.US soldiers charged with murder over baiting of Iraqis
Three US soldiers have been charged with premeditated murder for engaging in a baiting practice allegedly ordered by the US military in Iraq.
Snipers were allegedly ordered to kill Iraqis who fell for the trap, in which ammunition and explosives were planted on the street.
The three soldiers facing court are also accused of planting weapons on the Iraqis they killed.
Defence lawyers and the soldiers' families say the men were simply following orders.
The court martial, being held at a US army base in Baghdad, is unlikely to help the Pentagon's efforts to win and the hearts and minds of war weary Iraqis.
Army specialist Jorge Sandoval appeared before a military judge overnight, accused of the premeditated murder of two Iraqi men and then trying to cover-up the shootings by planting weapons on the bodies.
He is one of three army snipers at the centre of a brewing controversy over a new tactic allegedly being used to kill insurgents.
It has been revealed that the Pentagon's secretive asymmetrical warfare group has been providing sniper units in Iraq with items such as weapons and detonation wire to be used as bait.
In a sworn statement to the court martial, Captain Matthew Didier, the leader of one the sniper units, says his men were told to shoot anybody who picked up the items.
The weapons were also to be placed on the bodies of those killed.
The accused soldiers all say the killings were authorised by their superiors but the Pentagon is refusing to confirm or deny whether the 'baiting' policy exists.
Major General Richard Sherlock, the director of operational planning at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says US soldiers are not trained to kill indiscriminately.
"Any program, whether it was a secret program or an overt program, would have to abide by the laws of land warfare," he said.
"The laws of land warfare do not include engaging someone simply for picking something up on the battlefield."
Human rights groups are concerned that weapons and explosives material allegedly used as bait could be picked up by civilians, especially curious children.
Gates asks for funding boost
The row over tactics on the ground came as US Defence Secretary Robert Gates faced another hostile reception from anti-war protesters gathered for a congressional hearing on the war.
The subject today was the Pentagon's request for another $217 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr Gates has told a Senate Committee more money is needed to train Iraqi forces and produce new armoured vehicles that offer greater protection against roadside bombs.
The committee's chairman, Democrat Senator Robert Byrd, has expressed horror at the increasing burden being placed on US taxpayers.
"If the congress were to approve the President's revised budget request, total funding for the war in Iraq will exceed $600 billion," he said.
That said, the Democrat-controlled committee is expected to give the President what he wants.
ABC.AU
Snipers were allegedly ordered to kill Iraqis who fell for the trap, in which ammunition and explosives were planted on the street.
The three soldiers facing court are also accused of planting weapons on the Iraqis they killed.
Defence lawyers and the soldiers' families say the men were simply following orders.
The court martial, being held at a US army base in Baghdad, is unlikely to help the Pentagon's efforts to win and the hearts and minds of war weary Iraqis.
Army specialist Jorge Sandoval appeared before a military judge overnight, accused of the premeditated murder of two Iraqi men and then trying to cover-up the shootings by planting weapons on the bodies.
He is one of three army snipers at the centre of a brewing controversy over a new tactic allegedly being used to kill insurgents.
It has been revealed that the Pentagon's secretive asymmetrical warfare group has been providing sniper units in Iraq with items such as weapons and detonation wire to be used as bait.
In a sworn statement to the court martial, Captain Matthew Didier, the leader of one the sniper units, says his men were told to shoot anybody who picked up the items.
The weapons were also to be placed on the bodies of those killed.
The accused soldiers all say the killings were authorised by their superiors but the Pentagon is refusing to confirm or deny whether the 'baiting' policy exists.
Major General Richard Sherlock, the director of operational planning at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says US soldiers are not trained to kill indiscriminately.
"Any program, whether it was a secret program or an overt program, would have to abide by the laws of land warfare," he said.
"The laws of land warfare do not include engaging someone simply for picking something up on the battlefield."
Human rights groups are concerned that weapons and explosives material allegedly used as bait could be picked up by civilians, especially curious children.
Gates asks for funding boost
The row over tactics on the ground came as US Defence Secretary Robert Gates faced another hostile reception from anti-war protesters gathered for a congressional hearing on the war.
The subject today was the Pentagon's request for another $217 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr Gates has told a Senate Committee more money is needed to train Iraqi forces and produce new armoured vehicles that offer greater protection against roadside bombs.
The committee's chairman, Democrat Senator Robert Byrd, has expressed horror at the increasing burden being placed on US taxpayers.
"If the congress were to approve the President's revised budget request, total funding for the war in Iraq will exceed $600 billion," he said.
That said, the Democrat-controlled committee is expected to give the President what he wants.
ABC.AU
posted by madtom at 6:26 PM
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