Army Commander Investigated in Iraq Killing Spree

[Secret Squirrel]

Col. Michael Steele, whose heroics were portrayed in the movie "Black Hawk Down," is under investigation for allegedly encouraging his men to go on a killing spree. The investigation begins just as the Army has started to make its case against four soldiers who are charged with murdering three Iraqi civilians while under Steele's command, ABC News has learned.

The soldiers' defense is that they were under orders to kill all military-age males.

ABC News has learned that Steele has already been reprimanded for the incident.

The hearing for the four soldiers that began today will determine if they should stand trial on murder charges. The killings took place as part of Operation Iron Triangle, which targeted a suspected al Qaeda training facility northwest of Baghdad, Iraq, in the city of Samarra.

Army prosecutors said the four American soldiers detained three Iraqi men and then killed them, unarmed, in cold blood.


The defendants claim that they acted in self-defense, claiming they were under orders to kill all military-age Iraqi men, whether or not they were armed.



Following Orders of Heroic Leader?

Military sources familiar with the case said it appears that the soldiers in this unit at least believed their commander had issued an order to shoot to kill all Iraqi men during this operation.

Steele has a storied military career and it was his unit that came under attack in 1993 in Somalia, as was portrayed in the movie "Black Hawk Down." During the current conflict, Steele has been heard boasting about his unit's record of killing insurgents. Last November he said, "We are absolutely giving the enemy the maximum opportunity to die for his country."

A source familiar with the investigation said Steele kept a "kill board" tallying the number of Iraqis killed by units under his command, and in some cases he gave out commemorative knives to soldiers who killed Iraqis believed to be insurgents.

Steele has not commented publicly about the allegations against him. But a source close to him said that he categorically rejects them.

link (http://www.abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2262469)
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[Pook2]

Eh, Sucks for him.

[usmcprincipal]

Much of the media reporting of alleged incidents of atrocities committed by American forces has been absymal, particularly their speculative rush to judgment based on limited, and on many occasions suspect witness testimonies.
_________________________

During the current conflict, Steele has been heard boasting about his unit's record of killing insurgents. Last November he said, "We are absolutely giving the enemy the maximum opportunity to die for his country."

A source familiar with the investigation said Steele kept a "kill board" tallying the number of Iraqis killed by units under his command, and in some cases he gave out commemorative knives to soldiers who killed Iraqis believed to be insurgents.
_________________________

It's always interesting to read how words and/or actions can be twisted and used to fit an agenda. He's an aggressive infantry commander. It's his primary mission to close with and destroy the enemy, and yet somehow the mission is made out to be somehow perverted. His censure is a typical response by staff officers, who's motivation is to marginalize critical press coverage. The irony is....It never works.

[Erik2a4]

Much of the media reporting of alleged incidents of atrocities committed by American forces has been absymal, particularly their speculative rush to judgment based on limited, and on many occasions suspect witness testimonies.
_________________________

During the current conflict, Steele has been heard boasting about his unit's record of killing insurgents. Last November he said, "We are absolutely giving the enemy the maximum opportunity to die for his country."

A source familiar with the investigation said Steele kept a "kill board" tallying the number of Iraqis killed by units under his command, and in some cases he gave out commemorative knives to soldiers who killed Iraqis believed to be insurgents.
_________________________

It's always interesting to read how words and/or actions can be twisted and used to fit an agenda. He's an aggressive infantry commander. It's his primary mission to close with and destroy the enemy, and yet somehow the mission is made out to be somehow perverted. His censure is a typical response by staff officers, who's motivation is to marginalize critical press coverage. The irony is....It never works.

I agree wholeheartedly.

[goat89]

Damn. Hope everything turns out well for him.

[Michael RVR]

That cluster made colonel ?

[Erik2a4]

That cluster made colonel ?

Cluster? How so?

[Hunterhr]

That cluster made colonel ?

Hopefully this isn't going to segway into an analysis of his command potential based solely on a viewing of Black Hawk Down...

[GuLfCoAStKilla1]

He got some cojones.

[ed316]

I'll wait till the investigation and all the facts are out.

[usmcprincipal]

"That cluster made colonel ?"
_______________________________________

The statement cannot stand on its own merit . The only way it can stand inspection is with a reasoned explanation and a factual presentation, which were not provided.

It should be assigned to the trash can of worthless soundbites.

Semper Fidelis