. Which basically means that another country has to capture our soldiers/generals/civilians/president and drag them to a country that has been approved to try war crimes and then try them. The U.S. will not and CANNOT try Americans with war crimes. We could if we put our name back on the list and held ourselves accountable to the International Court system...but then again Rumsfeld is currently wanted for trial in Germany for war crimes, so putting our country on the list would force us to extradite him and possibly others (Kissinger).
    • dougdug, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6the military has been remarkably lenient in punishing those who commit atrocities against Iraqi civilians. this is a parallel to Vietnam where William Calley got a slap on the wrist (and then a commutation by Nixon) for butchering a whole village of the people we were supposed to be bringing "democracy" to.

      for all the claims that we are there to help the Iraqis, the proponents of this war certainly show a great indifference to their actual well-being. we reduce their country to chaos, enlist thousands and thousands to help us out, risking their lives and the lives of their families to do so, then we are going to let in ... 7,000 refugees?
    • TheOther1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5For the soldier the article is about,

      Article 93:
      http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/mcm/bl93.htm
      No Death penalty for that one. Max punishement Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 1 year.

      Article 118:
      http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/mcm/bl118.htm
      Max punishment varies on intent and actions, including death. I don't think in his case it was premeditated. So he dodged that one.

      Article 120:
      http://usmilitary.about.com/od/punitivearticles/a/mcm120.htm
      Maximum punishment includes 20 yrs, life w/o parole and death. From what it looks like, he didn't do any of the raping.

      As for the others, I can't understand it. But look at our civil courts...
    • Cmonkey67, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Without going deep into legal jargon, it looks as though they simply avoided the gallows because of plea bargaining.
  • TheRealM3D, on 10/10/2007, -2/+24How about "The Consequences of One Man's Actions," since, ya know, he's responsible for his own actions and not the US government? If he's effed up enough to do something like that, don't pretend it couldn't have happened if he had stayed home in America. Maybe we should all stop pointing fingers at other people and start to take responsibility for our own actions? Forget the war on terror, the death of personal responsibility is one of the worst things that has ever happened to this nation.
    • funkmasheen, on 10/10/2007, -6/+12You're wasting your time trying to make sense here. The average age of a digger is about 15.
      • picquerist, on 10/10/2007, -4/+2He has a point about personal responsibility, but he's also in denial if he doesn't think people do things in war zones they wouldn't do at home.
  • svodka, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6Can't they just say Life?
    • lesty420, on 10/10/2007, -1/+11he has a chance at parole after 10 years
      • Kyrgizion, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Here in Belgium we have something similar, called the law Lejeune (presumably named after the godforsaken idiot who came up with it). It basically means that no-one, no matter their crime, has to serve more than 1/3rd of the full sentence if they behave well (but in reality, it happens in practically 100% of cases since our jails have a maximum capacity of about 8000 and we have a few thousand more inmates than that). Also, the death penalty has been abolished here, but is still part of the law: it is effectively a life sentence, but in theory without a chance of parole (a "true" life sentence would automatically be subject to the law Lejeune, enabling someone to get out after 33 years, and in practice this is much earlier). But even these people manage to get out from under their punishments one way or another.
    • EasY_TargeT, on 10/10/2007, -3/+3he could life to be 150. then it woulndt be life.
      • mtheoryx83, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1In PMITA prison for rape? I sincerely doubt he'd live to 150.
      • zzz@tkz, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I hope I life to at least 95.
  • JonGalt, on 10/10/2007, -13/+11"The consequences of America's war on terror" . So one mans terrible individual actions is the standard by which we judge the entire situation your refering to? I can see your good at generalizing, your not a very intelligent person are you.
    • Hefelumpman, on 10/10/2007, -8/+6You can't say someone is unintelligent and use "your" instead of "you're". You just destroyed my irony-detector.
    • CourtesyFlush, on 10/10/2007, -2/+6It's political bigotry.

