"Best Soldier I Ever Worked With

[spursncowboys]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/soldier-accused-in-afghan-shooting-spree-could-return-to-us-friday/2012/03/16/gIQAauMSGS_story.html

Its a shame. They need better ways of finding the PTSD and TBI guys.

[LnGrrrR]

Whats sad is that they probably discovered, but the docs got pressured to downgrade the injuries so they can deploy as many as they can.

[spursncowboys]

Whats sad is that they probably discovered, but the docs got pressured to downgrade the injuries so they can deploy as many as they can.

and/or the company command made it a stigma for anyone who was trying to get out of the deployment..."you leave your men, and their blood will be on your hands", etc.

[Winehole23]

if only Uncle Sam took loyalty half as serious as US soldiers do, that would be a nice turn

[DMX7]

"They" need to find a way to get out quicker.

[Wild Cobra Kai]

endless wars with no objectives = wars you can't win

[JoeChalupa]

How taking the life of another human being, regardless of reason or cause, can effect someone is no surprise. Even in totally reasonable situations the effect can be tramatic. Taking a life in self defense isn't always the answer.

[spursncowboys]

How taking the life of another human being, regardless of reason or cause, can effect someone is no surprise. Even in totally reasonable situations the effect can be tramatic. Taking a life in self defense isn't always the answer.

when someone gets blown up their brain can be damaged. parts of the brain control different things. There are tons on young americans at bamc (if they got burned ) or especially walter reed who cannot control their emotions in any way. For some their brain acts differently in time. gradually getting worse. factor their tbi with, in this soldiers instance the ptsd of seeing one of your guys' leg blown...

[Goran Dragic]

lol spursncowboys
lol crying over dead worthless soldiers
lol semper fi fags

[leemajors]

MDMA, mushrooms, or acid.

[ChumpDumper]

Was he eating a lot of Twinkies?

[DMX7]

He must have been serving with a gay man -- that's the only reasonable explanation I can think of.

[ChumpDumper]

Hmm.
The soldier accused in the massacre of 16 Afghan civilians owes $1.5 million from a 2003 arbitration ruling that found him guilty of securities fraud.

http://news.yahoo.com/afghan-killings-suspect-owes-1-5m-fraud-case-033226562.html

[DMC]

if only Uncle Sam took loyalty half as serious as US soldiers do, that would be a nice turn
We'd be Nazi Germany.

[LnGrrrR]

If that's true, the Army is worse than I thought. High financial debt usually precludes one from getting anything higher than a Secret clearance , and I would think 1.5 mil would prevent even that.

That said, the ruling was nearly a decade ago, so I wonder how much of a factor that was.

[DMC]

It was a hit, set up by a presidential candidate's campaign to give Obama's administration a black eye (I know). Once Obama loses, the guy was told he would be pardoned of not only this, but also the 1.5 million.

Funny that a guy with a rifle can crawl up to a compound and nothing happens even though he's spotted.

[Winehole23]

We'd be Nazi Germany.If we took decent care of our warriors? I doubt it.

[RandomGuy]

Afghan Murder Suspect Bales 'Took My Life Savings,' Says Retiree


Robert Bales, the staff sergeant accused of massacring Afghan civilians, enlisted in the U.S. Army at the same time he was trying to avoid answering allegations he defrauded an elderly Ohio couple of their life savings in a stock fraud, according to federal documents reviewed by ABC News.

"He robbed me of my life savings," Gary Liebschner of Carroll, Ohio told ABC News.

Financial regulators found that Bales "engaged in fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, churning, unauthorized trading and unsuitable investments," according to a report on Bales filed in 2003. Bales and his associates were ordered to pay Liebschner $1,274,000 in compensatory and punitive damages but have yet to do so, according to Liebschner.

"We didn't know where he was," Liebschner told ABC News. "We heard the Bahamas, and all kinds of places."

Liebschner says he recognized Bales after news reports named him as the American soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers in a shooting rampage.

