On Sun, 09 May 2004 17:00:02 -0400, John Gaquin wrote:


Don't misunderstand my position. I do not defend the actions of these
soldiers with prisoners. I only want to stick to facts as we know them.
Right now the US press is ginning up a feeding frenzy, having found a
fissure in the Bush campaign. They would do well to remember that when
sharks go into a frenzy, it is common for several of the sharks to get
eaten in the chaos. The press must guard against a similar level of
enthusiastic accuracy.

While not defending their actions, I somehow feel we have failed these
soldiers. I believe the soldier to be tried shortly was a reservist,
trained as a truck driver. His lack of training, and the Army's lack of
leadership is a failure not of his making. He should never have been in
that situation without the proper training. The speed of his trial being
scheduled, also, unfortunately, signals to me, scapegoat. The Army has
already, apparently, convicted a soldier of homicide. His punishment was
demoting to private, and a dishonorable discharge, *no* jail time, but
that flew under the press' radar.

The press is the press. With all it's failings, I question if any of this
would have come to light if it hadn't been for the press.