      And it usually comes from those who are first to scream "bigot" when faced with an opposing view.
    • NapkinCat, on 10/10/2007, -8/+3And I can see YOU'RE good at looking like an idiot, YOU'RE not a very intelligent person are you.
    • pintomp3, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5i don't know if this guy had a criminal record when he signed up, but the "war on terror" has caused the military to drop their standards. they lowered the bar for education, raised the maximum age requirements, and even take in people with criminal records. while it is an indirect effect, strapping criminals with guns and dropping them off in a chaotic environment can lead to these kinds of atrocities.
    • sol2006, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Every war has its consequences, however like JonGalt said these men do not represent what America is trying to do. And hey, props for someone (Bush) stepping up to the plate and taking a stand against something (Terrorism) that effects practically the entire world. But it takes a group effort, and no one wants to get their hands dirty.
  • lesty420, on 10/10/2007, -2/+29They should have been tried in an Iraqi court
    • anonym41414, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Civilian courts have no jurisdiction over enlisted personnel or officers. Military organizations have always taken care of their own.
    • TheCount, on 10/10/2007, -2/+6Ain't that the truth, it happened in Iraq didn't it. If I go over to Thailand and get caught smuggling drugs, will the U.S. come and swoop me out of there and try me under the American court system? Probably not.
      • mtheoryx83, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Recently watched Broke Down Palace, eh?
    • blackjack75, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Oh Civilians courts have no authority? I think it's more a case of Iraq not having authority while being occupied by a foreign military force.

      Something tells me that if I go to the U.S. dressed as a swiss soldier and rape a few congressmen, I won't be sent back to Switzerland for trial.
      • remccain, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Just out of curiosity, which congressman would you go after first?
        Personally, I'd be way too afraid that I'd catch something - or have the tables turned. I have reason to believe the congressmen are much more experienced with rape than you or me.
  • orbit1979, on 10/10/2007, -3/+21Good. To be able to stand there and keep guard while that took place, he is just as guilty as the rest. Not to mention he and his accomplices made a mockery of everything we supposedly stand for. (emphasis on supposedly)
  • scabbers, on 10/10/2007, -2/+10To all the apologists who told me to "wait until they've had their day in court" ... there ya go, guess the OBVIOUSLY GUILTY soldiers have been found guilty. What a surprise.
  • ilmb13, on 10/10/2007, -3/+19This is really sick. They all should have got the death penalty.
  • hadak, on 10/10/2007, -22/+56They shot the 14 year old girl in the head after they both raped her.

    And people wonder why I refuse to join/associate myself with the military. Sick *****.
    • cassholio, on 10/10/2007, -21/+16More liberals showing their support of the troops. Yeah, these guys are sick *****. That doesn't mean that everyone in the military is a sick *****. As for you joining my military-we don't want an uneducated buttmuncher like yourself anywhere near the service.
      • bIuebonics, on 10/10/2007, -5/+7i laugh at the person who uses "uneducated" the modify the word "buttmuncher". the irony tastes delicious on my lips.
        • cassholio, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1so delicious that you made absolutely no sense in your first sentence?
          • Touchy610, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Ummm...he did make sense, actually.
      • 35263526, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Actually, "you" probably would. The military has been steadily lowering its entry standards since the Iraq war began. Just look at the recent revelations as to more people with criminal records being let it than in the past.
      • mtheoryx83, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1That's right, god damn it. They want EDUCATED buttmunchers instead. Someone who will read them a bedtime story after taking one in the ass.

        Again, you are a bunch of Sick *****.
    • Jugalator, on 10/10/2007, -2/+7It's digusting, but that's not to say a car salesman can't do the same. You can't blame the car sales industry for that. Anyway, I think this is mostly a byproduct of the stress in wartime breaking people down into psychos. They "snap" to put it in another way. Some have no longer a connection with reality. See also the Abu Ghraib events.
      • Kyrgizion, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3Oh come on, a car salesman isn't TRAINED to kill and handle various sorts of arms... What you said about those few freaks in larger society is true, but you can't tell me that a thorough military training will not bring out the beast in such people... (no, it doesn't turn regular people into monsters, it enables certain people who I'd consider monsters to bear arms and use them).
        • remccain, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3A car salesman isn't trained to lie, cheat and manipulate people eithe... wait. Yes, they are.
    • CourtesyFlush, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10Next thing you know, they'll be condemning all accountants because one beat his poor librarian wife.