Liebschner filed a complaint against Bales in May 2000, claiming Bales took his life savings of $852,000 in AT&T stock and through a series of trades reduced its value to nothing.

The Ohio retiree recalled Bales as a "smooth talker." Asked if he regarded Bales as a con man, Liebschner said, "You've hit the nail on the head."

At the time, Bales worked for an Ohio brokerage firm, MPI.

According to federal documents, Bales failed to appear at an arbitration hearing to resolve Liebschner's complaint.



http://news.yahoo.com/afghan-murder-suspect-bales-took-life-savings-says-223934030--abc-news.html

[CosmicCowboy]

Sounds like a typical fee for trade stockbroker from that era. They couldn't make any money if the client just bought and held. They had to always be coming up with a new hot tip and convincing their client to sell/buy so they could generate commissions.

[CosmicCowboy]

One of my many ex-brother in laws was a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch. I couldn't stand the cocksucker but he was a real suck-up to my dad and he just couldn't see through the guys bullshit. He convinced dad to let him do an "estate plan". He put him in a bunch of shitty ridiculously heavy load mutual funds with withdrawal penalties that payed up front broker bonus's and sold him a shitty whole life insurance policy that paid him a 6% commission up front. Just classic commission broker shit.

[DMC]

If we took decent care of our warriors? I doubt it.
Though I am pro-military, I realize that were everyone pro-military we would be even more of a global presence than we are now, and the loyalty to the military would mean military men would make decisions on war/no war. Sure the talking heads would sign on the dotted line, but their loyalty to the cause would mean they are being told what they need to do.

[Winehole23]

hmm...I was more referring to remaining loyal to the warrior once the fighting is over, taking care of the walking wounded and so forth...looks like you took it a little different...

[boutons_deux]

Though I am pro-military, I realize that were everyone pro-military we would be even more of a global presence than we are now, and the loyalty to the military would mean military men would make decisions on war/no war. Sure the talking heads would sign on the dotted line, but their loyalty to the cause would mean they are being told what they need to do.

what confused bullshit, total crap

civilians decide to make war, not the military, in principle. In fact, the MIC (and UCA like oilcos) owns the civilians (politicians), so in fact the military does decide to go to war, so we get botched disasters like VN, Iraq, Afghanistan, but the military brass gets their careers padded and the MIC pockets $100Bs in exorbitant war profiteering.

"the cause" ?? GMAFB Only cannon-fodder, suckered, ignorant grunts "believe" in "the cause".

The REAL "the cause" is American military/commercial imperialism.

[Winehole23]

civilians decide to make war, not the military, in principle.explain?

[Wild Cobra]

explain?
Seems to me that is on of the few things Boutons said that is correct. Why does it need explanation? Our government is a civilian body, isn't it?

[Winehole23]

yep. I need that morning coffee bad...

[CosmicCowboy]

The continuing uproar over this just blows me away. There is all this clamor to try this guy quickly and execute him, never mind his having suffered a traumatic brain injury on his previous (3rd) tour. Yet this fucking Major Hasan, who shot up Fort Hood while screaming Allah Akbar, still hasn’t stood trial, and they are still debating whether he was insane, even with the clear evidence regarding his motive: kill as many infidels as possible. So we have a guy in a war zone who cracks, and he must be executed immediately. But this Muslim psychiatrist who was stateside in a nice safe office all day murders 13, wounds 29 of our own guys, and they try to argue the poor guy suffered post-traumatic stress syndrome, from listening to real soldiers who had actual battle experience. Two and a half years later, they still haven’t tried the murderous bastard. WTF?

[baseline bum]

Hopefully both those dickheads get the needle.

[clambake]

i'd be ok with that.

[Winehole23]

There is all this clamor to try this guy quickly and execute him..Haven't heard it. Who is clamoring for a swift execution?

[CosmicCowboy]

Haven't heard it. Who is clamoring for a swift execution?

google is your friend.

