US military in Afghanistan uncovers sadistic death squad in ranks


By Ben Farmer in Kabul
Published: 9:37AM BST 19 Sep 2010


In at least one attack, a soldier threw a grenade to pretend they were
being ambushed as a pretext to then shoot dead an innocent villager.

The soldiers also dismembered and photographed bodies and kept bones and
skulls as trophies in some of the most grisly accusations against US
troops since the invasion in 2001


All were reported to deny wrongdoing and military investigators will
hold a pre-trial hearing at their home base in Washington later this year.

American commanders fear details of the incidents could cause widespread
anger in Afghanistan, where civilian deaths have fostered deep
resentment against coalition forces.

Five soldiers are accused of forming a "kill team" and murdering three
people in Kandahar province between January and May this year.

Seven others are charged with attempting to impede the investigation and
beating up a private who blew the whistle on their activities, as well
as smoking hashish.

The relatives of one accused have also said the military failed to
prevent the latter killings.

The father of one soldier said he had tried to contact the Army after
his son had talked of his comrades' actions and warned they were looking
for another victim, but his fears had been rebuffed.

The alleged killers were all from a platoon of the 5th Stryker Combat
Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which saw heavy fighting in the southern
province of Kandahar until its tour ended in July.

Court papers say the gang first began to discuss killing when Staff Sgt
Calvin Gibbs, arrived in the platoon and boasted it had been easy to get
away with "stuff" on a previous tour in Iraq, the Washington Post reported.

The first alleged murder was on Jan 15 while the platoon guarded a
meeting of tribal elders in the village of La Mohammed Kalay according
to case documents.

An Afghan named Gul Mudin began walking toward the soldiers and as he
approached a soldier threw a grenade to simulate an attack and several
soldiers opened fire killing him.

Further murders followed in February and May.

Staff Sgt Gibbs, Cpl Jeremy Morlock, Pfc Andrew Holmes, Spc Michael
Wagnon and Spc Adam Winfield are accused of the killings.

The 3,800-strong Stryker brigade, named after the eight-wheeled armoured
vehicles it uses, suffered heavy casualties from large roadside bombs
when stationed in Kandahar province.

In a year-long tour, 35 soldiers were killed in combat, six others died
from other causes and 239 were wounded.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...-in-ranks.html


- - -

On 9/19/10 11:25 AM, wrote:
On Sun, 19 Sep 2010 08:59:09 -0400, Secular Humorist
wrote:


US military in Afghanistan uncovers sadistic death squad in ranks


By Ben Farmer in Kabul
Published: 9:37AM BST 19 Sep 2010


In at least one attack, a soldier threw a grenade to pretend they were
being ambushed as a pretext to then shoot dead an innocent villager.

The soldiers also dismembered and photographed bodies and kept bones and
skulls as trophies in some of the most grisly accusations against US
troops since the invasion in 2001


All were reported to deny wrongdoing and military investigators will
hold a pre-trial hearing at their home base in Washington later this year.

American commanders fear details of the incidents could cause widespread
anger in Afghanistan, where civilian deaths have fostered deep
resentment against coalition forces.

Five soldiers are accused of forming a "kill team" and murdering three
people in Kandahar province between January and May this year.

Seven others are charged with attempting to impede the investigation and
beating up a private who blew the whistle on their activities, as well
as smoking hashish.

The relatives of one accused have also said the military failed to
prevent the latter killings.

The father of one soldier said he had tried to contact the Army after
his son had talked of his comrades' actions and warned they were looking
for another victim, but his fears had been rebuffed.

The alleged killers were all from a platoon of the 5th Stryker Combat
Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which saw heavy fighting in the southern
province of Kandahar until its tour ended in July.

Court papers say the gang first began to discuss killing when Staff Sgt
Calvin Gibbs, arrived in the platoon and boasted it had been easy to get
away with "stuff" on a previous tour in Iraq, the Washington Post reported.

The first alleged murder was on Jan 15 while the platoon guarded a
meeting of tribal elders in the village of La Mohammed Kalay according
to case documents.

An Afghan named Gul Mudin began walking toward the soldiers and as he
approached a soldier threw a grenade to simulate an attack and several
soldiers opened fire killing him.

Further murders followed in February and May.

