Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

EFerrari

(163,986 posts)
Sat Mar 24, 2012, 04:50 PM Mar 2012

New twist in Bales' Afghanistan rampage reporting.

(AP) WASHINGTON - American officials say U.S. investigators now believe the U.S. soldier accused of killing 17 Afghan civilians split the slaughter into two episodes - returning to his base after the first attack and later slipping away to kill again.

This scenario seems to support the U.S. government's assertion — contested by some Afghans — that the killings were done by one person, since they would have been perpetrated over a longer period of time than assumed when Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales was detained March 11.

But it also raises questions about how Bales, who was formally charged with premeditated murder, could have carried out the slaughter without drawing attention from others on the American base in Kandahar province.

The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the probe is ongoing.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57403946/u.s.-bales-went-on-2-shooting-sprees/

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
New twist in Bales' Afghanistan rampage reporting. (Original Post) EFerrari Mar 2012 OP
Don't change the fact dipsydoodle Mar 2012 #1
That's right. The reports from the villages consistently have said EFerrari Mar 2012 #3
They also didn't refer dipsydoodle Mar 2012 #4
This could be the Pentagram trying to keep their CYA together EFerrari Mar 2012 #6
Are the afghans incapable of knowing the difference xchrom Mar 2012 #2
I read a report (Thurs or Fri) posted by Jeremy Scahill to Twitter EFerrari Mar 2012 #5
New twist? PSPS Mar 2012 #7
My subj line is new twist in the reporting. n/t EFerrari Mar 2012 #8

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
1. Don't change the fact
Sat Mar 24, 2012, 05:01 PM
Mar 2012

that at least one survivor said there was more than one at the same time - as opposed to separate occasions.

EFerrari

(163,986 posts)
6. This could be the Pentagram trying to keep their CYA together
Sat Mar 24, 2012, 05:09 PM
Mar 2012

or, it could be something else. Hard to say.

EFerrari

(163,986 posts)
5. I read a report (Thurs or Fri) posted by Jeremy Scahill to Twitter
Sat Mar 24, 2012, 05:07 PM
Mar 2012

iirc, that a little more than a week before the massacre, an IED went off in the same location. The villagers were lined up against a wall and they were told that not only they but also their children would pay for it.

So now, the people are certain Bales' (and ?) murders are the threatened retribution.

ETA: It might have been Greenwald. I don't remember now.

PSPS

(13,623 posts)
7. New twist?
Sat Mar 24, 2012, 05:23 PM
Mar 2012

The US media has been alone in promoting the "lone nut" story. The guy (Bales) has a bum foot and certainly couldn't have walked to two different villages located kilometers apart and done all of this in the time frame.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»New twist in Bales' Afgha...