Soldier admits murdering Iraqi detainees

[Judi Lynn]

Jan. 25, 2007, 11:52AM
Soldier admits murdering Iraqi detainees

By BETH RUCKER Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — A 101st Airborne Division soldier pleaded guilty Thursday to murdering three detainees in Iraq last year, saying he went along with a plan to make it look like they were escaping.

Pfc. Corey R. Clagett, 21, was one of four soldiers from the division's 3rd Brigade "Rakkasans" who were accused in the detainees' deaths during a May 9 raid on the Muthana chemical complex in Samarra, about 60 miles north of Baghdad.

In an agreement with prosecutors, Clagett, of Moncks Corner, S.C., pleaded guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Prosecutors dropped a second obstruction charge and charges of disrespecting an officer and threatening.

The military judge, Col. Theodore Dixon, accepted Clagett's plea and started the sentencing phase of the trial. Clagett faces life in prison, but should get a lighter sentence because of his plea.

The soldiers first told investigators they shot the detainees because they were attempting to flee — a story they now say they made up — and that commanders had given them orders to kill all military-age males on the mission.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4498993.html

[Eugene]

1. Update: U.S. soldier gets 18 years prison in Iraq slayings (Reuters)

U.S. soldier gets 18 years prison in Iraq slayings
25 Jan 2007 21:59:39 GMT
Source: Reuters

CHICAGO, Jan 25 (Reuters) - A third U.S. soldier on Thursday was sentenced
to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty in the deaths of three Iraqi
detainees, officials at Fort Campbell in Kentucky said.

Pfc. Corey Clagett, 22, had entered into a plea agreement at the start of his
court-martial on the military base.

The slayings occurred in May 2006 during a raid on a suspected insurgent camp
near Thar Thar Lake, southwest of Tikrit.

Clagett, of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to attempted
premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder, premeditated
murder, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N25443008.htm

[Supersedeas]

2. somehow i do not believe Iraqi's will count this as justice

[gratuitous]

3. Is this what volunteering for the military means?

Is this what we all agreed we would send our soldiery out to do? Because I must have missed it in those "Army Strong" commercials, the part about gunning down unarmed civilians.

I really would support any of the troops who decided they didn't want to have to face the choice of following such an order or facing summary martial justice.

[Up2Late]

4. Welcome to the world of Bush-era, Lower Recruiting standards!

Looks like he lied to his family too, about his activities and time in Iraq, check out the websites they set up for friends and supporters to send money to help this a-hole:

<http://www.pfcclagett.com/>

<http://www.pfcclagett.com/clagett_story.htm>

Another version of the AP story:
<http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/10844436/detail.html>

This is the type of Psychopath you get when you keep lowering the recruiting standards. This kid sounds like the type who will spend most of his life in prison.

And before I get flamed for my Psychopath comment, I should say I'm not a doctor, but I do have several members of my Family who are in treatment for the types of Mental Illness that are treatable with current Medications, but this kid sounds like a Psychopath to me, though I will admit I'm not an expert.

Also, I've been told by several people who do know, that someone who is truly a psychopath (Charley Manson, Serial Killer types) are not yet treatable with the current medications.

[saigon68]

5. This is only a frat prank

yikes