Soldier to admit to Iraq murders

[Barrett808]

Soldier to admit to Iraq murders
By RYAN LENZ, Associated Press Writer

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - A soldier has decided to plead guilty to murder in the deaths in Iraq of three detainees under an agreement with prosecutors, his attorney said.

Spc. William B. Hunsaker, 24, of the 101st Airborne Division, is "looking forward to getting back with his family as soon as possible and getting on with his life," his civilian attorney, Michael Waddington, told The Associated Press Wednesday.

Hunsaker intends to plead guilty to murder, attempted murder and obstruction of justice during a hearing at Fort Campbell in Kentucky on Thursday morning, Waddington said.

Hunsaker was one of four soldiers charged in the killings that followed a May raid on a suspected al-Qaida stronghold near Samarra, about 60 miles north of Baghdad.

The soldiers originally told investigators that they shot detainees because they were attempting to flee — a story they now say they made up — and that commanders told them to kill all military-age males.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070111/ap_on_re_us/soldier_charged

[peacebird]

1. what is wrong with this picture?

"Spc. William B. Hunsaker, 24, of the 101st Airborne Division, is "looking forward to getting back with his family as soon as possible and getting on with his life,"

:wtf:

those were innocent people he slaughtered not flies at a picnic. They killed innocent people - KNEW it was wrong because they LIED to cover it up, and now he admits guilt and looks forward to "getting on with his life"?

[Hotdiggitydog]

2. Oh come on...

Don't you think this guy has suffered enough? He had to sit in TIME OUT for 20 minutes then they sent him to bed without dinner.

[bperci108]

3. Sounds like a war-crime to me.

He and his superiors should be standing trial in the Hague like anyone else.

Oh, yes....we 'Muricans are just all about "justice", aren't we? :eyes:

[Heidi]

4. Kick.

:kick:

[annabanana]

5. US soldier jailed for Iraq deaths

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6254383.stm

"A US soldier has been sentenced to 18 years in jail after pleading guilty to murdering three Iraqis.
At a military trial, Specialist William Hunsaker admitted allowing three detainees to run away before "taking careful aim" and shooting them.

He had agreed to help prosecutors bring cases against three others accused of involvement in the killings.

The detainees died during a US military operation near the Thar Thar Canal near Tikrit in northern Iraq on 9 May."

[saigon68]

6. admitted allowing three detainees to run away before "taking careful aim"

And then proceeded to "Kill the Ragheads"

Nice example of a sub humanoid birth his mother dropped in the corral

Nice basic training he received.

Nice example of self-control he received from his AIT

Nice supervision from his sergeant he received.

Nice leadership from his platoon officer he received.

Nice example of a Thug and War Criminal for amerika to display

Nice boost to Halliburton stockholders he accomplished in the war on terra

And a nice example of "winning hearts and minds" for me to write about today

Nice example for Cheney to say "Its only a few frat pranks"

[Nihil]

7. Again, interesting use of a headline

"US soldier jailed for Iraq deaths" sounds like dangerous driving or
something like that, not the cold-blooded murder of three innocent
civilians.

Maybe they thought "US soldier jailed for Iraq murders" would be too
confusing?

:shrug:

[A Simple Game]

8. If the following two sentences are true, this guy knew he was

committing murder.

"He told us to cut the zip ties, tell them to run and shoot them. I went out and did just that," he told the court.

All of our soldiers should be told that if they do something as obviously illegal as this, they will be turned over to the Iraqis for justice. We all now know their preferred form of justice!

[Barrett808]

9. US soldier sentenced to 18 years for Iraq murders

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A US soldier was sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to murdering three Iraqi detainees, the US military said.

Specialist William Hunsaker pled guilty to murder, attempted murder and obstruction of justice. He was condemned to 18 years behind bars, demoted to the lowest military rank and given a dishonorable discharge from the US Army.

On Tuesday, another soldier, Justin Graber, pled guilty to aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon and received a nine-month sentence as well as a demotion to the rank of private as part of a plea agreement.

The two soldiers, members of the 101st Airborne, were charged with murder and remanded in October at Fort Campbell in the state of Kentucky.

Hunsaker risks life in prison if he violates the terms of his plea agreement.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070112/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqjusticemilitary

[Seldona]

10. There are people in prison doing more time for drugs.

What a joke.

[Missy M]

11. 18 years is all he gets for the murder of three Iraqis....

I guess only white people being murdered deserves life in prison.

[TechBear_Seattle]

12. When is it murder and when is it not?

Serious question here: what makes the distinction between murder and doing ones duty as an occupying force in a hostile country?

[thecrow]

13. Geez if he did that here he would be called a serial murderer

and get about 12 years per person.

I think anyone convicted of murder IN IRAQ should be held IN IRAQ and
JUDGED BY IRAQIS.

It is a sovereign country, isn't it?
:sarcasm: