Soldier Apologizes in Iraqi Drowning Case

[Rose Siding]

FORT HOOD, Texas - An Army platoon sergeant tearfully apologized to his family, commanding officers and subordinates Saturday, the day after he was convicted of aggravated assault for two incidents of ordering his soldiers to throw Iraqis into the Tigris River.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Perkins, 33, took the stand Saturday morning during the sentencing phase of his trial. He faces a sentence from no punishment to a maximum 11 1/2 years and a dishonorable discharge.

Perkins, who did not testify during his trial, told the six-man jury of Army officers and enlisted members that his actions were wrong. He said he still loved the military and did not want to lose his job of training and leading soldiers.
"If I had to go back, I would definitely do something different on those days," he said, wiping away tears. "I'm just sorry for (what) my guys had to go through for what they've done."
...
Perkins testified Saturday that a month earlier, he ordered his soldiers to detain an Iraqi from a Balad automotive store and throw him in the river — but he saw the man climb out alive.

As the platoon's convoy passed through Balad earlier, the man made a gesture of slitting his throat, a sign that other Iraqis had made several times before troops were ambushed, Perkins testified. He said throwing that man in the river was aimed at teaching him a "hard lesson" about threatening U.S. troops.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=718&e=1&u=/ap/20050108/ap_on_re_us/soldiers_drowning

[peacebird]

1. what about apologizing to the FAMILY of the VICTIM?

[Karenina]

2. As I repeatedly told my boys as kids

Sometimes "sorry" is NOT good enough.

[Solly Mack]

3. That's nice. Guess everything is all better now. *

*disclaimer:sarcasm

[Judi Lynn]

4. You never stand so tall as when you stoop to drown a 19 yr. old kid.

Unarmed, too! May the Good Lord bless him real good.

[noamnety]

5. touching

Nothing screams remorse and sincerity like an apology that comes after being convicted (but before being sentenced).

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. That fucking son of a bitch is only crying for the consequences to him

not a fucking SHRED of remorse for murder and the goddamn psychopath will be out on our streets where one day he will sadistically murder an American. Fucking animal.

[yorkiemommie1]

7. only sorry because caught

the victims don't count to him. amazing lack of conscience.

maybe the freepers will run him for office.

Edited to add last sentence.

[AlCzervik]

10. i agree, he's boohooing because he got busted

[two gun sid]

8. People like this

are what prisons are for. This man is a sociopath and should never walk the streets again.

[gratuitous]

9. So, what is he sorry for?

He's apologizing to his family and his comrades in arms and for what "my guys had to go through for what they've done." He is apparently not sorry for teaching a man a "hard lesson" about threatening U.S. troops.

Hmmm, make someone feel "threatened" and his response is to kill that person. At least he now acknowledges that what he did was wrong.

Who knows, maybe Mr. Perkins was a decent person before he went to Iraq? Maybe he was a loving father and family man, kind to kittens and a nice coach for little league or youth soccer. Now he's a killer of unarmed, terrified people.

He certainly deserves punishment for what he's done. What is the proper punishment for the administration that put him in that situation without cause?

[anarchy1999]

11. "I'm just sorry for (what) my guys had to go through

for what they've done". Pretty much says it all, doesn't it? What about sorry for killing the 19 year old and what his family has gone through in the last year and 1/2?

Read the whole article, it is astounding in the level of spin and deception. Please someone remind me again, why do "they" hate us?

[damntexdem]

12. Gee, I'm sorry --

please start breathing again!

[baby_mouse]

13. Oh, well that makes everything OK, then!

If I ever kill someone, can I just say: "Aaah'm sorry," and everything be alright?