(12) US soldiers charged with murdering civilians in Afghanistan war

[unhappycamper]

US soldiers charged with murdering civilians in Afghanistan war
By Arthur Bright, Correspondent / September 10, 2010

A dozen US soldiers have been charged with a series of crimes committed in Afghanistan, including the murder of three Afghan civilians and the subsequent cover-up, according to documents the US Army released Wednesday.

CNN reports that the soldiers from the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division out of Washington state have been charged in connection with the attempted cover-up of the murder and assault of Afghan civilians, as well as the mutilation of dead Afghans, and drug use. The brigade operated near Kandahar.

Agence France-Presse reports that the Pentagon is worried about the effect that the case will have on perceptions of its operations in Afghanistan. Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell underscored that the allegations against the soldiers had yet to be proven and, even if they were true, they were "an aberration" among the 100,000 US troops in Afghanistan.

Nonetheless, he said, "It does not help the perceptions of our forces around the world."

Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs, Cpl. Jeremy Morlock, Pfc. Andrew Holmes, Spc. Michael Wagnon, and Spc. Adam Winfield – all from the 5th Stryker Brigade – were charged in June with the murder of three Afghan civilians and other crimes, including stabbing a corpse, photographing casualties, and beating other men in an effort to keep them from talking to investigators.



unhappycamper comment: Sure sounds like they are gearing up the 'a few bad apples' argument again.

[sarge43]

1. And as usual only the low rankers are being nailed.

Please don't tell me that at least the immediate command didn't have any hint.

[CanonRay]

2. Aberration = A Few Bad Apples