      "It's their environment, you know. All those *gasp* NUMBERS."
      • picquerist, on 10/10/2007, -3/+0I'd like to see some of you who are scoffing at the pressures put on soldiers go to a war zone yourself, go through the training the American military in particular puts people through. and see what happens to your psychologic integrity.
        • dezmo, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5guesse what PEOPLE HAVE DONE THAT OMG!!! and they turn out just fine THOUSANDS OF THEM!!!!
      • Sporky023, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Courtesy, it's really nice of you to label us liberals as indiscriminate slingers of labels, but assuming that we'd say the same thing about *gasp* NUMBERS is pretty unfounded. Counting beans and putting bullets through living skulls are, shall we say, different pastimes. If you assume it's easy for someone to equate the two I highly suggest you never take a job as a schoolteacher, counselor, or librarian. Instead please be a lighthouse keeper and refrain from influencing my children. Thank you.
    • harlowsmonkeys, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6Can we assume you also don't associate with white people (look what Ted Bundy did), black people (OJ), asians (I'm going to leave it as an exercise to the reader to think of particular crimes for this and the rest), men, women, christians, jew, atheists, gays, straights, virgins, etc.?

      One thing we can be sure of--smart people probably don't associate with you!
    • remccain, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1All those lovely 23's! They're driving me nuts!
    • abird, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1I really wasn't wondering why you refuse to associate yourself with the military.

      And hooray for your sweeping generalizations.
  • dudefather, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5"for this parking violation I sentence you to a period of imprisonment which can last between 8 minutes to 100,000 years pending parole"
  • victorman, on 10/10/2007, -5/+9He should have been tried in an old-skool Iraqi court and later get his dick ***** torched...
  • supermanred, on 10/10/2007, -5/+30Any soldier guilty of a war crime like this should be hung right there on the battlefield for dishonouring his country.

    These 5 year sentences are a slap in the face of the Iraqi people. 20 years down the road, it will be Iraqi terrorists blowing ***** up. Good work George.
  • ramong, on 10/10/2007, -5/+4They should be tied up and sodomized by syphilictic bears and later shot!
  • gerfenstein, on 10/10/2007, -16/+6Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been murdered by American soldiers-- why are these guys getting singled out?

    I think it's difficult to determine where to draw the line of responsibility-- soldiers in an Imperial army are generally otherwise psychologically 'normal' but when placed into extraneous situations their behavior can quickly degrade (see the Stanford Prison Experiment, for example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment).

    The question is, how much responsibility should be on the shoulders of those individuals who find themselves in these extreme situations and how much accountability should be held to those who put them there in the first place-- those Imperial leaders whose rhetoric is about 'bringing democracy and freedom' but whose real intentions are much less noble and indeed much more criminal.
    • funkmasheen, on 10/10/2007, -5/+8Not quite. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been murdered by Islamic terrorists. But I suppose it's more "right on" and "cool" to blame it on American soldiers. Stupid kid.
      • gerfenstein, on 10/10/2007, -6/+4"Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been murdered by Islamic terrorists."

        Certainly true. But the guys in this Digg submission are Americans and thus we are talking specifically about those killed by the invading army from the United States.

        Here's a great article on the casualty count in Iraq: http://www.counterpunch.org/andrew01092006.html

        Keep in mind the article is from January of 2006, so casualties are certainly much higher now.
      • gerfenstein, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2Also, I think you may have completely missed my point. I am proposing that instead of the individual soldiers, perhaps it is those responsible for the war to begin with who should be held responsible.

        And I reject your notion that anything dealing with a subject so critical and so tragic can or should be referred to as 'right on' or 'cool'.
    • gerfenstein, on 10/10/2007, -6/+3Also, see this article from Democracy Now: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/30/1335257&mode=thread&tid=25
    • gerfenstein, on 10/10/2007, -4/+1Ummm, my comments get dugg down but this gets dugg up: "Have fun getting raped in jail *****. I hope you rot there."

