No official connection
I find it surprising that there's been little mention that the five US soldiers currently under investigation for the rape and killing of a woman and three family members, now being reported as premeditated, were from the same platoon as the two soldiers who were captured, tortured, and beheaded.
The alleged rape murder took place in March, while Pfc. Tucker and Pfc. Menchaca were captured June 16.
The investigation has thus far not made any connection between the two events, but it was the killings which prompted the investigation. "The official said the mutilation of the slain soldiers stirred feelings of guilt and led at least one of them to reveal the rape-slaying on June 22."
(A platoon is roughly 40 soldiers.) Small world.
The alleged rape murder took place in March, while Pfc. Tucker and Pfc. Menchaca were captured June 16.
The investigation has thus far not made any connection between the two events, but it was the killings which prompted the investigation. "The official said the mutilation of the slain soldiers stirred feelings of guilt and led at least one of them to reveal the rape-slaying on June 22."
(A platoon is roughly 40 soldiers.) Small world.
posted by mikevotes at
5:11 PM
3 Comments:
I have no doubt that there is a connection, but of course not one that would justify the killings. The connection might only be a mental one, not a direct one.
I wonder how the soldiers chose this family? Was there a connection to this family and the killings of our 2 soldiers?
By
Unknown, at 5:34 PM
I believe the rape murder came first, if I've read that right, and it looks like the Iraqis have learned a lot about vigilante style frontier justice.
If the military condones this type of behavior by refusing to prosecute US soldiers for war crimes, what choice do the people have?
By
Lew Scannon, at 7:22 PM
Time, exactly. There are just so many questions on this at this point.
Since the act was apparently premeditated, it would seem that family was certainly chosen for some reason.
I think it's certainly possible that the Sunni insurgency might have targeted members of the platoon as retaliation, but that would require significant operational skill as well as significant intel (eyes) on US operations. One of the basic functions of the militia groups is to provide protection and retaliation, but we just don't know at this point.
If this was an operation targeted at that platoon, that's pretty sophisticated.
Lew, That's the sequence. IF these two events are connected it would be for reasons of retaliation. That's one of the primary drivers of the factional violence in Iraq right now among the militias.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 8:18 PM
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