Iraqi shooting (camera mans story)

[GRUNHERZ]

That was just retarted GS...

[jigsaw]

Interesting read.  From what I gathered it seems like a few points can be taken from it.

The reporter seems to be after his own absolution.  There are examples of compensation throughout the piece.

The only person that knows exatly why the trigger was pulled was the soldier. Until his deposition is released, I don't think it's right for anyone to be pointing fingers.

[SunTracker]

That was just retarted GS...

Retarded

[Flit]

Well, a different squad went in and shot first, niether squad had been there before,and the guy that took the shot had not been in there before.All he knows at the time of of his entry is that there were shots fired in the mosque (while they were getting close),and that there was another Marine squad there.
 The guy that they did'nt kill had both hands in the open.
the guy that he shot , in his view, was faking.
 nough said

[DREDIOCK]

GScholz

Curious just exactly how much actual for real combat you saw?
I mean the up close and personal type.

  Some folks I know for fact have been in it up close eye to eye,3  from WWII,  2 from Korea, and  2 from Nam have our doubts.

Or as the Nam Vet put it and pretty much summed up the others feelings.

"this guy is full of crap"
though his actual statement was a little more salty

though to be fair one WWII vet said  "IF you saw it at all you were probably rear echelon"

Their words, not mine

[Godzilla]

The bad guys died, that's all that matters.

[deSelys]

I don't understand all the uproar about it. Have they searched (even quickly) the guy after he was shot? If he had a weapon or a grenade on him or near him, the Marine took an appropriate action. If he was unharmed, the Marine probably made an error of judgment. And the severity of this error should be evaluated according to the circumstances of the event.

Let's just wait for the investigation results. And I certainly hope that if found guilty the Marine won't be more severely punished just because it happened in front of a camera.

[Yeager]

I think the marine popped a guy that was already 95% dead.  bfd

But you know.....I wasnt there and I wasnt getting shot at.  I do think alot of marines have been popping off wounded insurgents just as a matter of battlefield practicality and Im ok with it, but marines/soldiers ought not be popping these guys off just for kicks or as some sort of stick it to ems......  It should be done just to insure personal and unit safety.

Having said all that, I dont think that this marine popping off a mostly dead guy should be severely punished.  Maybe disharged on administrative grounds at the worst.   Im not going to ask a marine to go fight in a war and then punish him for poor judgement on a field of battle, not for something that falls within the confines of constant hostile action, like this partiicular marine had been enduring for days without rest......

jmo

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by GScholz
Well, you can return the favour and tell them they're full of crap.

My words.

Fine by me but you still havent answered the question..

Reason Im asking is your the only combat vet I've talked to that is willing to condemn this guy so easily.

By far the majority reserve judgement and usually say something along the lines of "I wasnt there"

[lazs2]

sheesh...  ask the marine.   if he says he thought the guy he shot was a threat then that is good enough for me...  

I will be really angry if the marine says he thought the guy was a threat and he is still charged with anything serious.  

I have no idea why some here would think that a soldier should be punished for making a decision like this unless it is some other agenda that has nothing to do with the right or wrong of the act itself.

I believe that the two that are doing the most hand wringing over this are simply voiceing their hate for American and the war.

I also think that most people here see that.

lazs

[Martlet]

should have just moab'd the whole city.

[Red Tail 444]

Originally posted by Flit
Well, a different squad went in and shot first, niether squad had been there before,and the guy that took the shot had not been in there before.All he knows at the time of of his entry is that there were shots fired in the mosque (while they were getting close),and that there was another Marine squad there.
 The guy that they did'nt kill had both hands in the open.
the guy that he shot , in his view, was faking.
 nough said

Shot in the face the day before...anyone ever heard the word "payback" before?

Maybe none of you that get shot down on approach with 7 kills, never thought of upping in a la-7 to kill the SOB as he RTBs....

[FiLtH]

Are these guys in uniform? I would think tha tthe advantages of lurking among the populace being able to attack or look innicent whenever you want, would have the downside of not being treated as well as a uniformed soldier.

[Angus]

There is one point in things like that.

Ok, you're fighting the bad guy.

If you are as bad as the bad guy, who's the bad guy?

Come on, the US is being filmed while shooting wounded prisoners on the floor, etc etc. i.e. Jailstuff.

Just look up from your pond and imagine the outside view on this.

You saw the film, I hope. The U.S. soldier simply popped a leftover-from-yesterday-flat-on-the-floor-wounded guy with his assault weapon.

So, how do yo think it looks to an outsider.
Scholzie is right IMHO, - this is NOT easily excusable. This is in itself an absolute war crime.

[TheDudeDVant]

Why did the marine apologise if he thought the man was a threat.