      I don't suppose anyone actually read my whole comment or any of the articles I've linked to, I guess it's hard to get past the strong wording of my first sentence.
  • Hoodwink, on 10/10/2007, -5/+13Have fun getting raped in jail *****. I hope you rot there.
    • hobba, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Totally agree with you....

      What goes around.. comes around!
  • oMeSSiaHo, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7Arg, my area gets a lot of bad press. This guy watches out while his friends rape and murder children, an Amish school gets shot, a principal gets shot at a school, second graders are stabbed in a school, our mayor kills black girls, dude goes nuts and kills his gf's parents and kidnaps her... I think it might be something in the water here. sigh
    • demonotaku, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Our state is just full of nutjobs my friend.
  • remccain, on 10/10/2007, -17/+10Ah, anyone remember the good old days?
    You know, when the government would declare war on a real target, like Rome, or Germany, and the military would go in gangbusters killing men and children, raping women and burning everything to the ground?

    Ayup. It was all easier then. No "war crimes" because you GOT TO FUGGING KEEP THE COUNTRY YOU CAPTURED!

    I really have issues with "invading" a country, fighting an invisible enemy, and then giving away the country and billions of dollars. As far as I'm concerned, the war on Iraq had better end with Iraq as a US territory under US rule.

    Just my 2 cents.
    • duke3k, on 10/10/2007, -5/+4I agree. It's utter nonsense for humans to pretend that suddenly they're too sophisticated to do things the way they've been done forever. Luckily the Islamists are fighting war the way it's meant to be fought. Eventually, we'll either have to get as dirty or lose.
    • fboliv, on 10/10/2007, -3/+7Both you and the jackass on top of me in the comment list need to get a ***** head check. Maybe throw yourselves under a moving train?

      This is still a crime against innocent people, they have been tried as such, and they'll rot (and possibly get their own buttplugs) in jail because of it. No need for calling this a "war crime". It's a crime because they raped and murdered people - this could happen anywhere, doesn't need to be in iraq.
    • GoneSouth, on 10/10/2007, -4/+3So, you've enlisted then to help with the occupation? I didn't think so. You pussy.
      • remccain, on 10/10/2007, -2/+3and what's your billet number, recruit?
        • picquerist, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2They're not the one going on about wanting to keep Iraq. And above and beyond your completely unrealistic predications, I can't help but fixate on that particular conclusion. *WHAT* earthly reason could we possibly have to WANT TO KEEP THAT ***** FOREVER?
          • remccain, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Raze the country and keep the oil to repay the $200+ Billion they owe from previous wars. Plus interest. Plus the cost of the fugging wars. I think that a nice chunk of the 8 trillion dollars in oil ($70/barrel) under that sand would be fair payment.
  • AgentAce, on 10/10/2007, -5/+13I don't see how this is logically a consequence of the War on Terror. This is simply the result of someone being an evil bastard.
    • gerfenstein, on 10/10/2007, -2/+7Again, see the Stanford Prison Experiment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment
      • NapkinCat, on 10/10/2007, -5/+2So what's the excuse for people that aren't in captivity that commit rape and murder?
        • duke3k, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7If you actually read what he posted, the stanford prison experiment wasn't about the people in captivity, it was about the people given the authority role.
          • dezmo, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Stressfull situations don't change someone, they only reveal the true nature of a person.
  • badfish0116, on 10/10/2007, -14/+8This is a direct product of the propaganda that is force-fed daily to our troops. Another reason is the total brain dead nature of our citizenry who blindly follw and repeat mantras such as "Support the Troops!" Ill get dugg down but I will be the first to say ***** NO i dont support the troops! Not when they are doing ***** like this! If your ignore the fact that regular Joe Schmohammed Iraqi is harrased,brutally beaten,raped,robbed,and murdered by our soldiers on a DAILY basis then you are in denial. Just ask the soldiers what they think of Iraqis they will tell you. "Dirty Ragheads" "Towelheads" etc. Of course not all of the soldiers think this way but most do. Put yourself in an Iraqis position. Most would rather be under Saddam still. At least they had power and runing water then. That does not bode well for America.
    • CourtesyFlush, on 10/10/2007, -5/+6Osama? Is that you? Or is this one of his concubines?