[Winehole23]

pfa is yours

[CosmicCowboy]

lazy fucker

you don't read the news?

hows this for starters?

http://articles.cnn.com/2012-03-21/asia/world_asia_afghanistan-shooting_1_afghan-parliament-afghan-government-afghan-official?_s=PM:ASIA

[Winehole23]

you have a problem with Afghans wanting a swift resolution?

[CosmicCowboy]

you have a problem with Afghans wanting a swift resolution?

Lets not argue this straw man, OK? It's rather pointless, don't you think?

[Winehole23]

if they did it to us here, would it be inappropriate or uncivil for Americans to call for swift retribution for innocent lives taken?

[Winehole23]

Lets not argue this straw man, OK? It's rather pointless, don't you think?you brought this whole thing up. how is it unfair to ask whose bitching made you so sour?

[boutons_deux]

If Bales was crazy from TBI, why did the Army send him back?

I'm sure his defense will be insane by TBI.

[CosmicCowboy]

if they did it to us here, would it be inappropriate or uncivil for Americans to call for swift retribution for innocent lives taken?

So is it OK to call it a clamor? If you don't like the word pick another one you think is more appropriate. I'll cut and paste it in. I really don't give a shit.

[Winehole23]

"all this clamor", is surely overstatement

[CosmicCowboy]

"all this clamor", is surely overstatement

pfft

find something more substantive to argue about.

[Winehole23]

you brought it up, thanks for conceding the triviality :tu

[CosmicCowboy]

you brought it up, thanks for conceding the triviality :tu

Like I said, if you don't like the word clamor pick another one that you feel is more appropriate. It's stupid to argue one word and ignore the entire context.

[Winehole23]

that you rely on bullshit and often lead with it (as you did @2:03PM) isn't irrelevant, but the tendency to discount the behavior is understandable.

Did you want to talk about PTSD instead? If so, please go right ahead...

[CosmicCowboy]

*yawn*

[Winehole23]

it is so not an outrage that Afghans are pissed off and voice strong opinions about what should happen next

[Winehole23]

*yawn*again, you made the comparison to Hasan. does that bore you now?

[ChumpDumper]

Yeah, having trouble figuring out what CC is getting at by showing what an Afghan official would like to see happen to an alleged criminal who went on a rampage in his country. By that standard, he's already receiving better treatment than most.

It just sounds like someone told you to be angry about it, tbh. It does seem to be a talking point in conservative circles.

[CosmicCowboy]

Again, you guys don't get the point. It's not just the Afghans. There are a lot of people demanding that the guy get crucified. Hell, read the comments under any article about him. Just made the comparison to how Hasan has been been babied.

For example:

President Obama about Hasan:


On Friday, Obama opened his remarks at a brief press conference in the White House Rose Garden in which he warned the American public against "jumping to conclusions" over the motives of the shooter.
"This morning I met with FBI Director Mueller and the relevant agencies to discuss their ongoing investigation into what caused one individual to turn his gun on fellow servicemen and women," he said. "We don't know all of the answers yet, and I would caution against jumping to conclusions until we have all of the facts.

and Bales:


. This incident is tragic and shocking, and does not represent the exceptional character of our military and the respect that the United States has for the people of Afghanistan. I fully support Secretary Panetta’s and General Allen’s commitment to get the facts as quickly as possible and to hold accountable anyone responsible.

[CosmicCowboy]

I'm not on a crusade. I just made a post comparing the two.

[clambake]

come on cc, don't you want this country to stay above that sort of thing?

you want to play on the same level as extremists?

[ChumpDumper]

I saw no demand for a crucifixion.

And with Hassan, there was indeed a need for a thorough investigation to find out if anyone else was directly involved or if there were plans for more attacks, etc.

If you think there is a similar possibility for such conspiracies carried out by uniformed servicemen in Afghanistan, just say so.

[CosmicCowboy]

I saw no demand for a crucifixion.

You wouldn't through your blue tinted glasses.

[ChumpDumper]

You wouldn't through your blue tinted glasses.You just made it up.

