U.S. soldier accused of beating Iraqi prisoners says, `It is war'

SFgate ^ | (11-25) 10:26 PST PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- | DAVID B. CARUSO

[ConservativeMan55]

U.S. soldier accused of beating Iraqi prisoners says, `It is war'

One of four American MPs charged with beating prisoners of war at a detention camp in Iraq said Tuesday: "We were doing our jobs. ... It is war. It is not back home where everybody is safe."

[ConservativeMan55]

After it happened.... They blowed up real good didn't they? Yep they blowed up real good!

[Lijahsbubbe]

Whoops, forgot to put the subtext.

The four U.S. soldiers accused of abusing prisoners of war include, clockwise from top left, Sgt. Timothy Canjar, Master Sgt. Lisa Marie Girman, Staff Sgt. Scott A. McKenzie and Sgt. Shawna L. Edmondson.

[r9etb]

She may or may not be brave -- all I see is allegations of guards beating prisoners. If they did so unprovoked, then it is and should be illegal, and punishment is warranted.

Do you disagree?

[ConservativeMan55]

I wonder if there is a citizen militia that might award them medals?

[ConservativeMan55]

Yes I disagree completely.

[r9etb]

Funny how you default to the Iraqi side while I default to the soldier's side.

I default to the soldiers' side, too -- just not necessarily the one accused of beating prisoners. If she did it unprovoked, then she deserves punishment.

Where are you again?

Yeah, yeah, you claim to be in Iraq. If that's true, then thanks for your service. Which has nothing to do with whether or not it's OK for guards to beat prisoners. It's wrong here, and it's wrong in Iraq.

And you sit in judgement of her based on this story?

As do you.

[ZULU]

This is an entirely different situation than Col. West's.

These men were prisoners. They were unable to defend themselves. There was no valid reason for Shawna's brutality. They did nothing to her, they had to information to reveal. They were just enemy prisoners.

Only 100 soldiers to guard 6000 prisoners?? SO WHAT???
This is just another example of the reason why women should not be in combat. My guess is she is a man-hating lezzie.

Thank God she can't serve in the police. I wouldn't want her pulling my car over with no witnesses around.

[r9etb]

Yes I disagree completely.

Let's be clear: You're saying it should be legal for guards to beat prisoners?

Perhaps you should change your handle to GestapoManSS?

[Lijahsbubbe]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/03245/217277.stm

David Girman of Pittston, Luzerne County, said his sister, Lisa, 35, a state trooper assigned to patrol duty at the Hazleton barracks in Luzerne County, had stood up to superiors, alleging that poor management of the camp had lowered morale.

Girman said his sister first confronted superiors about their decision to hire as an assistant a prisoner nicknamed "Sammy the Kickboxer." Girman said his sister told him the prisoner, so named because he repeatedly had lashed out at MPs, was given permission to dine with U.S. troops and wander about their living quarters.

Thomas, the Army spokesman, acknowledged Sammy the Kickboxer's presence at camp but denied he was hired by commanding officers. Thomas said he knew of no morale problem.

Girman said his sister also faulted superiors for suggesting they could provide more food and speedier hearings to prisoners, raising false hopes among the Iraqis that prompted two riots the week before Easter.

During one riot, Girman said, a commanding officer retreated, stranding soldiers in the prisoners' living area. He said his sister led a rescue, raising her standing among troops who had begun to lose faith in the camp's leadership.

Linda Edmondson of South Abington, Lackawanna County, said her daughter, Shawna, 24, in civilian life a public safety officer at the University of Scranton, also had hinted at leadership problems. She said her daughter mentioned a "Palm Sunday Riot" in which a major "ran and hid behind a water tank and left the kids there."

[Eagle Eye]

Where I am doesn't matter, I'm not second guessing her. That makes where YOU are much more relevant to my point than where I am.

If she did it unprovoked, then she deserves punishment.

Didn't she say that it was in self defense?

That would mean that you DO NOT default to her side, but against her. I'll take her side on this. You didn't, you don't. Doesn't take much to see through your veneer.

[ConservativeMan55]

This is war. Perhaps even you would act different when attacked by an Iraqi who would do far worse if he had captured her.

[laotzu]

A little third person perspective here...

You are the only one, here, standing in judgement of this soldier.

You immediatly defaulted to the Iraqi side.

[jjm2111]

>>Linda Edmondson of South Abington, Lackawanna County, said her daughter, Shawna, 24, in civilian life a public safety officer at the University of Scranton, also had hinted at leadership problems. She said her daughter mentioned a "Palm Sunday Riot" in which a major "ran and hid behind a water tank and left the kids there."

This is so effin pathetic.

[ConservativeMan55]

Its a smear job.

[Eagle Eye]

All in favor of letting this female soldier kick r9etb's a$$ say "Yay".

Any opposed?

Didn't think so.

[r9etb]

You immediatly defaulted to the Iraqi side.

So now it's "the Iraqi" side to be against beating prisoners?

Surely you can see how foolish your statement was.

[r9etb]

All in favor of letting this female soldier kick r9etb's a$$ say "Yay".

Wow. You're sharp as a tack.

[Eagle Eye]

So now it's "the Iraqi" side to be against beating prisoners?

No, it's that you IMMEDIATELY took sides against a soldier of (supposedly) your own country in order to take sides with the ENEMY prisoner. You have shown remarkably more compassion for the prisoner than for the soldier.

[ConservativeMan55]

It is the "Iraqi" side when you take a filthy Iraqi terrorists word over an American soldiers word.

She said it was self-defense. I take her word over his.

Very simple.

[Eagle Eye]

And I'd pay to watch her do it!

If she could catch you, that is.