Staff Sgt Gibbs, Cpl Jeremy Morlock, Pfc Andrew Holmes, Spc Michael
Wagnon and Spc Adam Winfield are accused of the killings.

The 3,800-strong Stryker brigade, named after the eight-wheeled armoured
vehicles it uses, suffered heavy casualties from large roadside bombs
when stationed in Kandahar province.

In a year-long tour, 35 soldiers were killed in combat, six others died
from other causes and 239 were wounded.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...-in-ranks.html


- - -


Sort of makes Blackwater look like a disciplined, professional
organization doesn't it?


Nope.

wrote in message
...
On Sun, 19 Sep 2010 08:59:09 -0400, Secular Humorist
wrote:


US military in Afghanistan uncovers sadistic death squad in ranks


By Ben Farmer in Kabul
Published: 9:37AM BST 19 Sep 2010


In at least one attack, a soldier threw a grenade to pretend they were
being ambushed as a pretext to then shoot dead an innocent villager.

The soldiers also dismembered and photographed bodies and kept bones and
skulls as trophies in some of the most grisly accusations against US
troops since the invasion in 2001


All were reported to deny wrongdoing and military investigators will
hold a pre-trial hearing at their home base in Washington later this year.

American commanders fear details of the incidents could cause widespread
anger in Afghanistan, where civilian deaths have fostered deep
resentment against coalition forces.

Five soldiers are accused of forming a "kill team" and murdering three
people in Kandahar province between January and May this year.

Seven others are charged with attempting to impede the investigation and
beating up a private who blew the whistle on their activities, as well
as smoking hashish.

The relatives of one accused have also said the military failed to
prevent the latter killings.

The father of one soldier said he had tried to contact the Army after
his son had talked of his comrades' actions and warned they were looking
for another victim, but his fears had been rebuffed.

The alleged killers were all from a platoon of the 5th Stryker Combat
Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which saw heavy fighting in the southern
province of Kandahar until its tour ended in July.

Court papers say the gang first began to discuss killing when Staff Sgt
Calvin Gibbs, arrived in the platoon and boasted it had been easy to get
away with "stuff" on a previous tour in Iraq, the Washington Post
reported.

The first alleged murder was on Jan 15 while the platoon guarded a
meeting of tribal elders in the village of La Mohammed Kalay according
to case documents.

An Afghan named Gul Mudin began walking toward the soldiers and as he
approached a soldier threw a grenade to simulate an attack and several
soldiers opened fire killing him.

Further murders followed in February and May.

Staff Sgt Gibbs, Cpl Jeremy Morlock, Pfc Andrew Holmes, Spc Michael
Wagnon and Spc Adam Winfield are accused of the killings.

The 3,800-strong Stryker brigade, named after the eight-wheeled armoured
vehicles it uses, suffered heavy casualties from large roadside bombs
when stationed in Kandahar province.

In a year-long tour, 35 soldiers were killed in combat, six others died
from other causes and 239 were wounded.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...-in-ranks.html


- - -


Sort of makes Blackwater look like a disciplined, professional
organization doesn't it?

Not really.

wrote in message
...
On Sun, 19 Sep 2010 10:48:52 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:


wrote in message
. ..
On Sun, 19 Sep 2010 08:59:09 -0400, Secular Humorist
wrote:


US military in Afghanistan uncovers sadistic death squad in ranks


By Ben Farmer in Kabul
Published: 9:37AM BST 19 Sep 2010


In at least one attack, a soldier threw a grenade to pretend they were
being ambushed as a pretext to then shoot dead an innocent villager.

The soldiers also dismembered and photographed bodies and kept bones and
skulls as trophies in some of the most grisly accusations against US
troops since the invasion in 2001


All were reported to deny wrongdoing and military investigators will
hold a pre-trial hearing at their home base in Washington later this
year.

American commanders fear details of the incidents could cause widespread
anger in Afghanistan, where civilian deaths have fostered deep
resentment against coalition forces.

Five soldiers are accused of forming a "kill team" and murdering three
people in Kandahar province between January and May this year.

Seven others are charged with attempting to impede the investigation and
beating up a private who blew the whistle on their activities, as well
as smoking hashish.

The relatives of one accused have also said the military failed to
prevent the latter killings.