I expect you to make shit up this these days. You've devolved into an outrage email repeaterbot.

[CosmicCowboy]

pfft

and you are just an argumentative little bitch

[Winehole23]

I'm not on a crusade. I just made a post comparing the two.What are the significant differences? Did Obama jump to conclusions? Is there something wrong with urging a prompt investigation into the facts?

[CosmicCowboy]

What are the significant differences? Did Obama jump to conclusions? Is there something wrong with urging a prompt investigation into the facts?

Well, there was one hell of a lot less forensic data and eye witnesses from Afghanistan than there was from Fort Hood.

[ChumpDumper]

Well, there was one hell of a lot less forensic data and eye witnesses from Afghanistan than there was from Fort Hood.So not having evidence should slow down the investigation of such evidence?

This makes no sense.

[CosmicCowboy]

Don't try to put words in my mouth and then argue against the words you put there.

Fuck off. You are just arguing to be irritating and I'm not biting.

[ChumpDumper]

Don't try to put words in my mouth and then argue against the words you put there.

Fuck off. You are just arguing to be irritating and I'm not biting.Well, you're putting words into the mouth of the president and others and fighting those straw men.

I can see how having your baseless theories questioned can be irritating to you.

Bales wasn't lynched in Afghanistan. He's ahead of the game.

[spursncowboys]

if they did it to us here, would it be inappropriate or uncivil for Americans to call for swift retribution for innocent lives taken?

That doesn't make any sense. We are a country. Pashtuns want pashtunistan. They could care less about afghanistan. reports show... says the experts.

[Winehole23]

what difference does it make to whom they give their allegiance? a US officer went on a rampage and killed innocent people. they have every right to be pissed off. it happened in their backyard.

[spursncowboys]

So someone from that village didn't blow up americans on the regs? Its asinine for you to put the two in the same situation.

[Winehole23]

did the people who got killed kill Americans? I've not seen that suggested.

[spursncowboys]

IDK. Don't get me wrong. What the soldier did was illegal and inexcusable. But it was a war zone. Ft Hood is not.

[Winehole23]

(agree strongly)

[boutons_deux]

Second prior assault cases surfaces against Robert Bales

A Pierce County Sheriff's Department incident report obtained by The Associated Press quoted a woman claiming Robert Bales told her she was beautiful, then "pulled her hand to his crotch" outside a Tacoma, Wash., bowling alley. The deputy described Bales as "extremely intoxicated."

The report says Bales began punching and kicking the woman's boyfriend. When the boyfriend raised one leg to stop the kicking, Bales grabbed the leg and pushed him to the pavement, according to the incident report.

Each person involved in the incident was drunk, to the point of mumbling and slurring their speech, according to the deputy's account.

Irish said that Bales was with a group that pleaded with her not to file charges.

They told her Bales was drunk and if she "could be so kind" not to file an official report. "His friend said he was married and in the service, and it would destroy him" if she filed charges," Irish said.

Irish said she met with a sheriff's deputy and gave him a written statement at the bowling alley. The deputy who took the report did not return a phone call seeking comment.

In the 2002 casino incident, the police report says two security guards told Bales to leave, but he picked up a trash can lid and rushed the guards, punching one in the chest before they tackled him.

Also in 2008, Bales was involved in a hit-and-run accident in which records show he ran bleeding in military clothes into the woods. He told police he fell asleep at the wheel and paid a fine to get the charges dismissed, according to court records.


http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0322/Second-prior-assault-cases-surfaces-against-Robert-Bales?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feeds%2Fcsm+%28Christian+Scie nce+Monitor+|+All+Stories%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

======

"in war zone" excuse/pretext/mitigation in the comments above sounds like ALEC's/NRA's "I Feel Threatened/I Feel Bad So I Kill You" laws.

Lots of guys have been "in a war zone" and didn't slaughter 17 non-combattants.

