Posted on 05/04/2005 1:48:22 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
THE U.S. military values some lives more than others. That’s the only conclusion you could draw from the trials of two U.S. soldiers--one accused of killing two American officers, the other of executing two Iraqi civilians.
Last week, Sgt. Hasan Akbar was sentenced to death for using grenades and his rifle at a base camp in Kuwait to kill two officers and injure 14 other soldiers shortly after the March 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The chief prosecutor at the military trial, Lt. Col. Michael Mulligan, said that “[Akbar] is a hate-filled, ideologically driven murderer.” But Akbar’s military attorney never presented witnesses to the abuse and racism that Akbar suffered, as the only African American and only Muslim in his unit. In imposing the death sentence, the military judge also discounted the testimony of a psychiatrist, who diagnosed Akbar with forms of paranoia and schizophrenia.
During his trial, Akbar apologized for the attack. “I felt that my life was in jeopardy, and I had no other options,” said Akbar. “I also want to ask you for forgiveness.” Akbar’s father told reporters that his son was regularly harassed by other soldiers in his unit, including implied threats that he could be “mistakenly” shot as “one of them.”
The climate surrounding the trial of Marine Second Lt. Ilario Pantano--who killed two unarmed Iraqis with a hail of bullets during a search of their car--couldn’t be more different. The hearing will determine whether Pantano will have to face charges in a court-martial proceeding.
Pantano became a Wall Street broker after serving in the 1991 Gulf War--and then decided to rejoin the military after September 11, 2001. As he explained to a BBC reporter, “My duty...is quite frankly to export violence to the four corners of the globe to make sure that this doesn’t happen again.”
After firing some 45 rounds at the two Iraqis on April 15 of last year, Pantano left a handwritten sign on the corpses, bearing his unit’s motto--“No better friend, no worse enemy.”
Marine prosecutors say the sign indicates that Pantano was carrying out premeditated killings to send a message. But that didn’t stop Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) from leaping to Pantano’s defense. “I’d have him for my son,” said Jones, who has written two letters to George Bush urging him to intervene on Pantano’s behalf. Jones isn’t the only politician championing Pantano, either.
Press reports speculate that Pantano will get off with a slap on the wrist at most. That would be no surprise--since despite the rhetoric about “democracy” in Iraq, Pantano’s killing spree illustrates the true nature of the U.S. occupation.
Email here Agree with what you've read? Disagree?
I do not know where to begin, but, lets give them an email box full of comments telling them, they are so off track, frankly wrong and the mouth piece of the left.
Jumping of my "soap box."
Where We Stand
Black liberation, women’s liberation and lesbian and gay liberation are essential to socialist revolution and impossible without it.
HA
Consider the source.
This is the "Socialist Worker".
They are not worth the time and effort. They could care less if a bunch of us "reactionary nationalists" got upset. That's pretty much the goal, at least until the "revolution" when they'll send us off to the camps.
Horse pucky PING
I am sure you are wondering why I even gave this play on FR. Well, I have been waiting to see what the left was going to do with this stories. It had been very very quiet at the MSM and their editorializing of Akbar or Pantano.
Akbar, received exactly what he deserved. Pantano is still going through the process and frankly whether he is bound over for trial, his career is shot to hell, even his civilian job's might suffer from the events that occurred on his watch.
I suppose instead of saying "LETS Rumble" actually that fits too, "Let the Spin Begin!"
What a bunch of sniveling snot suckers.
Oink Oink, Oink Oink.
Little pig little pig, when will the socialists wake up?
Um, I think that when they named their publication The Socialist Worker they were admitting that they were the mouthpiece of the left.
Don't have a problem with this, it's his job too kill the enemy. I do have a problem with a stinking, yes stinking, muslim soldier killing his own, in the name of allah. There is no comparison too be made. Except of course if one hates America to begin with, and will do, say, type anything to bad mouth our troops. I would not waste my time emailing these people. They could care less anyway. Jeff
What I find most interesting, this was sent via Google "NEWS" alerts. Kinda wondering what the news worthiness of this was cuz it just sounds like talking points.
I know, it may not be worth the time or effort, but, sometimes that is what the left expects us to do ...
Maybe we should prove them wrong? Only a thought.
Socialist Worker. Might just as well be Al Jazeera.
Had to say, oh how cute and thank you for adding that to the thread, perhaps you will not mind if I borrow it with said thanks to you for creating the photo?
Guess that is the way to identify them but I am more curious what their reply if any will be.
Hey, war is all about, as Patton so aptly put it, 'getting the other SOB to die for his country'. I'm surprised this guy lasted that day.
That is fitfully ironic. Hasan Akbar is arabic for Big Horse.
What a bunch of sniveling snot suckers.You got that right.
They are full of horse feathers.
Can I call my place in line???
Socialist worker?? Chick we agree with you. And you couldnt have said it better...Let the spin begin.
Hasan translated as "Good or acceptable. Used to indicate authenticity of some reports" Ackbar translates to "is the Greatest." Or it could be directly translated as "Hasan is the greatest" Jeff
To Whom This May Concern:
I have been following the cases of both Akbar and Pantano. Frankly I find it hard to believe he was the only African American in his unit. Having said that, I do believe it is possible that he was the only Muslim.
The military is very diverse that is way I question his being the only African American in his unit. Fact's on this would be appreciated.
Akbar had serious problems. How he slipped by the folks at in processing prior to boot camp I will never know. Further, how he made it through boot camp with said mental issues is also unbelievable. Obviously it happened. I hope they will fine tune their recruiting evaluations in the future.
Had he remained stateside the same disease that afflicted him in Iraq certainly would have manifested itself while being a civilian with, I am sure deathly consequences. In other words, he would have murdered here or there. Either way, it is against the law to murder, worse to murder your fellow soldiers/airmen. For this act HE MUST be held accountable.
Akbar was harnessed, WOW, now that I think about it, how did he MAKE it through boot camp? That is all recruits get 24/7, from fellow recruits and from the leadership. This is a time to make or break a military member and those over seeing his training are required to bring to the attention of the chain of command if they have someone who just does not fit the bill for military service. Believe it or not the military does not take everyone and once selected can still be asked to leave with a other than discharge.
So, when Akbar's dad offer's his thoughts and you reprint them, I challenge you and your readers to also give it healthy skepticism.
Akbar is now serving a sentence based on his actions, the judicial process worked in this case. Actually it works better than their civilian counterparts.
Pantano, well that is a bit hazy for me. I have read differing accounts and I am not in the courtroom to hear first hand, so I will have to wait until his case either stops with this hearing or goes to trial.
What I will say, Pantano WILL NOT get a slap on the wrist. Before making such accusation perhaps you can until all the facts are in.
In the end, Pantano's career is finished and there will be folks like you that even if these accusations are unfounded, folks like your organization will never allow him to forget. Seems a pretty hefty price to pay, especially if found not guilty.
Respectfully,
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