Article

2008-07-29 Home Front: Politix

Bush approves execution of US Army private

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Steve White 2008-07-29 00:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top

#1 HMMMMM ......

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-07-29 00:12|| 2008-07-29 00:12|| Front Page Top

#2 When's this asshole taking the hot shot?

April. 29, 2005

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Hours after giving a brief, barely audible apology, a soldier was sentenced to death by a military jury for attacking comrades with a rifle and grenades early in the Iraq invasion.

Sgt. Hasan Akbar, 34, could have been sentenced Thursday to life in prison with or without parole for the March 2003 attack on members of the elite 101st Airborne Division at Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait. Two officers were killed and 14 other soldiers were wounded.

Posted by tu3031 2008-07-29 08:35|| 2008-07-29 08:35|| Front Page Top

#3 Death by hand grenades, just within max effective range!

Posted by Besoeker 2008-07-29 10:02|| 2008-07-29 10:02|| Front Page Top

#4 Red Flag on this one. The US President only supports military executions for very good reasons. Pvt. Slovik was executed for desertion because of the fear of low morale just before the Battle of the Bulge.

To me, and some I mentioned this to, this says just one word.

Iran.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-07-29 10:43|| 2008-07-29 10:43|| Front Page Top

#5 Gray's a murderer and a rapist. Not a deserter.

Posted by tu3031 2008-07-29 10:46|| 2008-07-29 10:46|| Front Page Top

#6 Iran

I could live with that.

Posted by trailing wife ">trailing wife 2008-07-29 11:08|| 2008-07-29 11:08|| Front Page Top

#7 I fear that President Obama would commute Sgt. Akbar's sentence to time served. And put him up for a medal.

Posted by Rambler in California">Rambler in California 2008-07-29 11:57|| 2008-07-29 11:57|| Front Page Top

#8 What is the proposed method of execution?

Posted by john frum 2008-07-29 14:23|| 2008-07-29 14:23|| Front Page Top

#9 Letal injection.

Posted by ed 2008-07-29 14:29|| 2008-07-29 14:29|| Front Page Top

#10 tu3031: He is being executed less for his crimes than "to maintain good military order and discipline." You'll note that Bush got a current opinion to back his authority up beforehand.

There is a good possibility if we get into a war with Iran, many in our military are so tired that there might be a problem with desertion. By approving the execution of this villain, it is the final test of the system.

If desertions are a problem, we will know for sure that deserters can be executed, to put a stop to that.

Currently, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 14 offenses are punishable by death. Under the following sections of the UCMJ, the death penalty can be imposed at any time:

94 - Mutiny or sedition
99 - Misbehavior before the enemy
100 - Subordinate compelling surrender
101 - Improper use of countersign
102 - Forcing a safeguard
104 - Aiding the enemy
106a - Espionage
110 - Improper hazarding of vessel
118 - Murder
120 - Rape and carnal knowledge

Four provisions of the UCMJ carry a death sentence only if the crime is committed during times of war:

85 - Desertion
90 - Assaulting or willfully disobeying superior commissioned officer
106 - Spies
113 - Misbehavior of a sentinel or lookout

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-07-29 14:33|| 2008-07-29 14:33|| Front Page Top

#11 I might add, that there is another benefit of insuring that the President has a clear path to approve executions: the al-Qaeda prisoners at Guantanamo. The ones convicted so far have gone to Florence, Colorado, but some to be tried in the future could receive the death penalty.

Since they are getting military trials, instead of their appeals going up through the civilian courts, they might need to go through the military appeals chain.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-07-29 14:42|| 2008-07-29 14:42|| Front Page Top

#12 There is a good possibility if we get into a war with Iran, many in our military are so tired that there might be a problem with desertion.

Unless supported by evidence, I have to consider this to be ridiculous. Is there any evidence of high AWOL or desertion rates? I believe not.

Bush is letting this guy fry because he believes it's the right thing to do. Period.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2008-07-29 14:54|| 2008-07-29 14:54|| Front Page Top

#13 NS: it IS the right thing to do. The only problem is that it has taken too long to get it done. That said, better late than never.

Posted by Jomock Platypus9662 2008-07-29 18:31|| 2008-07-29 18:31|| Front Page Top

#14 BTW, among the victims of this foul animal was a female soldier he raped and killed and another female soldier he raped but who survived. I hope the last 20 years have been real tough on this POS; I'm sure they've been pretty tough on his victims who survived, and the relatives of those who didn't.

Posted by Jomock Platypus9662 2008-07-29 18:53|| 2008-07-29 18:53|| Front Page Top

#15 Blackfive has some discussion of this case as well. General conclusion from people familiar with the case is that this guy should have been executed years ago. And it needs to be done this year or it will probably be too late. Any benefit beyond that is likely just coincidental.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2008-07-29 20:45|| 2008-07-29 20:45|| Front Page Top

23:55 Pappy
23:53 Pappy
23:38 GK
23:28 Muggsy Thromble
23:25 Red Dawg
23:21 Grease Dark Lord of the Algonquins9226
23:21 Muggsy Thromble
23:19 Red Dawg
23:10 Muggsy Thromble
23:10 tipper
23:05 Wilbur Mills
22:51 James Carville
22:48 Sgt. Mom
22:45 Barbara Skolaut
22:44 trailing wife
22:42 trailing wife
22:42 Barbara Skolaut
22:35 Harcourt Whomosh aka Broadhead6
22:30 Harcourt Whomosh aka Broadhead6
22:16 Elmavirong Johnson3058
22:11 phil_b
22:00 Mullah Richard
21:57 Bright Pebbles
21:53 Shusorong White1099