U.S. soldier commits suicide in Iraq

[ckramer]

A U.S. marine took his own life by putting a bullet through his head on Sunday morning near the restive city of Fallujah, local police source said.

"Early in the morning, a marine took the pistol of an Iraqi policeman in the police station of Amriyah town just south of Fallujah, and put a bullet in his head," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

"The soldier uttered words saying he was sad and miserable," the source said.

The U.S. troops kept the policeman who gave the marine the pistol for several hours, but released him later, he added.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-01/14/content_5605279.htm

[illinoisprogressive]

1. I wonder how many have done this and how many more.

Depression will eat you alive and it is very hard to get past without help. these kids have been asked to do impossible things and are expected to keep doing it. it is so wrong and criminal of this stupid administration. I hate Bush.

[fooj]

2. God help us.

:cry:

[Botany]

3. Blessings and prayers for his spirit, family, and friends

A U.S. marine :patriot:

:cry:


How many more George, how many?

BTW Anybody seen bin Laden lately?

[JohnnyLib2]

4. Ah, hell.

Sad.

[Harper_is_Bush]

5. Oh yeah, he borrowed my pistol and shot himself...

...that don't smell bad.

[Robbien]

6. Sure does seem as something is wrong here

But US forces let the Iraqi go. Since it doesn't take anything to throw Iraqis into prison, letting this Iraqi go free means this situation must be really really strange.

Also, for the military to readily call it a suicide AND let the press report it as one,,,

everything is strange here.

[Tellurian]

7. No it doesn't. The level of depression in troop morale..

is astounding. This soldier did it publicly, yes with an Iraqi policeman's gun,
to make sure the story was picked up by the press. His suicide would have been
covered up as a road bombing or death by insurgents if he hadn't done it his way.

Easy for you to say something isn't right. Better to think what motivated this soldier
to commit suicide, sending a clear message to everyone at home...

For the LOVE of God.. Help Us! Get us out of here!

[Bluerthanblue]

8. I agree, the only astounding thing about this is that it made it out-

into the public-

This happens more than people want to realize.

And it is completely due to the situation we have put these men and women in.

This soldier payed the price for *'s war of choice.

It is long past time to get out.

[Harper_is_Bush]

22. I'm looking at the facts

you're applying factors that are subsidiary to the facts of this situation.

As well, you comment that the soldier did it "publicly". Do you have information that there were other witnesses besides the Iraqi policeman?

And you're claim that this would have been covered up if possible is bizarre. Don't let your anger at the war cloud your judgement.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. I am confused about that detail

Do soldiers not have weapons? Why did this one have to borrow a gun?

[Tellurian]

14. To forestall a cover up..

every soldier has a weapon. No doubt this soldier has seen or heard of other troops
committing suicide and the ensuing cover up. He wanted to make a statement in doing it HIS way.

It would be interesting and a salient point if an investigative journalist could document the
number of suicides that have occurred since the beginning of this failed war.

[Harper_is_Bush]

25. your accusations are unfounded. Your credibility suffers in making

such accusations without any supporting evidence.

I have seen news of soldier suicides. Why were they not covered up?

Can I ask, what is your position on 9/11....LIHOP or MIHOP?

[Morgana LaFey]

18. I don't think they have pistols, as a rule

Tho officers often do. Called "side arms."

If you're going to shoot yourself in the head, one of those long things make it a little more difficult. NOT impossible, just awkward and difficult, and believe me, few people want a half-ass job of that.

[Harper_is_Bush]

23. good question. n/t

[MADem]

12. Something jars me about that as well... NT

[krispos42]

17. Not necessarily

"Hey, is that a Glock you have there? We uses these Berettas, but I like the simplicity of the Glock. Can I check yours out?"

Then <blam>.

Supposedly the US has been finding a grab-bag of assorted weaponry from a variety of eras in Iraq, and the Iraqi might have been carrying one of those as well.

