Bragging about killing Afghan civilians was met with disbelief

[unhappycamper]

Bragging about killing Afghan civilians was met with disbelief
By Adam Ashton | Tacoma News Tribune
Posted on Sunday, November 7, 2010

TACOMA, Wash. — Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs' big talk about killing Afghan civilians and getting away with it made him stand out when he joined a new platoon at an Army base in southern Afghanistan a year ago, according to written statements from his comrades.

Some of his Stryker platoon mates from Joint Base Lewis-McChord told investigators they didn't know what to make of him. They thought he must be kidding.

Now Gibbs is at the center of an Army war crimes investigation that netted 11 of his comrades from the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. They await their own trials for misdeeds they allegedly committed under Gibbs' direction. Five soldiers, including Gibbs, are charged with murder.

On Tuesday, Gibbs is scheduled to appear in court at Lewis-McChord for a pretrial hearing that could help decide whether he goes to a full court-martial where he could face the death penalty.

The 25-year-old Montana native has the longest charge sheet in the group. He's accused of murdering three civilians, keeping "off the books" weapons to plant on dead Afghans, assaulting a fellow soldier and mutilating corpses to get body parts to keep as trophies.

[Solly Mack]

1. k/r

[tavalon]

2. Sociopaths can serve, but gays can't

[Nuclear Unicorn]

6. No sociopaths can't serve because the military is going to crush this bastard

And I'm glad they are because there are lots of good people in uniform who serve with honor and this bastard is a slander against all of them.

[tavalon]

8. There are many sociopaths in the military, though many quickly migrate out

to be mercenaries.

[yellerpup]

3. A thrill killer.

And a menace to any society or country where he happens to be. Cut him out.:scared:

[w8liftinglady]

4. My friend, an MP during Nam, told me

"You train guys to kill, you send them to kill, you make killing OK in their minds, and then you wonder when they kill? You send them again.... and again... and then you wonder? Killing is their assignment." They collect souveniers to show their "job well done" It is not a new phenomena.it is the ugly part of war.

[Diamonique]

7. Exactly. And this is why...

... we should only send our people to war when it's ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY and as a LAST RESORT.

[Angry Dragon]

5. Was it in Florida where the republicans elected

a former soldier that killed two unarmed civilians??

[Gravel Democrat]

9. k^ >24