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[Svarte Troner]

....including unarmed women and children.

Please tell me he at least took out some armed women and children too?

Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that some soldiers were burning a bunch of Qur'ans or something?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[nenjin]

Like I said. It's almost like someone upstairs is laying the ground work for Afghanistan 2014: No Peace Without War.

[Loud Whispers]

What about the Afghan eyewitnesses who said that multiple soldiers led out the attack? That would be a bit worrying... If not disgraceful. 

[nenjin]

It's not unprecedented. It wouldn't be the first time a squad has gone off mission, for one (terrible) reason or another.

[scriver]

I don't find it unlikely, but we should also remember that perpetrators are almost always reported as more than they actually were.

[Flying Dice]

I'd put money on Duke's suggestion as to the circumstances.

[Leafsnail]

Personally? Buncha war buddies who had a friend die in some attack near a village. Misinformation informs them the attackers fled to the village, decided to take on personal justice. Should be prosecuted by the law, their immediate superiors punished in some way. Although we don't know much about this situation and probably will never know anything beyond what reporters release to us, so I am in no place to make sweeping statements on what this means.

They also had misinformation that their buddy was killed by children and the elderly?

[Urist Imiknorris]

They were obviously kung-fu masters and trainees who would vow to avenge their masters' deaths.

[Flying Dice]

Personally? Buncha war buddies who had a friend die in some attack near a village. Misinformation informs them the attackers fled to the village, decided to take on personal justice. Should be prosecuted by the law, their immediate superiors punished in some way. Although we don't know much about this situation and probably will never know anything beyond what reporters release to us, so I am in no place to make sweeping statements on what this means.

They also had misinformation that their buddy was killed by children and the elderly?

"They were sheltering them!", etc.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that some soldiers were burning a bunch of Qur'ans or something?

Not exactly like that. There was an administrative error that lead to some Qur'ans at a US base getting sent to the incinerator, but this wasn't supposed to have happened.

Anyway, I know that the guy who did this turned himself in after the fact, and I heard but have not confirmed that he was heavily drunk during the incident. The latter would make the former clearer, though.

[RedKing]

The bigger problem becomes how to administer justice. The Taliban wants to behead the guy. The Afghan government wants him to face trial in Afghanistan. Both of those are non-starters for the US. Word from SecDef Panetta is that he may face capital charges in the impending court-martial. I suppose you could try to finesse it by having him face a court-martial *in* Afghanistan at a US installation like Bagram AB, and then if found guilty, face execution by lethal injection.

Of course, the domestic repercussions of executing a US soldier for killing non-Americans in a war zone....it's something that hasn't been done EVER as far as I'm aware. Hell, the last military execution was in 1961 (although there is one guy currently facing execution for a couple of murder/rapes done back in the late 1980's). I mean....if the folks at Abu Ghraib and the Marines who committed the massacre in Haditha weren't given a capital sentence, it becomes tough to justify a capital sentence in this case, unless you're looking to blatantly send a message with this guy.

And even if found guilty and facing execution, there's an appeals process which could tie it up for years. That's not going to be looked on favorably by a people who prefer swift and bloody justice.

[Zangi]

Don't worry guys, he is going to live for years to come.  We take care of our boys really well.  No American Citizens or Interests were really hurt or injured after all.

[DJ]

And then people wonder why so many people hate America.

[justinlee999]

And then people wonder why so many people hate America.

Because they hate their freedom et cetera et cetera

[Flying Dice]

And then people wonder why so many people hate America.

Because they hate their freedom et cetera et cetera

Our freedom to kill and maim children and other civilians with few or no repercussions, of course.