The father of one soldier said he had tried to contact the Army after
his son had talked of his comrades' actions and warned they were looking
for another victim, but his fears had been rebuffed.

The alleged killers were all from a platoon of the 5th Stryker Combat
Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which saw heavy fighting in the southern
province of Kandahar until its tour ended in July.

Court papers say the gang first began to discuss killing when Staff Sgt
Calvin Gibbs, arrived in the platoon and boasted it had been easy to get
away with "stuff" on a previous tour in Iraq, the Washington Post
reported.

The first alleged murder was on Jan 15 while the platoon guarded a
meeting of tribal elders in the village of La Mohammed Kalay according
to case documents.

An Afghan named Gul Mudin began walking toward the soldiers and as he
approached a soldier threw a grenade to simulate an attack and several
soldiers opened fire killing him.

Further murders followed in February and May.

Staff Sgt Gibbs, Cpl Jeremy Morlock, Pfc Andrew Holmes, Spc Michael
Wagnon and Spc Adam Winfield are accused of the killings.

The 3,800-strong Stryker brigade, named after the eight-wheeled armoured
vehicles it uses, suffered heavy casualties from large roadside bombs
when stationed in Kandahar province.

In a year-long tour, 35 soldiers were killed in combat, six others died
from other causes and 239 were wounded.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...-in-ranks.html


- - -


Sort of makes Blackwater look like a disciplined, professional
organization doesn't it?

Not really.


Their problems were never as abhorrent as these sadists.

Blackwater committed war crimes. There are always degrees of evil.

On 9/19/10 3:10 PM, wrote:
On Sun, 19 Sep 2010 10:48:52 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:


wrote in message
...
On Sun, 19 Sep 2010 08:59:09 -0400, Secular Humorist
wrote:


US military in Afghanistan uncovers sadistic death squad in ranks


By Ben Farmer in Kabul
Published: 9:37AM BST 19 Sep 2010


In at least one attack, a soldier threw a grenade to pretend they were
being ambushed as a pretext to then shoot dead an innocent villager.

The soldiers also dismembered and photographed bodies and kept bones and
skulls as trophies in some of the most grisly accusations against US
troops since the invasion in 2001


All were reported to deny wrongdoing and military investigators will
hold a pre-trial hearing at their home base in Washington later this year.

American commanders fear details of the incidents could cause widespread
anger in Afghanistan, where civilian deaths have fostered deep
resentment against coalition forces.

Five soldiers are accused of forming a "kill team" and murdering three
people in Kandahar province between January and May this year.

Seven others are charged with attempting to impede the investigation and
beating up a private who blew the whistle on their activities, as well
as smoking hashish.

The relatives of one accused have also said the military failed to
prevent the latter killings.

The father of one soldier said he had tried to contact the Army after
his son had talked of his comrades' actions and warned they were looking
for another victim, but his fears had been rebuffed.

The alleged killers were all from a platoon of the 5th Stryker Combat
Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which saw heavy fighting in the southern
province of Kandahar until its tour ended in July.

Court papers say the gang first began to discuss killing when Staff Sgt
Calvin Gibbs, arrived in the platoon and boasted it had been easy to get
away with "stuff" on a previous tour in Iraq, the Washington Post
reported.

The first alleged murder was on Jan 15 while the platoon guarded a
meeting of tribal elders in the village of La Mohammed Kalay according
to case documents.

An Afghan named Gul Mudin began walking toward the soldiers and as he
approached a soldier threw a grenade to simulate an attack and several
soldiers opened fire killing him.

Further murders followed in February and May.

Staff Sgt Gibbs, Cpl Jeremy Morlock, Pfc Andrew Holmes, Spc Michael
Wagnon and Spc Adam Winfield are accused of the killings.

The 3,800-strong Stryker brigade, named after the eight-wheeled armoured
vehicles it uses, suffered heavy casualties from large roadside bombs
when stationed in Kandahar province.

In a year-long tour, 35 soldiers were killed in combat, six others died
from other causes and 239 were wounded.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...-in-ranks.html


- - -


Sort of makes Blackwater look like a disciplined, professional
organization doesn't it?

Not really.


Their problems were never as abhorrent as these sadists.


Some scumbag murderers are better than others?