Soldier Gets Six Months in Iraqi Drowning

[Tab]

FORT HOOD, Texas - An Army platoon sergeant who ordered his soldiers to throw Iraqis into the Tigris River was sentenced Saturday to six months in military prison, but will not be discharged.

The military jury also reduced the rank of Army Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Perkins by one grade to staff sergeant, which cuts his pay and responsibilities.

Perkins, 33, was convicted Friday of two counts of aggravated assault, assault consummated by battery and obstruction of justice. He was acquitted of involuntary manslaughter and making a false statement.
More: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=3&u=/ap/20050108/ap_on_re_us/soldiers_drowning

[wellst0nev0ter]

1. Boy, Aren't We Setting An Example To The World?

:eyes:

[Liberal Veteran]

2. What the fuck?

I rather imagine this will win hearts and minds in Iraq.

[FlemingsGhost]

3. Bust him back to Private, and send him to the front lines...

Put him on point, for every patrol.

[Solly Mack]

4. He could have his rank back within 18-24 months

and even as a SSG, he will still be in charge of soldiers. So he can encourage people to toss other people into rivers again.

In part, the sentences are a sign of just how desperate the military is to retain soldiers. Meaning, they'll keep these war criminals regardless, just to have a warm body in uniform.

That's a tragic circumstance that will lead to even more war crimes. In fact, it's criminal in and of itself; to return these soldiers to duty.

I've seen soldiers get far more time for far lesser offenses.

But Hey! If torture is the new American value then all war crimes are as well. Just ask our soon to be new AG.

The Abu Ghraib soldiers will do time only because of the worldwide publicity...also to make it seem like the government has dealt with the problem. When the reality is, our current administration is the biggest part of the problem.


But that brings us back to torture being an American value...just ask Gonzales.

If I sound angry, I am.

[0007]

5. I'm speechless!

[Solly Mack]

6. Beyond sad isn't it?

[WildClarySage]

7. Too bad the headline isn't Soldier gets Six Months Drowning in Iraq

[Journeyman]

8. That seems the metaphor for the entire army. . .

drowning in the deserts of Iraq. . .

[NYC]

9. A man in Texas was sentenced to 4 mos. for shooting his wife to death.

When the victim is not valued, the sentence is light.

[d_b]

10. Indeed