General to rule on Iraq rape case in September

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060816/us_nm/iraq_usa_dc_2

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A U.S. general will decide next month whether to court-martial four U.S. soldiers for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and the killing of her family in March, a U.S. military spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

A U.S. military court in Baghdad that heard the rape case this month is reviewing the court documents and will submit its recommendations to Major General James Thurman, commander of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, the spokeswoman said.

"The investigative officers are reviewing the case and have 30 days to put forward their recommendations to General Thurman," Major Josslyn Aberle told Reuters.

The Article 32 hearing -- the military's equivalent of a U.S. grand jury -- finished on August 10.

The rape case, the fifth involving serious crimes being investigated by the U.S. military in Iraq, has outraged Iraqis and led Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to call for a review of foreign troops' immunity from Iraqi prosecution.

[wakeme2008]

1. Why do I feel that he will rule there was NO crime.

:grr:

[Barrett808]

3. Au contraire -- I think these guys are toast

They may even be sentenced to death.

When the military decides to make an example of people, there's no equivocation. Apparently, a policy decision has been made to "crack down" on these sorts of crimes. The current cases are practically open and shut -- I expect the prosecution to prevail.

Will the policy be successful? Much more uncertain. We may hope so.

[wakeme2008]

4. The case is open and shut.. but the Judge is going to think about it

for a month and let the media attention die down...

[saigon68]

5. I agree they are not "RUSHING" to judgement

Ex service people won't give the fuckers a pass

Chicken Hawks (like Cheney) who like to see ISLAMOFASCISTS DIE will secretly want to see these boys with medals

[uppityperson]

2. Abeer, Hadeel, Qassim, Fakhriya