      Have any links for us or is that bit of bigotry all you have to go with today?
      • badfish0116, on 10/10/2007, -4/+3Do you even know what a concubine is you moron?

        Jeez
        • CourtesyFlush, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5What is it about the statement that confuses you so thoroughly? Do you bend over for Osama or not?

          And we're still waiting for links that prove you're not a bigot.
    • cassholio, on 10/10/2007, -7/+5Yup. More liberals coming in support of the troops. Go on with your bad self Mr. Progressive.
      • badfish0116, on 10/10/2007, -4/+2Im not a liberal actually I am a Republican
        • CourtesyFlush, on 10/10/2007, -3/+3Sure, buddy.

          Add liar to bigot and whore of Osama.
        • picquerist, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2And what's really ironic is that your comments about liberals are no better than his lying about being a Republican ... if he is lying. You can't exactly pretend to have that party locked down anymore. The actual conservatives are very angry with you.
        • CourtesyFlush, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2How odd. I haven't used the word "liberal."

          Perhaps you should cut and paste the statement to which you are referring.
        • CourtesyFlush, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I see you were talking to someone else. My bad.

          We don't actually have any real evidence that this poster is even an American, to tell you the truth. There are all sorts of influences on the intarwebs that are not what they appear or claim to be.

          This person's goal was to spread unsupported disinformation. Now he's lying about who he is.

          That's precisely why I've been asking uncomfortable questions.
    • NapkinCat, on 10/10/2007, -3/+4So by your generalizations you must know most of the Iraqi soldiers and the Muslim people? Because otherwise that entire statement would be *****.
    • badfish0116, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Courtesy Flush. I cannot educate you. These 2 videos took a 1 second search on youtube. Please read b4 you post. I am not your mommy or your teacher. I dont give a ***** what you think about me. You havent said one factual thing in any of your incohernt reambings. Just search on youtube. Im not gonna do it for you. Try some keywords like iraqi beatings americans whatever. There is this new thing called goolge were you can find facts. Try it your it works better tahn contiunously asking a random person to do reseach for you. Here is a link to get you started. ill hold your hand thru this one ok. U.S. troops kept Iraqi brains in fridge as trophies http://mparent7777.blogspot.com/2007/02/us-troops-kept-iraqi-brains-in-fridge.html How is that flush? keeping brains as trophies? Aint that America? God i wish Thomas Jefferson was here so he could stab you with his sabar!
    • sol2006, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0What those soldiers did to that girl was also done under Saddam...only it was an everyday thing. Add that to the murders and mass killings. Yeah, Saddam was sooo much better then we are...
  • theghoul, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2crazy *****.

    Unfortunately this ***** happens in just about every war, and most go unreported. I've been in a combat zone and wore the uniform. Mental states change with higher OPTEMPO (look it up).
    • mtheoryx83, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I did look it up, and you're using the wrong term. This has nothing to do with equipment usage. It would technically be PERSTEMPO or DEPTEMPO, if im not mistaken. Look it up :p
    • Sporky023, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Generally, it would be nice if everyone would speak up as to their military background and service. I think it plays quite a bit into credibility here. I myself have never been in the military or fired a gun at anyone. I have an uncle who was in Vietnam and he's still reeling from it.
  • SirDiggalot, on 10/10/2007, -7/+7Vietnam all over again.
  • m00dy, on 10/10/2007, -2/+29Killed her family, raped her, shot her and burned her body. Not even an animal knows how to do that.
    • duke3k, on 10/10/2007, -7/+6Actually, you retard, humans have been conducting themselves like this during warfare for much of their history. It's a recent development that we've become too blase to muddy our hands with actually dehumanizing and destroying an enemy.

