Families seek justice for soldiers, Marines known as Leavenworth 10

[proud2BlibKansan]

By JOHN MILBURN

Associated Press Writer



As major U.S. combat operations in Iraq end, some families of soldiers and Marines convicted of crimes during battle hope the nation doesn't forget their sons.

The men, known as the "Leavenworth 10," were convicted by military courts for the murder of Iraqis over the past seven years. They're serving sentences, which range from 10 to 40 years, at Fort Leavenworth. But their families say it's all an injustice and want other Americans to share their outrage over what happened to their loved ones.

"For a soldier not to get any benefit of the doubt for serving their country, it's a horrible situation," said Vicki Behenna, whose son is serving time at Fort Leavenworth. "Unless you see your men die in battle and don't know where the next (bomb) is coming from, I think it's unfair for us to second-guess their actions."

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Two of the 10 have been released. In one of the remaining cases, 1st Lt. Michael Behenna was guilty of taking a detainee in May 2008 to a secluded railroad culvert and shooting him execution-style after interrogating the man at gunpoint.



Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/03/2197765/families-calling-for-justice-for.html#ixzz0yW6fCEMC

[atreides1]

1. Read this on Yahoo earlier.

'Michael Behenna claimed he was defending himself after the man reached for his gun. He said he defied orders to release the detainee because he wanted to question him again, believing he had a role in planting a bomb that killed two of his men a month earlier.'

This man wanted revenge, why else disobey a direct order to release the prisoner, and then take him to a secluded spot to conduct an unauthorized interrogation?

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. The 1st Lt... er private, should man up

to what he did. That said, given that ... the fish rots from the head and his SecDef ordered things that made his actions look like a walk in the damn park... I can see the outrage...

So what about we also convene a court to try those who gave the orders at the strategic level?

Better yet remand them to the International Court.

Oh that will never happen.

[pinboy3niner]

2. Sorry, 'benefit of the doubt' doesn't work for me for war crimes nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. He shot him in the head and is claiming self-defense

:eyes:

[pinboy3niner]

5. War criminals always have a defense; for some, I have some sympathy

Actually, I happen to know a war criminal--he's a friend of mine.

For the last 6 yrs or so, I've gone to speak, as a VN vet, to a history class at the local JC. Two vets are scheduled, and I usually don't know in advance with whom I'll be paired.

Three years ago, it turned out that my 'partner' was a vet who'd been at My Lai. For the first time, he was speaking publicly about his experience. For him, it was a psychological and emotional breakthrough--and though he did not detail his actions, it was obvious that he'd been one of the soldiers who'd gunned down unarmed civilians.

What he did say was that when he was ordered to fire on civilians, he refused. Then a gun was put to his head and he was told that if he didn't fire, he'd be killed and counted as a casualty of Viet Cong fire. I think he was 19 or 20 at the time.

He wasn't in Calley's platoon, but he gave depositions against others. Ever since that day, for decades, his guilt has weighed heavily on him and he has punished himself.

After 'coming out' publicly, my friend became a different man, plunging himself into causes to help veterans and the homeless. He's a leading veterans' activist in my community today. Is he trying to redeem himself? Obviously. But he also has a genuine passion for addressing issues that he couldn't even begin to approach when he was lost in his own guilt and war trauma.

Today, this war criminal is my friend. I believe he should have been prosecuted and held accountable for his actions, but that didn't happen. He's a basically a good man who made a terrible, tragic mistake under duress when he was a very young man. His ponytail is gray now, and he's dedicating his life to doing good works.

For him, I have empathy and sympathy. For those soldiers and Marines in the OP, I have none.