N.C. National Guard soldier pleads guilty to murder

[saigon68]

N.C. National Guard soldier pleads guilty to murder

The Associated Press

http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041007/APN/410070722&cachetime=5

A soldier from the North Carolina Army National Guard who pleaded guilty to murdering an Iraqi National Guard member apparently is the first American soldier convicted of killing an Iraqi since the war began, The News & Observer reported Thursday.

Spc. Federico D. Merida, 21, of Biscoe, was sentenced Sept. 25 to 25 years at a court-martial at a U.S. military base near Tikrit, Master Sgt. Robert Powell, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division, said Wednesday.

Another military spokesman said Merida had killed the Iraqi guardsman May 11 while they were working together at a coalition military base at the town of Ad Dawr near Tikrit.

"Merida shot him with his M-16," said Lt. Col. Steven Boylan, speaking in a telephone interview from Baghdad. "They were at the same guard point, and he shot him several times. They were on guard duty together

[venus]

1. no words to describe the pain I feel n/t

[gumby]

2. This is so sad

The Meat Machine takes a 21 year old and educates him to kill everything that moves. Then when he does, they make him the scapegoat for their indefensible policies and then uses him for their public proof of innocence.

This is not to say that Merida is innocent. It is to say that he should not have been there in the first place.

The Bush Administration should be the ones on trial.