[boutons_deux]

US says Sgt. Bales split Afghan killing spree

U.S. investigators believe the 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

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0324/US-says-Sgt.-Bales-split-Afghan-killing-spree?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feeds%2Fcsm+%28Christian+Scie nce+Monitor+|+All+Stories%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

[jack sommerset]

This Alexander guy disturbs me. Knowing his buddy killed all those innocent people including nine kids and he still says one of the best soldiers I ever known. His grading curve is low to say the least. It's not like he pulled a Rambo and did all this as a civilian. he was still a active soldier. God bless

[spursncowboys]

This Alexander guy disturbs me. Knowing his buddy killed all those innocent people including nine kids and he still says one of the best soldiers I ever known. His grading curve is low to say the least. It's not like he pulled a Rambo and did all this as a civilian. he was still a active soldier. God bless

1. he's an officer.

2. He's a lieutenant. That's like two years max in the military.

3. He is in the same fight as he was in. Maybe the idea that these villages were just filled with bystanders are false. Maybe him having to help patch up one of their men's blown off legs has to do with it? Maybe it has to do with all the days of training the men. All the days of showing this lt how to lead and showing the soldiers what to do have to do with his analysis. I don't know. I think for him to say that and possibly destroy his career to he loyal to his mentor shows alot and says alot! A good soldier isn't always a good person. A good deployed soldier isn't always a good garrison soldier.

[Koolaid_Man]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/soldier-accused-in-afghan-shooting-spree-could-return-to-us-friday/2012/03/16/gIQAauMSGS_story.html

Its a shame. They need better ways of finding the PTSD and TBI guys.


that soldier should be executed...plain and simple..I don't beleive there's honor for everyone that decides to join the military...not at all...and even some ofd the soldiers will tell you that...some won't deploy because they think Obama is a Muslim and some are KKK and have their own agenda..before you get all up in arms just remember that people on the right do it all the time...ever heard of Don't Ask, Don't Tell...gay service members mean nothing to those on the right...

[boutons_deux]

Robert Bales Charged: Military Scrambles To Limit Malaria Drug Just After Afghanistan Massacre

Nine days after a U.S. soldier allegedly massacred 17 civilians in Afghanistan, a top-level Pentagon health official ordered a widespread, emergency review of the military’s use of a notorius anti-malaria drug called mefloquine.

Mefloquine, also called Lariam, has severe psychiatric side effects. Problems include psychotic behavior, paranoia and hallucinations. The drug has been implicated in numerous suicides and homicides, including deaths in the U.S. military. For years the military has used the weekly pill to help prevent malaria among deployed troops.

The U.S. Army nearly dropped use of mefloquine entirely in 2009 because of the dangers, now only using it in limited circumstances, including sometimes in Afghanistan. The 2009 order from the Army said soldiers who have suffered a traumatic brain injury should not be given the drug.

The soldier accused of grisly Afghanistan murders on March 17 of men, women and children, Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, suffered a traumatic brain injury in Iraq in 2010 during his third combat tour. According to New York Times reporting, repeated combat tours also increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Bales' wife, Karilyn Bales, broke her silence in an interview Sunday with NBC's Matt Lauer, airing on Monday's Today show. "It is unbelievable to me. I have no idea what happened, but he would not -- he loves children. He would not do that," she said in excerpts released Sunday.

On March 20, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Jonathan Woodson ordered a new, urgent review to make sure that troops were not getting the drug inappropriately. The task order from Woodson, obtained by The Huffington Post, orders an immediate “review of mefloquine prescribing practices” to be completed by the following Monday, six days after the order was issued.

“Some deployed service members may be prescribed mefloquine for malaria prophylaxis without appropriate documentation in their medical records and without proper screening for contraindications,” the order says. It notes that this review must include troops at “deployed locations.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/25/robert-bales-malaria-drug_n_1378671.html?view=print&comm_ref=false

[Winehole23]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/us-pays-blood-money-to-victims-of-afghan-massacre/2012/03/25/gIQARfIaZS_story.html

[ElNono]

Chump change