      Luckily, it won't last because the nation who is too politically correct to embrace savagery lasts about as long as a vegetarian wolf.
      • repeatoffender, on 10/10/2007, -5/+2"Luckily, it won't last because the nation who is too politically correct to embrace savagery lasts about as long as a vegetarian wolf."

        Amen, Brother.

        --"war is a cruel thing. The more cruel it is, the sooner it is over"..-----William Tecumseh Sherman----

        Had it been me, I would have kicked out all the newsies from Fallujah two years ago, and napalmed the entire city. Every single human incinerated-----that would have shown the arab terrorist filth that we know how to kill better than they do, which is the only language they understand. "Go ugly, Early"
        • Sporky023, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1It is a rather common sentiment that the only way to influence US foreign policy is through terrorist violence because "force is the only language the United States understands." http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_21_121/ai_n8702436/pg_2

          At least we have something in common with these strange, sinister alien beings who take on human form and live in the desert more then forty miles away from us. I've heard some of them even ***** and sing along to the radio in a clever farce to fool us into thinking they're *gasp* LIKE US somehow
      • oldredlion, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2"to muddy our hands with actually dehumanizing and destroying an enemy".
        An enemy? A 14 year old girl, her little sister and the rest of her family, the enemy? That's ***** up, and shows that whilst you may defeat the real enemy, given time, you will lose a lot of friends in the process. Look up the phrase "winning hearts and minds".

        "He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster", Nietzsche
        • remccain, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1"Nietzsche, you're dead." - God.
          • mtheoryx83, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1"God, you're a figment of people's imaginations, and a crutch for the weak." ~reality
    • remccain, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2Ignorant savage. Animals rape and kill and exhibit "human-like" behavior all the time. Perhaps that should be people exhibit "animal-like" behavior. Man is an animal, remember?
      Dolphin molests swimmers- http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/06/04/uk.dolphin/index.html
      Necrophilia - http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/research/story/0,9865,1432991,00.html
      Gay animals - http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3008
      Cannibal chimps - http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~stanford/chimphunt.html
      etc. Learn to use google.
      • hinmanj, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0do they burn bodies too?
        • remccain, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1no... but chimps hunt, kill and dismember infant chimps and eat them. Does that count?
      • Sporky023, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Be careful fool, putting homosexuality in the same basket with necrophilia and cannibalism. Be very, very careful.
        • remccain, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1When the wife and I get freaky, we get *real* freaky.
  • SirDiggalot, on 10/10/2007, -11/+14Vietnam all over again.
    • SirDiggalot, on 10/10/2007, -8/+1Stupid comment system... bury above.
      • duke3k, on 10/10/2007, -4/+5I'll bury both just to be safe
      • remccain, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1why not just go into options and change the way your comments are viewed?
  • rhabd0mancer, on 10/10/2007, -15/+10March on, christian soldiers!
    • duke3k, on 10/10/2007, -9/+6Yeah, because being christian is a requirement for military service...moron
      • MillionsLivio, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I concur with duke, not everyone follows your horridly illogical religion rhab, sush.
      • remccain, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2*Sigh* You're so lucky that God always feels the same way you do.
  • FierceGrape, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4Good.
  • caponumen, on 10/10/2007, -4/+7Iraq is mad dog training camp.
  • Poucet, on 10/10/2007, -4/+10They all should have been tried and charged in Iraq.
  • redsolaris, on 10/10/2007, -13/+3Come on people its not like Iraqi lives are worth locking up Americans over
    They wont know who's boss over there at this rate.
  • realdeal1115, on 09/01/2008, -5/+1Well, at least he didn't get life.
  • PaulOwen, on 10/10/2007, -7/+33Hang on.

    A first-world government going to war for questionable reasons ... check.
    Hand-to-hand street-level close quarters combat ... check.
    Local control and support lost ... check.
    Heightened military spending to fuel the economy ... check.
    Guerilla militant groups forming and disbanding quicker than military intelligence can keep tabs ... check.
    Troops put in jail for human rights abuses in the field ... check.
    Growing domestic anger from both sides raising questions of when to pull out ... check.
    Maimed veterans returning to a cynical home front ... check.

