[SarahM72]

I was reading Pilger's latest column in the Newstatesman just now, and I was like WTF Pilger, normally you are reliable!! But then I googled and apparently there are other accounts that say Robert Bales did not act alone (for example see the acount of a child witness on the RAWA website http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2012/03/29...not-alone.html).

Pilger says:

An independent Afghan parliamentary investigation produces eyewitnesses who give detailed evidence of as many as 20 soldiers, aided by a helicopter, ravaging their villages, killing and raping: a standard, if marginally more murderous, US special forces “night raid”

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/polit...s-pilger-mailer

I don't know if anyone else hasn't heard this, or whether I am just especially ignorant of the news. But I never even heard a squeak of this until I just read Pilger's column.

[Pupalumps]

This was examined in some detail in last week's Media Watch. It found many of the allegations unsupported.
http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3492281.htm

[*Dystopia*]

I believe it & further more I reckon there is even more to the story. In all seriousness do you honestly think these soldiers are beyond reproach?. The whole situation sickens me to no end & please oh wise government tell me why we are participating in this bullsh*t "war"?

[Mumof1B2G]

Another who saw a good breakdown of information on Media Watch last week.

Senior correspondants were very skeptical of the claim of mulitple soilders... There was only one young child who talks about multiple soliders who was actually an eye witness there and he was interviewed after hearing his older relations talk about multiple soliders... The afghan government is now changing their positions. The media watch interview was interesting...

I believe one lone solider is an entirely plausible explanation. Look at the mass killings that have occurred throughout the world. Add to this a guy who has done multiple tours and the recent criticism within the USA of their ability to support the mental health needs of their returned soliders.

Truth is we will never know the full story but I believe the scenario put forward is entirely reasonable. It is going to be a very difficult trial politics versus a potential concern of the mental health of soliders.

I believe the majority of soliders are there trying to improve things for the people of that region. I believe a great many of them are doing a job that no one else would do. Now the politics of why we are there well that to me is a debate we should be taking up with our politicians...

[miriams]

It's possible that something got lost in translation? Obviously a lot of soldiers would have entered the area fairly soon after Bales went on his rampage. I am sure that he would have said that he was not alone as well if that had been the case.

[countrymel]

This was examined in some detail in last week's Media Watch. It found many of the allegations unsupported.
http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3492281.htm

This.

There was some confusion (deliberate or otherwise by the press) over claiming 'first hand eyewitness accounts' from people who were not actually there.

They are a community in deep grief, who have suffered immensely under the US occupation. The international press owes it to these people to maintain some sensitivity and perspective when it comes to reporting allegations as fact.

Peoples lives and right to the truth are more important than a trumped up 'scoop'.

[Hausfrau]

It's possible that something got lost in translation? Obviously a lot of soldiers would have entered the area fairly soon after Bales went on his rampage. I am sure that he would have said that he was not alone as well if that had been the case.

I agree. I think I also read that the soldiers had been in the villiage and returned to base before Bales went back by himself.

One soldier I have no problem with, 2 maybe, 3 doubtful, more than that? No way. I just can't see having that many bad eggs in one section.

Add to this a guy who has done multiple tours and the recent criticism within the USA of their ability to support the mental health needs of their returned soliders.

It isn't just the US mental health system that sucks. After each of my DH's deployments he has waited months (up to 6) to have his debrief once home. We have no friends do go on a rampage (on a less scale than Bales obviously) and they get a night in hospital and then a couple of psych appointments. Even now, my DH has been waiting 8 months for a psych appointment so that he can go commando.

My DH has lost at least 1 friend a year since he joined, either from suicide or drugs/alcohol. The latest one was last month.

This post has been edited by Hausfrau: 09/05/2012, 04:01 PM