Posted on 05/12/2009 7:00:22 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The U.S. soldier who fired on fellow troops in Iraq has been identified as Army Sgt. John Russell, and he's been charged with five counts of murder, a military spokesman said Tuesday.
Russell killed five people when he fired on other troops at a stress clinic at Camp Liberty, near Baghdad International Airport, U.S. officials said.
Along with five counts of murder, Russell also was charged with one count of aggravated assault, said Maj. Gen. David Perkins, who briefed reporters in Baghdad.
Russell is on his third tour in Iraq. He's with the 54th Engineering Battalion, based in Germany. He is in military police custody at Camp Victory.
There are no immediate insights on a motive, Perkins said.
The military is conducting a criminal investigation and another probe that explores whether the shootings could have been prevented, Perkins said.
Among the five killed, two were on the staff of the clinic -- one from the Army and the other from the Navy. Both were with the 55th Medical Company. The other three were enlisted soldiers. None of the victims have been identified.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
My prayers to you and your son.
Faciendum est.
http://www.kxii.com/home/headlines/44793132.html
Thanks for the link.
I made no speculation as to what the race of the shooter was. In fact, I was sort of annoyed at those who were doing so on here yesterday.
And I knew that particular detail this morning (Baghdad time).
My main concern about this is for all of those who are suffering from this incident, both here and back home.
Take care.
Please cite evidence to support your claim that "the number is significantly higher" in the military, please.
Recent published statistics regarding the incidents of violence with military personnel state otherwise. Is your source the NYTimes?
Allegra, have the rocket attacks on the FOBs and COPs eased up too? Or are they still happening with regularity?
Frustrating, isn’t it?
I’ve been here five years and lurked for 4 before that so I’m not going anywhere:) Now and then I just have to VENT!
That was his “slave name”, what did he change it to?
It was just a plain white dude, who was overly stressed. Now what do you prejudiced people who jumped the gun have to say?
I wonder when we will learn it is actually “John Russell Muhammed.” Kinda like John Allen Muhammed: AKA “The Beltway Sniper.”
...white dude.... now what? How about lets pray for his poor family.
Ok, I was wrong. Sometimes our first instincts aren’t right. On a forum like this, we speculate on things. No harm, no foul.
Incorrect.
My guess would be the DNC or Code Pink.
He has the talking points down cold.
I have keen radar when it comes to anti-military leftist talking points.
Oh, yes, IDF has backed off considerably in the past year.
It hasn't completely stopped, but attacks on the bases are now few and far between.
I rarely have to dive into a bunker these days. :)
Stars&Stripes:
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=62572
Overall last year, there were 140 confirmed suicides and there are another seven probable suicides still under investigation, the Army said. That’s up from 115 in 2007, and 101 in 2006.
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CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/29/army.suicides/index.html
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The U.S. Army will report Thursday the highest level of suicides among its soldiers since it began tracking the rate 28 years ago, CNN has learned.
Statistics obtained by CNN show that the Army will report 128 confirmed suicides last year and an additional 15 suspected suicides in cases under investigation among active-duty soldiers and activated National Guard and reserves.
The confirmed rate of suicides was 20.2 per 100,000. Army officials were reviewing the suspected suicides Wednesday. If any of them are confirmed, the rate will rise.
In 2007, the Army reported 115 confirmed suicides, the highest level since 1980, when it began tracking suicides.
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Military Times: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/03/airforce_suicide_032309w/
Suicide rates remain high
Top officers urge ‘supportive climate’ for troubled troops
The suicide rates in all four services last year were higher than the national civilian average, and significantly higher in the Army and Marines, which saw overall increases.
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Journal of Amaerican Medicine: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/301/11/1111
Soldier Suicide Rates Continue to Rise:
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Hartford Courant: http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hc-mentally-unfit-still-fightin.artmay12,0,2018202.story
Since the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, more than 210 service members have killed themselves while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the suicide rate has risen significantly since the beginning of those campaigns. Army-wide, there have been 64 confirmed or suspected suicides in the first four months of this year, with the suicide rate among soldiers now exceeding the demographically adjusted civilian rate.
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San Jose Mercury News: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12320617?nclick_check=1
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And yes......
NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/us/30suicide.html?pagewanted=print
Suicides of Soldiers Reach High of Nearly 3 Decades
Suicides among soldiers in 2008 rose for the fourth year in a row, reaching the highest level in nearly three decades, Army officials said Thursday.
At least 128 soldiers killed themselves last year, and the Army suicide rate surpassed that for civilians for the first time since the Vietnam War, according to Army statistics. The suicide count, which includes soldiers in the Army Reserve and the National Guard, is expected to grow; 15 deaths are still being investigated, and the vast majority of them are expected to be ruled suicides, Army officials said.
Including the deaths being investigated, roughly 20.2 of every 100,000 soldiers killed themselves. The civilian rate for 2006, the most recent figure available, was 19.2 when adjusted to match the demographics.
Suicides by active-duty soldiers continued an alarming rise during the first four months of the year, although they fell off in April after a service-wide push to identify soldiers on the brink, the Army reported Thursday.
Through April, the Army reported 64 confirmed or potential active-duty suicides, compared with 39 confirmed suicides in the same period last year. The 129 confirmed suicides for all of 2008 marked a record high since the Army started tracking them in 1980.
See 115
God be with you and continue to protect you, dear friend!
The same is true with the murder rates.
That's the liberal hook, PurpleMan - to provide most of the information, but not all of it.
It leads the gullible to assume things are true that are not.
The suicide rate is very serious, and the military is dealing with it, but the singular goal of leftist garbage sources like CNN is to turn people against Operation Iraqi Freedom, and to think of our soldiers as victims rather than the heroes they are.
Apparently you've fallen for it.
Originally, I said the include the suicides, attempted suicides and, alcholol related incidents.
You conveniently omit the data on these additional incidents.
That’s the “suck it up and fight you wimps” hook “ohioWfan” - to provide most of the information, but not all of it.
btw, I was responding to your sources- the post you called my attention to, which didn't include your conjecture which you are now defending.
So your argument is completely invalid. But nice try to deflect your own tactic onto me.
Bottom line - you're wrong.
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