    Iraq?

    Vietnam. All over again.
    • duke3k, on 10/10/2007, -5/+7Political correctness and "civil warfare" stopping American troops from handily destroying an incompetent enemy at the cost of their own lives.... check
      • akf2000, on 10/10/2007, -1/+9duke3k peppering thread with multiple comments making the same point - check
      • CourtesyFlush, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5They obviously don't want to hear about the failures of "politically correct war" and the cost in lives of their own people.

        They want homogenized wars that can't be won outright. They'd rather make political points with the lives of their own soldiers and withdraw without victory.

        War used to be horrible. That's what made it something to avoid.

        Civilian lives are now being used as tools of blackmail by rogue governments instead of relying on military might to win wars. Can't win the old fashioned way? Hide behind civilians and drag the conflict out for ten times longer than necessary........or until the other side suffers enough scorn for killing non combatants that were purposely scattered among the combatants.
  • Typhoon2009, on 10/10/2007, -4/+11Idiots. The guy was a lookout, he didn't actually commit the murder and rape. Should he have intervened? Yes and no; he'd likely get shot by the three or four guys who were actually raping her.

    If anything he should've gotten 5 years while the rest got well over that.
    • picquerist, on 10/10/2007, -2/+2So, in your mind, someone who aids and abets a crime isn't guilty of anything significant even if the crime is rape and murder? 'He'd get shot' is a pussy excuse.
      • Pitofdoom, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Excellent, a pussy excuse...
      • blitzer, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Says you from behind your computer
      • noblepaladin, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Well, that's the reason why he isn't getting executed. He didn't stop the crime, he aided it so he got 110 years (10 years until possible parole). If he actually raped and killed her he'd get more. Sounds fair. It's more harsh than people usually get in the US. Let's just wait for the sentencing on the other guys who actually did the crime.
      • Btzarro, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Well this dolt is a republican,Explains a lot
    • omgwhat, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4He held her down, and then "wrongfully touched" her corpse. He's just as guilty as if he did it.
    • rebotfc, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2What a weak excuse, "he'd likely get shot..." what do you think he's in iraq for, his duty is to protect those who cant protect themselves and risk getting shot at daily. Hypocrite, just shows how little you value an iraqi life.
    • jake8689, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1so i guess doing the right thing is stupid huh
  • GoneSouth, on 10/10/2007, -4/+8FTA: "He will be eligible for parole after 10 years." I hope folks didn't miss this part. If this had happened in Texas, this guy would be on death row. Since it's only an Iraqi he raped and murdered, he will be eligible for parole in a decade.
    • PastorFrancisCC, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5If he was in Texas and raped & killed an Arab family, he would probably be cheered on by the local crowds (with the exception of Austin.) Dont believe me? Ask 10 random people in texas whether genocide of Arabs should happen. 7 will not only condone it but encourage it. I asked the question. The answeres were scary.
    • mtheoryx83, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Here lately we've had sooo much good come out of Texas, right?
    • Sporky023, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Ten years is nothing to shake a stick at. If prison is for the purpose of deterrance, you can be sure this guy will think twice before committing any crime. Let's say you're 25 as you're reading this. How much money would you give up in order to prevent having to go to prison now, and get out when you're 35. The next ten years, sitting there, looking at a wall. In a cage, for ten years.

      Now, if prison's for the sake of "justice" it should be skipped and he should be shot.
  • Tazdrummer, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1Maybe Congress should have passed that Jim Webb bill, you know, the one where it gives the troops more time out of Iraq for each tour they serve in Iraq.

    I guess this is a product of when you bend the troops so far, they break.

    I can see the sisters point of blaming the government, but still...... he wasn't 100% innocent either.
  • Fetching more discussions...
    Show 51 - 100 of 141 discussions
  •  

    Login or register to add a comment

    Create a new account or login to join in the conversation on Digg. You'll also be able to Digg stories to help promote things you like.


© Digg Inc. 2008 — Content posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain.
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.