Soldier admits his story of Iraqi boy's death a lie (Anti-Bush Soldier)

Boston Globe ^ | December 10, 2004 | Brian MacQuarrie

[Lance Romance]

h1 class="mainHead">Soldier admits his story of Iraqi boy's death a lie

By Brian MacQuarrie, Globe Staff  |  December 10, 2004

When Army Sergeant Dennis Edwards spoke at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School last month, 100 students listened in rapt silence as he told chilling tales of battlefield horror in Iraq and criticized President Bush's motives for going to war.

Edwards, 23, a Barnstable High School graduate, said he and two other soldiers shot and killed a 10-year-old boy in Iraq who pretended to be wounded and suddenly fired an AK-47 rifle. The boy was found to have explosives attached to his body, Edwards told the stunned audience.

Now, Edwards has admitted to his superiors in the elite 82d Airborne Division that the story about the shooting was a lie, Army officials yesterday. As a result, the veteran of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan could be charged with making false statements, face a court-martial, and be stripped of his rank.

His confession has also saddened Dennis-Yarmouth teachers and students, who said they felt honored and captivated by his appearance.

[Lance Romance]

Edwards was on leave visiting family when he appeared Nov. 23 in the school cafeteria at a teacher's invitation. The Cape Cod Times reported that Edwards criticized Bush's invasion of Iraq as a ''personal vendetta" to complete President George H.W. Bush's unfinished work against Saddam Hussein. ''The first Bush couldn't get it done, so it's time for the next Bush to do it," the Times quoted Edwards as saying in the talk.

Now, c'mon. Am I to believe that the teachers were really "saddened". What a dumbass, bounce him out of the military.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Stupidity knows no bounds.

[Dad2Angels]

"His confession has also saddened Dennis-Yarmouth teachers"

You must read the statement carefully.

They didn't say they were saddened that he lied only that they were saddened that he confessed it was a lie.

[Samwise]

While visions of John Kerry danced in his head.

[HawaiianGecko]

Someone needs to whip this kids ass and in public.

[ican'tbelieveit]

He needs to go back to the same kids and personally apologize.

[ican'tbelieveit]

''All I know is my son's never lied before," she said. ''So I don't know why he would start lying now."

Yeah, right mom. That was your first mistake. I think my kids are angels, but I know they lie to me, I catch them at it.

[ProudVet77]

He doesn't need to apologize.

He needs to admit he lied. And he needs to explain why.

[ican'tbelieveit]

To them. Yes.

[Mister Baredog]

His confession has also saddened Dennis-Yarmouth teachers and students, who said they felt honored and captivated by his appearance.

Since truth matters little to these idiots I doubt they were saddened unless they're not happy that the military would actually prosecute this moron. Perhaps they can mount a protest, LOL.

[mel]

I know this isn't the same story about the soldier who killed the severely injured teenage Iraqi. Gee with soldiers getting investigated and charged with murder in this war, I don't see how anyone would even sign up for fear of getting charged with murder. It is ironic that John Kerry admitted proudly shooting a fleeing teenage Viet Cong in the back and he runs for President of the United States. Why is the media running this war?

[Cicero]

I think the teachers at this school also have a confession to make. Not that it's likely they will do anything of the kind.

It's like Rathergate. Rather's crime in liberal eyes was not that he promoted forged documents to undermine the president, but that he was clumsy and got caught.

[Arrowhead1952]

As Rush always says,

"It's not the lack of evidence, it's the nature of the charge."

[Question_Assumptions]

So, did he see Fahrenheit 9/11? If so, then there is an even bigger lesson to be learned about lying here. Something put that chip on his shoulder.

[Sloth]

They were saddened that a 10-year-old boy wasn't really shot to death.

[Don Simmons]

"...face a court-martial, and be stripped of his rank."


This here old Army NCO would like to add a swift kick in the nuts to this little bastard's punishment.

Five minutes behind the mess hall -- just FIVE MINUTES!

[SittinYonder]

They were saddened that a 10-year-old boy wasn't really shot to death

Now that's funny.

[Red6]

There are 499,000 active duty and nearly 700,000 guard/reserve in the Army component alone. Not all will behave ethical.

Unfortunately, it is those who dribble drool from their mouth, say the most outlandish things (stir up controversy) or act in a unprofessional manner who get all the attention. The media will focus on them. Corrections will never get the attention which the original story got. The false perception will continue to persist. This while unfortunate is a reality with the ratings chasing media. Accurate and balanced news is hard to find.

Red6

[af_vet_1981]

Edwards, 23, a Barnstable High School graduate, said he and two other soldiers shot and killed a 10-year-old boy in Iraq who pretended to be wounded and suddenly fired an AK-47 rifle. The boy was found to have explosives attached to his body, Edwards told the stunned audience. Now, Edwards has admitted to his superiors in the elite 82d Airborne Division that the story about the shooting was a lie, Army officials yesterday. As a result, the veteran of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan could be charged with making false statements, face a court-martial, and be stripped of his rank.

I want to see a picture of this war criminal.

[dandi]

''The inaccuracy of one anecdotal story, although problematic for us and disturbing, certainly doesn't change our view of the sergeant totally."

Yeah, but if he lied about that, what else might he be lying about?