Comments | liberalrage: discharged soldier has been charged in the Mahmudiyah case; more on the murdered girl

thisficklemob in liberalrage

discharged soldier has been charged in the Mahmudiyah case; more on the murdered girl

Jul 03, 2006 15:34

Ex-Soldier Arrested in Rape, Murder of Iraqi Girl, Others

The Washington Post's veteran Baghdad correspondent Ellen Knickmeyer revealed earlier Monday that the woman allegedly raped, killed and then burned by U.S. troops in Iraq in March was only 15 years old, and her name was Abeer Qasim Hamza ( Read more... )

abeer qasim hamza, war, military, iraq

Comments 14

maggiesox July 3 2006, 20:09:32 UTC

Great. Now I'm crying in impotent fury.

thisficklemob July 3 2006, 21:08:18 UTC

I'm sorry. I know how you feel. I had to go take a walk in the heat after I posted this. {{{hugs}}}

asaresquares July 3 2006, 21:39:21 UTC

I feel like throwing up.

And if I was against the war BEFORE this, now I'm so opposed I want to throw things.

thisficklemob July 3 2006, 21:52:11 UTC

Pretty much. If there were any bright side at all to be found in this story, which there's not, it would be that shit like this tends to catalyze public opinion against wars.

Except, a majority already think the war was a mistake and Bush doesn't care what we think.

ronestly July 3 2006, 21:46:57 UTC

When I learned about how this had happened, I nearly wanted to throw up. I was so disgusted and felt so incredibly hurt that those soldiers would represent our country like that. I have always been supportive of troops, whether I think they should be their or not, because they put our lives before theirs. But this crime? Unspeakable. I can't even imagine how sick you would have to be to do something like that. All the more reason to bring the soldiers home and make them well. War turns so many people.. crazy.

thisficklemob July 3 2006, 21:59:20 UTC

Exactly. I suppose "I support all the troops that conduct themselves honorably and don't go around committing rape and murder" wouldn't fit on those yellow ribbons.

(The comment has been removed)

thisficklemob July 4 2006, 15:15:01 UTC

Not to excuse this, but it's possible if not probable that the Iraqis who beheaded those other soldiers didn't know specifically who the culprits were... they just took it out on guys wearing the same uniforms. Which makes about as much sense as the soldiers murdering random Iraqis.

Although I increasingly suspect that rape was the motive here, and the murders were to cover it up.

anadart July 3 2006, 21:51:41 UTC

This really makes me sick. And Americans are supposed to be the better people? When?
The American Way? I'm really pissed at Bush Co. and their supporters. It just keeps getting worse not better.

Democrats better get their crap together and start offering some change instead of just responding to the Conservatives talking points.

That poor family.

thisficklemob July 3 2006, 22:00:59 UTC

Yeah.

At least this is making the news. There are probably numerous abuses that have been ignored or covered up.

kalynn_osburn July 3 2006, 22:54:36 UTC

This is just...I HAVE NO WORD! None. And i blame Americas government for this. I honestly do. Every time we go to war with someone they automatically become 'rag head', 'camle jockies'. But the minuet we're all friends again they are our devoted an trustworthy Muslim allies. We demonize our enemies to the point of which we lose all sympathy with them as human beings. We turn them into creatures so we don't feel bad when we kill them. I love this country. I will never stop believeing that America is a great country.But I am about five seconds from packing my bags, learning French and moving to Canada. I am sick and fucking tired of American Superiority Complex!

thisficklemob July 4 2006, 15:17:00 UTC

So am I.

The worst is, some degree of dehumanization probably has to take place in order for a soldier to be able to kill another person and not fall apart. If it's not necessary, why would it happen in every war? The worst is that this war didn't need to happen, at all, and damage and kill so many on both sides.

kalynn_osburn July 4 2006, 16:52:32 UTC

But there should be a certian amount of gulit when taking another human life. It's not as it was when swords were the quota for war. When you have to wash your hands and scrub under your nals to get the blood out. When you have to stand up close to see the look in the persons face after you kill them. You realize your taking the life of another human being. It seems to me that most of the technological 'innovations' of war have been made for the sole purpose of distancing ourselves from our enemy. Making it easier to kill en mass as well as less psychologically traumatic for those having to do the deed.
I agree with you on the part that it is some what nessicary. but we do it to the point of removing all sense of guilt or remorse from our soldiers over there. By dehumanizing the 'enemy' we dehumanize ourselves as well.