Soldiers' prosecution fears 'may cause fatal hesitation'

Barrett808

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Sun Nov-20-05 11:58 AM
Original message

Soldiers' prosecution fears 'may cause fatal hesitation'

Senior officers are concerned that soldiers' fears of being prosecuted if they open fire when under attack in Iraq could lead to potentially fatal hesitation.

Gen Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman, the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, said he was worried that an "undercurrent of fear" was developing.

The general made his comments as the Ministry of Defence admitted that the Royal Military Police has now conducted more than 100 investigations since March 2003 into soldiers who returned fire after they were attacked by Iraqi gunmen.

When the Sunday Telegraph asked the general if he was worried that soldiers might risk their lives or those of colleagues by hesitating before opening fire because of a fear of prosecution, he said: "This is something that we are very concerned about. It is something we are keeping an eye on."

(more)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/11/20/nsas220.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/11/20/ixhome.html

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acmavm

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Sun Nov-20-05 12:11 PM
Response to Original message

1. Then get them out of there and there won't be a problem, will there?

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Maraya1969

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Sun Nov-20-05 12:17 PM
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2. WAR - What is it good for? Absolutely NOTHING.

I wish the anti-war songs would start coming out.

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corporatemedia

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Sun Nov-20-05 03:42 PM
Response to Reply #2

6. Real GOOD for Halliburton! eom

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Benhurst

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Sun Nov-20-05 12:20 PM
Response to Original message

3. Then bring 'em home! NT

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Briar

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Sun Nov-20-05 01:10 PM
Response to Original message

4. And lack of thought

can be fatal to innocent civilians.

But who cares about them?

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Boomer

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Sun Nov-20-05 03:17 PM
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5. Which fear wins?

Before, we were told the fear of being attacked by suicide bombers is the reason American solidiers are firing first and asking questions later, which has resulted in the deaths of untold Iraqi civilians who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

And now we're told the fear of prosecution for war crimes will (possibly, theoretically) make these same trigger-happy American soldiers hesitate before firing.

Personally, I think the immediate fear of dying will always trump the future threat of a court martial, but for the same of argument let's grant the General is correct.

The two fears should counter each other nicely -- the soldiers will hesitate that split second longer than their earlier split second jump too soon. That should make their timing just about right now.

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daleo

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Sun Nov-20-05 06:47 PM
Response to Original message

7. And if they don't hesitate, it may be fatal for innocent civilians

Another reason why war should not be lightly gone into, and both Bush and Blair should be impeached.

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happydreams

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Sun Nov-20-05 10:07 PM
Response to Original message

8. I know somebody who spent 11 years in jail for "murder" ( Beirut )

He didnt' hesitate during the Marine Barracks carbomb attack, but wished he had.

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