Were you surprised that a US soldier murdered 16 Afghans and should he be killed

1. 86

   perryaposted 12 years ago

   Were you surprised that a US soldier murdered 16 Afghans and should he be killed?

   replyreport
2. 64

   Perspycaciousposted 12 years ago

   The military courts will deal with him justly, but it would not have been a use of unreasonable force had a US or Afghan soldier or policeman killed him to stop the bloodshed.  Fellow US personnel in Afghanistan, and in all probability Afghan soldiers and police, will all pay a heavy price unjustly for what this one man did.

   replyreport
3. 72

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   Ok. You must be talking about a soldier who killed Afghans in cold blood or something. Because since we are at war, I kind of thought we were supposed to kill them. If we aren't killing anyone, why are we even over there?

   replyreport
4. 64

   Ralph Deedsposted 12 years ago

   No, I'm not surprised. And no he should not be killed, especially if his act resulted from a mental breakdown which is not unlikely in view of his extended tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army should attempt to determine whether the commanders of the sergeant's unit followed the protocols for identifying soldiers with serious mental issues.

   replyreport
5. 88

   kschangposted 12 years ago

   It proves that our screening process is not stringent enough and sent psychopaths into hostile countries while we're supposed to be in peacekeeping mode.
   
   There are situations that need psychopaths, and there are situations that need sociopaths. Send in the wrong kind in and we get major problems, such as this case.
   
   Major Hassan's massacre a while back was a signal that psych care wasn't not enough in the army. They raised it up a notch, but looks like it's not enough. Add to the part about soldiers being macho guys who are supposed to suck it up and keep it in, and you get crazies.
   
   Best spin control? Add Afghan advisors / observers to the trial.

   replyreport
6. 86

   perryaposted 12 years ago

   I actually expected this and I do not think the man was that psycho. After the Koran burning and then their killings of six US soldiers for it, this sort of thing is not unexpected. Now, we all should expect retaliation once again from the Taliban or Afghan soldiers. As to trial, i doubt if Obama would sign off on putting him in front of a firing squad, so, I expect the investigation will indicate that he was unstable and went bezerk. This will not be enough for Afghans, who want to kill him. On and on and on it goes. Let's get the hell out of there, 10 years of hardly much success and 555 billion is just a waste.

   replyreport
7. 78

   junksellerposted 12 years ago

   When you vote for war, you inevitably vote for the slaughter of innocents. Why should he be killed? He is simply the product of our own making. Why should we care extra about these 16? They are a drop in the bucket of the total we have piled up. Is it somehow worse that it was a crazed soldier versus a sane one following orders? Want justice? Look in the mirror.
   
   Stop voting for war.

   replyreport
8. 62

   duffsmomposted 12 years ago

   I would have to assume he had a psychotic break.  Should he be killed - I would have to know exactly why he did it, was he have delusions, what was his thought process.  I just don't know enough of the facts.
   
   It seems to be in the news more than our men who were killed in retaliation for the burning of the Koran.

   replyreport
9. 68

   onegoodwomanposted 12 years ago

   No, neither surprised or shocked................
   
   
   I am surprised, that the " American Soldier" has held on this long.............
   
   
   They see great and manifest tragedies on a daily basis.
   
   
   WHY are we, the Americans, NOT in their corner?
   
   
   The man...............he simply broke.   I am amazed at how few, do.

   replyreport