This is what happens when you treat war, like a hobby:
A U.S. Army medic was convicted of murder Friday for his involvement in the execution-style slayings of four bound and blindfolded Iraqi detainees shot in the back of the head in the spring of 2007. The court sentenced him to life in prison.
Sgt. Michael Leahy Jr. was found guilty on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder by the nine-person jury who had heard testimony about the killings at the court-martial at the Army’s Rose Barracks Courthouse since Wednesday.
After a sentencing hearing, Leahy received a life sentence, with the possibility of parole. He also will have his rank reduced to private, his pay foreited and be dishonorably discharged.
“Looking back at the canal, I see it was the wrong thing to do,” Leahy read from a statement to the court before he was sentenced. “Please see that I’m not a bad person, that I made a bad mistake. I want to move on.”
via ABC News: US Soldier Guilty of Murder in Deaths of 4 Iraqis.
I just wonder how much more of this happened? This is just one that got caught. It is a sad thing, this turkey got what was coming to him.
Although not as severe, a few months ago I came across a pdf file on the web containing the paperwork for a military investigation describing events where a soldier, occupying a checkpoint, shot at a detained kid in order to keep him quiet. The soldier didn’t care much for the Iraqis and previously told his buddies how he would prefer to shoot at one, than to listen to them. Terrified by the senseless act, the zip tied kid began crying so the soldier offered him $5 to keep his mouth shut. Everyone at the checkpoint looked the other way. When the boy arrived at the Iraqi police station, he reported the incident to one of the policemen. An investigation followed where personal interviews brought the facts out and the soldier finally confessed.
Hi James,
I don’t doubt it a bit. Many stories of this sort will come out in time. You wait and see, especially after the war is finally over. If that ever happens.
Thanks for commenting! 😀