U.S. Condemns Video Showing Mutilation of 2 Soldiers

[sabra]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ayw.tY_QxMs0&refer=

U.S. Condemns Video Showing Mutilation of 2 Soldiers (Update1)

July 11 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. military today condemned the release of a videotape purported to show the mutilated bodies of two U.S. soldiers who were kidnapped and killed last month.

The video ``demonstrates the barbaric and brutal nature of the terrorists and their complete disregard for human life,'' the military said in a statement e-mailed from Baghdad.

Private First Class Kristian Menchaca, 23, and Private First Class Thomas L. Tucker, 25, from the 101st Airborne Division, went missing June 16 after an attack on a checkpoint near the Euphrates River. Their bodies were found rigged with explosives near Yusufiyah, 12 miles (19 kilometers) south of the capital, June 20. A third soldier was killed in the attack.

The Mujahedeen Shura Council, an alliance of at least five al-Qaeda-linked groups in Iraq, said in a written message introducing the video that the soldiers were killed in revenge for the rape and murder of a girl in Mahmoudiyah, 20 miles south of Baghdad, by soldiers from the same unit. The video and message were posted yesterday on a Web site used by Islamist groups.

[laruemtt]

1. i feel for those soldiers' families and

all the families of the soldiers and the iraqis themselves. what a mess. thanks a load, georgie.

[rodeodance]

2. yes, the families---how horrible for them.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

3. I wonder.......

The video ``demonstrates the barbaric and brutal nature of the terrorists and their complete disregard for human life,'' the military said in a statement e-mailed from Baghdad.

I wonder what the raping of a girl and the killing of her and her family demonstrates according to the "military"?

It's just so surreal.

Condolonces go out to the families of those soldiers. What a mess.

[Vidar]

5. And white phosphorous is defined as a defensive weapon.

[President Kerry]

17. 2 wrongs don't make a right. What you say is true of course,

but irrelevant to this thread.

[rodeodance]

4. more---"Soldier Beheaded" but video is no longer available.

This is a video ``on the remains of the bodies of the two American soldiers who were kidnapped near Yusufiyah,'' according to the message from the Mujahedeen Shura Council, which had previously said it killed the soldiers. ``We're showing it to avenge our sister, who was dishonored by a soldier belonging to the same division as these two soldiers,'' the group said.

Soldier Beheaded

The video was no longer accessible on the Web site today. The Associated Press reported that the 4 minutes and 39 seconds of video showed two bodies in torn military uniforms and covered with blood, lying on a bridge over a canal. One of the soldiers had been beheaded and his chest cut open, AP said, adding that the other's face was bruised, with his jaw appearing to be broken and his leg gashed.

The U.S. military has accused four soldiers of participating in the rape and murder of the girl and the murder of three members of her family in Mahmoudiyah, while a fifth soldier was charged with dereliction of duty for failing to report the incident. A former soldier from their unit, Steven D. Green, was charged July 3 in a U.S. civilian court with rape and murder in the case.

U.S. military investigators are looking into whether the death of the two soldiers and the crimes in Mahmoudiyah are tied.

[DeadManInc]

6. But it is ok for them to show dead terrists pics

all over the media.

[Rude Horner]

8. Yup. Like we don't parade pictures

of dead "terrorists" all over the media.

[cliss]

15. Amazing, isn't it?

This disconnect with reality is going to come back and haunt them in Washington....soon. If it hasn't already.

You can't go around the world doing what we've done - and not expect some kind of retaliation.

[gratuitous]

7. Which reminds me . . .

When are the rest of the Abu Ghraib photos coming out?

And the videos.

And the audiotapes.

And the "interrogation" sessions at Guantanamo.

And will the military have anything to say about the "barbaric and brutal nature" of its own personnel, and give us its estimation of its own regard for human life? Or is demotion and a dishonorable discharge punishment enough for murderers and rapists as long as they're wearing the right uniform?

[MrPrax]

9. Who's barbaric? I forget...n/t

[Broadslidin]

10. As U.S. Military Recruiters Actively Sign Up Racist Sociopaths......

Be assured,
revenge torture and murder will continue throughout occupied Iraq.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/07/washington/07recruit.html

[saigon68]

21. They sign up mental defectives and killers

And then are appalled when these people "GREASE" a few towel wearers.

[wordpix2]

22. don't forget the gang members and skinheads that are signing up

[saigon68]

24. They get training in Rock and Roll

You firearms people know what I mean

[0007]

11. I don't recall Iraq inviting those two soldiers to their country.

Steven Green from Midland Texas where junior received his family values and moral compass, 'eh?

[David__77]

12. No more barbaric than everyday practice of U.S. occupation.

U.S. barbarism is only "sanitary" or "medicinal" with its push-buttom murder. It protects U.S. troops consciences by partially insulating them from the consequences of their actions. Certainly someone like John McCain is every bit as barbaric as these "mutilators," with his bombing runs that killed many women and children.

[Bush_MUST_Go]

13. Posting the video IS disgusting.

But the US lost its ability to be taken seriously when they condemn such things when bush chose to sidestep the Geneva Conventions with slimy legal maneuvering.

[David__77]

14. Sure it is, but...

...Americans have lost the moral right to pass these sorts of judgements. They have to earn the respect of the world. And that can only be done by acting against the crimes being perpetrated by the U.S.

[Forrest Greene]

18. Not To Nitpick Too Much

...but we didn't so much lose the moral right to pass these sorts of judgements as we threw it away like a hot potato.

[bpeale]

16. ogrish.com

that video appears to still be available on orgrish.com

[dailykoff]

19. Is that "Islamist" website hosted on a Colorado server?

Or maybe one in Langley, Virginia?

[genieroze]

20. Trust me you don't want to see the video, I almost puked.

[Tempest]

23. HYPOCRITES!

The U.S. military had no problem displaying the bodies of Saddam's sons and Zarqawi's body.