This sort of discussion happens frequently at gun ranges, especially with unusual and/or historic pieces. A guy at the local shooting range let me try out a civilian-legal AK-47 clone once just because he noticed me eyeballing it, and my brother-in-law an AR-15 carbine.

I hope this Marine's family finds solace and peace soon.

[Harper_is_Bush]

24. your scenario is believable of course, but why would someone

intent on suicide bother to borrow a gun? Why not just blow his brains out with his own weapon?

[krispos42]

26. Very good question for which I have no answer

It might be that, being inside a police station, his rifle was in a locker or on a rack or something. I don't believe the Army issues pistols to enlisted soldiers on a routine basis, but I'm not sure at all about that.

I'm assuming he would do it in some kind of quiet spot in the police station, perhaps the bathroom, but I do not see how he could have borrowed an Iraqi's pistol "to look at it", then carry it into the bathroom.

Of course, if he started walking away from the Iraqi, I doubt the officer would have jumped on him and dragged him down, either. It would be a very bold move, and often times being bold works well enough long enough in social situations to accomplish your goal. It would have not worked for more than a few dozen seconds before either the Iraqi tried to get his gun back or the Iraqi told the squad sergeant about the missing Marine with the pistol. But if he was already prepared mentally to committ suicide, that is all he would have needed.

Besides, the Marine would have kicked his ass. :-)

[babydollhead]

9. we need to fight for Their freedom! our dear troops!

[Tellurian]

15. Yes, and what this new Congrees was elected to do..

FIGHT for the People and our Troops.

BRING THEM HOME, NANCY!

[no_hypocrisy]

11. Death by his own hand was the last decision the marine was able to

make on his own in order to thwart being a pawn for the military or a target for "the enemy". How incredibly tragic that our soldiers, marines, national guard troops are pushed to this extreme decision when they are asked to do the impossible, again and again and again. This is constructive murder with the label of suicide attached to it.

[malaise]

13. THis is too sad

Fugg Bush.

[bluedog]

16. Sounds like the "Quiet Soldiers" thoughts

The Quiet Soldier
..........


I got up every morning and performed my duties faithfully, without question, for that was what I had sworn to do. I had taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I would bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I would obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
I had performed my duty when I was deployed to Panama.
I had performed my duty when I was deployed to Kuwait.
I had performed my duty when I was deployed to Somalia.
I had performed my duty when I was deployed to Afghanistan.
I had performed my duty when I was deployed to Iraq yet again.

My time of serving my country has now come to an end. Thankfully through every invasion, every battle, and every war, I was never harmed. Unfortunately I have many friends and comrades who can not say the same. Many will come home with the inability to see, without a hand, without a leg, or worse of all, with a flag draped over them..

I went to Panama to defend democracy and human rights, as outlined by your father. I went to Kuwait to push back an invading force. I went to Somalia to defend those who could not defend themselves. I went to Afghanistan because they attacked my country.

Mr. Bush, I have done everything you have told me to do. I now ask something of you. Please tell me, why did I go to Iraq? I was told I would fight Al Queda, yet I did not encounter one member. I was told I would fight terrorists, yet all I fought were people trying to defend their land, against what they viewed as a invading force. I was told I would find weapons of mass destruction, yet none were to be found.

I feel my fellow soldiers and I have been lied to. I feel as if my military record has now been blemished and cheapened. I grieve for my friends that will not come home, due to you believing in a piece of intelligence that had no merit. I took my duty seriously, though I feel you have taken your duty carelessly, and at my sacrifice.

Mr. Bush, I may have been the quiet soldier, but I was never the dumb soldier.

Signed, TheQuietSoldier()******(e-mail address)

[zippy890]

19. so sad, depressed young man - stress of insane war

so so sad
:cry:

thoughts for his family, so hard on them

bring them all home, what the hell are they doing over there.

:cry:

[judaspriestess]

20. RIP brother

I hope he found the peace his soul sought

[uppityperson]

21. oh damn, my condolences for family, friends, mates.

Glad it made it into the news also. More news coverage is needed. Hard to hear, but we need to hear it. RIP