Former US private charged with rape and killing victim's family in Iraq
The fifth military enquiry against an American soldier in as many weeks has started with allegations against Steven Green, 21, which are amongst the most incendiary that one can imagine.
He faces charges that he raped a young girl and then shot her and her family in an alcohol fuelled frenzy. If convicted he could face the death penalty.
In the version of events released by the justice department yesterday, Mr Green was among four soldiers manning a checkpoint near the family's home on the night of March 11.This incident has only come to light because two US soldiers have reported hearing the young men discussing attacking the young girl (in some reports she is said to be only fifteen) and noticed that the men returned with blood stained clothing. The men who reported the incident are thought to be motivated by guilt.
While on duty, they were overheard discussing plans to rape the woman, and later left for her house after directing another soldier to monitor the radio. They were armed with M4 rifles from the armoury, and fuelled with alcohol - in violation of military regulations. Three of the alleged assailants changed into dark clothing; a witness also said Mr Green covered his face with a brown T-shirt.
When the soldiers arrived at the home, one of the American troops stood guard at the front door, while the other soldiers went inside. One witness told the FBI investigator that the parents and sister of the rape victim were confined to a back bedroom, and that he later heard gunshots from that room.
"I just killed them, all are dead," Mr Green allegedly announced to the soldiers, according to the FBI investigative report released by the justice department.
Three of the soldiers then raped the woman, according to the report. She was then shot in the head a number of times. Her body also was burned, the report said.
All four members of the family were killed with an AK-47 rifle that the father kept in the house, the investigative report said.
The US army originally thought the deaths were the result of sectarian violence.
When one adds this incident to events at Haditha and elsewhere, it is impossible not to be left with the impression of an army running amok, confident that there will never be any consequences for their actions.
Mr Green had apparently been discharged after serving 11 months in Iraq because he was found to have a personality disorder.
Which raises the question: what the Hell was he doing there in the first place? Aren't people screened for disorders before they are allowed to enlist?
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Details Emerge in Alleged Army Rape, Killings
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2 comments:
Kel,
Don't you find it interesting that the two US soldiers who were recently kidnapped and found beheaded were from the same combat unit as the guys who did this?
Dear God, Bhc. Well spotted.
That went right over my head. But tit for tat has been going on for quite a while now.
Remember the "civilian contractors" that were lynched and burned by the Iraqi mob?
Turns out they worked at Abu Ghraib. I think the locals knew much more about what was going on there than we did at that point.
PS. I've also posted this at Anything They Say after I read your article.
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