September 11, 2010

American Soldiers accused of Killing Afghani Civilians

Photos of some of the soldiers
accused.  Where are the pictures of the
Victims?
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. 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. The cutting off of fingers from the dead bodies is one accusation against these men. 

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.

The remaining seven soldiers were charged last month with conspiring to cover up the murders and other crimes, such as drug use. Pretrial hearings are to be held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State later this year.

Although the murders took place in January, February, and May of 2010, the Army has yet to review the cases. The cases are still in a preliminary phase and military prosecutors have yet to decide whether to move forward with the cases.

God help the victims of these alleged crimes. Civilians in Afghanistan are dead nonetheless and they of course, remain nameless, because we do not name our enemies. Naming them makes them real. Let us pray that they are at peace and with God, whoever they are. 

No one has proven these soldiers guilty. Let us pray that they are not. 

If they are guilty of these "war crimes" (and the killing of civilians is a war crime), then let us pray that God the Father has mercy on them as well as the victims. 

God help us all.

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