U.S. soldier accused of Afghan killings diagnosed with PTSD - lawyer

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

U.S. soldier accused of Afghan killings diagnosed with PTSD - lawyer
Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:41 GMT
Source: reuters // Reuters

TACOMA, Wash., Jan 17 (Reuters) - A decorated U.S. soldier accused of killing civilians in two forays from his military base in Afghanistan last year has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, his civilian lawyer said on Thursday.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for U.S. Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, a veteran of four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan who is accused of gunning down the villagers - mostly women and children - in their homes in two villages in Afghanistan's Kandahar province.

"He's been diagnosed with PTSD," lawyer John Henry Browne told reporters, adding that Bales had also been diagnosed as suffering from a traumatic brain injury. (Reporting by Laura L. Myers; Writing By Cynthia Johnston; Editing by Dan Whitcomb)


Read more: http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/us-soldier-accused-of-afghan-killings-diagnosed-with-ptsd-lawyer

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(Short article, no more at link.)

[atreides1]

1. That's their defense?

Then by all means the Army should drop the charges, promote him and give him a medical retirement...

[pasto76]

2. no, dick

no, its not an 'excuse'. but it is a pretty goddamn good indicator of why he went crazy.

it should serve as a reminder to the rest of the country that delving us into unprepared, poorly run and managed wars with little concern for the well being of our troops, can generate disasters like this.

lose the character smear implied in your comment. This troop is damaged by our national policies, the willingness of the american people to subject us to this war, and the arrogance and criminal misconduct of the Bush administration.

that being said, he committed all kinds of crimes under UCMJ (if you dont know what that is, kindly step out of this discussion). he will stand trial. he will face punishment.

but oh no, I called you a 'dick'. lets see some how long this lasts before some hater flags it and it is censored - regardless of how accurate the content is.

[CountAllVotes]

6. my cousin is on his 5th tour

so much for coming home at any time now.

You have my condolences and yes, I believe it alright.

SAD as all hell.

[yardwork]

7. Well said.

[actslikeacarrot]

10. not buying it...

...a lot of men and women have done four, five and more tours and SOMEHOW managed to not blast away at unarmed civilians while they were asleep. This just reinforces the bullshit "all vets are damaged with ptsd" stereotype.

[TheMadMonk]

11. Well given that pretty much how the army...

...responded to the Mai Lai massacre, I'd say his comment was on the money, and you're the dick.

And no I would not say you're particularly accurate at all. After 50 years plus of foreign adventures the US military and their handlers KNOW EXACTLY WHAT PROBLEMS POLICIES LIKE THEIRS CREATE.

[Judi Lynn]

3. If it works, it will become standard, no doubt whatsoever, for every atrocity. n/t

[CountAllVotes]

8. that is not fair!

Look at how long the vets have had to fight that were exposed to Agent Orange!

I met a man last week that just received his benefits some almost 40 years later! Did he not deserve them? He has one lung going now and is a mess physically and mentally.

War has a way of twisting one's brain, esp. after FOUR tours, THREE tours, TWO tours! Any tour can be enough already!

My cousin enlisted getting promised all kinds of things.

If they'll happen remains to be seen some 5 years later.

[KT2000]

4. his US base is the one

that reversed PTSD diagnoses to save money. My bet is that he was suffering PTSD before his last deployment.

[TwilightGardener]

5. Four combat tours and a traumatic brain injury--

can't imagine why that boy ain't right. It's a mystery...

[CountAllVotes]

9. +100,000

How many vets do we have dead so far since 911?

How many permanently disabled?

How many more must pay this price and FOR WHAT?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE SIR is NOT enough!!

[TheMadMonk]

12. Explains. DOES NOT EXCUSE! /nt