Army Punishes 3 in Drowning of Iraqi (No Criminal Charges For Commanders)

[Khephra]

FORT CARSON, Colo. -- The Army has given non-judicial punishments to three commanders linked to the drowning of an Iraqi civilian, saying they conspired to impede a homicide investigation.

Capt. Matthew Cunningham, Maj. Robert Gwinner and Lt. Col. Nathan Sassaman were punished this spring under Article 15, which does not require a court proceeding or public record, the Army said Tuesday.

The Army would not disclose the punishments, citing privacy laws, but there was no criminal conviction or prison time.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-army-iraqi-drowning,0,3759040.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[thebigidea]

1. taste red hot freedom, Iraqi scum!

[Cats Against Frist]

2. What the hell?

I just don't understand.

[AlFrankenFan]

5. God I don't either

I choked when I saw the "no criminal charges". Honestly, WTF? Iraqi's are people two for Christ's sake!!

[mom cat]

10. Nothing to understand. Bush&co is above the law. Period.

What's a little obstruction of justice? They don't believe in justice.

[Sliverofhope]

3. Can't say I'm terribly surprised

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=668288&mesg_id=668288

"You have not begun to see evil." -Sy Hersh

[LiberalKid]

4. OY

Civilians are people too.

[Rose Siding]

6. The 3 who committed the act face criminal charges-

snip>
Last week, the military said three other soldiers based at Fort Carson had been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the Jan. 3 drowning of 19-year-old Iraqi detainee Zaidoun Fadel Hassoun in the Tigris River, allegedly for violating a curfew. A fourth soldier is charged with pushing a second man, who survived, into the river.

But the higher-ups are getting cut loose

[Khephra]

7. Ahhh, thanks for the clarification. I missed that.

It still sucks though.

[Rose Siding]

8. Yep

Especially the part about the punishments being SECRET :grr:

[Chicago Democrat]

9. Didn't I say "Slap on the wrist"?? Gee victory is so revolting....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=668838&mesg_id=668969&page=

That sucks very much... They should go to jail. Justice my ass.

[Columbia]

12. There aren't the perpetrators

They are the commanders of the unit. This NJP will end their careers.

The ones who commited the act are still facing criminal charges.

[geek tragedy]

11. They could have been merely negligent in supervising the killers

I don't know enough, but it looks like they just failed as officers--the actual killers will be doing hard time though.