BBC now running story that some US Troops have killed civilians and kept their body parts.
If the President thought burning the Koran would aid recruitment, wonder what this story will do when it gets out?
The Koran burning has been canceled. Great.
Why don't we also cancel the Afghanistan Surge? Really end combat in Iraq?
The troops are exhausted.
Good news, Koran burning supposedly cancelled. Bad news, top US brass do not think brain injury deserves a Purple Heart. WTF?
US troops 'murdered Afghan civilians and kept body parts'
Cpl Jeremy Morlock (l) and Specialist Michael Wagnon (r) Cpl Morlock (l) and Specialist Wagnon (r) and 10 other infantrymen have been charged
A group of US soldiers murdered a number of Afghan civilians and took body parts as trophies, documents released by military officials allege.
The charging sheets relate to allegations that five US soldiers were involved in the murders of civilians in January, February and May of this year.
A further seven servicemen are accused of a conspiracy to cover up the crimes.
Lawyers for some of the accused have denied the accusations, while the army has yet to begin a review of the cases.
Some will say, war is hell, but this, if proven, is beyond the pale IMHO.
Teh barbarism alleged is, well.... not yet being investigated.
Other soldiers were accused of stabbing an Afghan corpse, taking or possessing photographs of casualties and beating other men in an effort to keep them from talking to investigators.
The soldiers were attached to the Army's Fifth Stryker brigade, which deployed to Afghanistan last year and has seen heavy fighting around Kandahar. They were based in Washington state.
Army spokeswoman Major Kathleen Turner told the BBC the cases were in a preliminary phase of investigation and military prosecutors had yet to decide whether to move ahead with proceedings. snip
I'm with Bob Herbert on our Afghanistan / Iraq policies:
We Owe the Troops an Exit
By BOB HERBERT
Published: August 30, 2010
At least 14 American soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan over the past few days.
We learned on Saturday that our so-called partner in this forlorn war, Hamid Karzai, fired a top prosecutor who had insisted on, gasp, fighting the corruption that runs like a crippling disease through his country.
Time magazine tells us that stressed-out, depressed and despondent soldiers are seeking help for their mental difficulties at a rate that is overwhelming the capacity of available professionals. What we are doing to these troops who have been serving tour after tour in Afghanistan and Iraq is unconscionable.
Time described the mental-health issue as "the U.S. Army’s third front," with the reporter, Mark Thompson, writing: "While its combat troops fight two wars, its mental-health professionals are waging a battle to save soldiers’ sanity when they come back, one that will cost billions long after combat ends in Baghdad and Kabul."
Herbert goes on to show puzzlement that General Petraeus has once again made statements he is not on board with withdrawal next year.
Moreover, Kos wrote on the FP yesterday that ostensibly, the death of the last combat soldier was announced and still more soldiers have died in what looks a lot like, well, combat.
Its not going well at all, really.
Carnegie: Worsening Outlook in Afghanistan
Even with the surge of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the coalition’s position continues to erode as the Taliban gain strength. Ahead of the July 2011 date to start pulling troops out of Afghanistan, the Obama administration approaches a strategic review of the war in December and will have to decide whether to maintain course or change direction. Meanwhile, American public support for the war is waning.
Just back from another trip to Afghanistan, Gilles Dorronsoro details in a Q&A the deteriorating security situation on the ground in Afghanistan, analyzes U.S. strategy, and makes the case for negotiations with the insurgency. Dorronsoro argues that Washington’s approach is failing and talking with the Taliban—through the Pakistani military establishment—is the least-bad option available. The best hope for exiting the war is to Afghanize the conflict and establish a coalition government that includes Taliban leaders. Snip
Teh President said that the burning of the Koran would help terrorist recruitment.
What will this story of soldiers keeping body parts do?
The idiot pastor in Florida has done one thing right: canceled.
We should do the same.
Demand the changes we voted for
Stand up. Join in. 10-2-10
UPDATE:
McClatchy, 10 minutes ago:
New details in Army charge sheets released Wednesday paint a disturbing picture of depravity, deceit and savage internal discipline involving at least 12 Stryker soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-Mc-Chord in Washington state during their recent deployment to Afghanistan.
The soldiers, all from the same company in the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, are charged with a total of 76 crimes, including the premeditated murders of three Afghan civilians and the beating of one or more fellow soldiers.
Six of the men face charges of keeping trophy body parts from Afghan corpses, including a skull and fingers, according to the charging documents.
One soldier is alleged to have stabbed a corpse last December. Three soldiers face charges of wrongfully taking and/or possessing photographs of dead bodies.