Posted on 03/19/2012 4:15:37 PM PDT by xzins
Karilyn Bales, whose husband, Staff Sgt. Robert Bales is accused of killing Afghan civilians, released this statement on Monday:
What happened on the night of March 11 in Kandahar Province was a terrible and heartbreaking tragedy.
My family including my and Bob’s extended families are all profoundly sad. We extend our condolences to all the people of the Panjawai District, our hearts go out to all of them, especially to the parents, brothers, sisters and grandparents of the children who perished.
I know that all good people around the world, regardless of nationality, religion or political values, join me in grieving that such a terrible thing could happen.
Our family has little information beyond what we read and see in the media. What has been reported is completely out of character of the man I know and admire. Please respect me when I say I cannot shed any light on what happened that night, so please do not ask.
I too want to know what happened. I want to know how this could be.
I have no indication that my family’s own safety is at risk, but I appreciate the efforts that have been undertaken to protect us. I hope there will soon be no reason for protection of families, whether here or in Kandahar Province, or anywhere, because the pain inevitably inflicted in war should never be an excuse to inflict yet more pain. The cycle must be broken. We must find peace.
I know the media has a right to pursue and report news. As you do your jobs, I plead with you to respect the trauma that I and my extended family are experiencing. Please allow us some peace and time as we try to make sense of something that makes no sense at all.
All I can do now is emphasize my sadness and my condolences to the families in Panjawai for their terrible loss. The victims and their families are all in my prayers, as is my husband who I love very much.
End of Statement
In the military, you prove you did not do it, just like if he claims mental, he needs to prove he was crazy. Not the same as civilian court. And this is military court.
Yes there is migrating standards, he disrespect the tens of thousands that went before him and did not up hold their honor.
This is my guess. We both had son’s in combat. We both know who should be responsible for this.
What a coincidence, I believe then and now that you are the illegitimate lovechild of John Murtha and Nancy Pelosi.
The rights of soldiers at trial are no different than those of any other American citizen.
You need to research the term, “mitigating”. You also should take a pill and relax.
How much combat have you experienced?
LOL!
LOL. This 60 minutes stuff is pure gold. I have never seen a freeper who was such a fan of those pinkos.
Really funny!
ROFL!!
Insightful post and well deserved!!
How many people have been prosecuted when women and children were killed in airstrikes?
Thanks for the ping, Chaplain.
Karilyn Bales is a standup gal, Sgt. Bales is fortunate to have her in his corner. Prayers for them both and the whole family.
Bingo, xzins.
Back to SSGt Bales......katiedidit1 brought up effect of drugs being prescribed for PTSD, pain, etc. As soon as I heard SSGt Bales had no knowledge of what happened, it got me wondering about the possibility of the influence of drugs (prescription type). I’ve heard reports of troops been prescribed a cocktail of drugs for PTSD/depression/anxiety whatever with no real oversight from a doctor in the field, AND being kept on active duty.
There are some serious flaws in how our military handles mental health issues, especially in the field.
It has to be heartbreaking for his loved ones to try to understand what might have happened.
Sleepwalking.
Amen and AMEN!
“ROTFLMAO! Yeah because we’re going to win the war by murdering Afghani kids. Any other grand strategies you got up your sleeve there General?”
Franky were going to win the war against Muslims by killing them. That’s how it’s done in a war.
I agree that more could be done by way of mental health treatment for troops. One group I was part of had it’s own group Chaplain (me) and a group Psychologist and our own doc.
It was a great team, and our Psych, a real human being, knew when to back off and when to push.
The real culprit in my mind, though, is how we fight wars in this year long rotation between terror and normalcy. WWII was the last war the US fought correctly....all out until unconditional surrender of the enemy.
It is not humane to give a troop a year long rest between assignments in an 11 year war. It is a prescription for the mentally sound to become borderline, for the average to become incapacitated, and for the borderline to become psychotic.
When a person is deliberately driven insane by an insane, non-citizen ‘president,’ the only guilty person is said ‘president.’
To the best of my knowledge and the most recent news reports...
http://www.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=730883&vId=
...the investigation has not been completed and no formal charges have been brought against SSgt. Bales or anyone else.
This was exactly the situation when John Murtha started shooting off his mouth about “and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood.”
...and so it is with the Murtha lovechild.
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