Tape showing US soldiers killing an unarmed and wounded Iraqi

[Kidlicious]

I'm amazed. I new this happened, but it seems the US can't get away with anything in this war.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Sava
shooting unarmed prisoners...

I haven't seen the film but I would like to point out that often times it is difficult to tell if someone is hiding something or not. Also in the GC if you are trying to surrender you are required to put your hands clearly in the air to show you are unarmed. Failure to do this means you can still be considered a combatant.

[DRoseDARs]

Do we know the nature of this man's injuries? Perhaps he couldn't raise his hands, or was too weakened from his wounds to surrender himself under his own power. We just don't know...

[MrFun]

Originally posted by laurentius
Whats the fuss about? These things happen in war. Always has, now there only was a reporter to witness it.

It's funny -- I could have sworn that American soldiers are trained with the emphasis that unarmed, injured enemy soldiers/insurgents that are clearly not resisting in anyway, are not to be killed.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by laurentius
Did you still think that all US soldiers are saints?

I think you are preaching to the wrong person, they clearly are not, but still, my gripe lies with the authorities who control them...

[axi]

From what I heard in the tape, the soldier, scared, shouts that "he's faking he's dead" and empties a whole clip on the man. He definitely lost his nerve.

[DRoseDARs]

A whole clip? Ugh.

[MrFun]

Maybe the soldier wanted to play "connect the dots" on the body with the shots?

[DRoseDARs]

MrFun, I'm trying to eat dinner.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by MrFun
It's funny -- I could have sworn that American soldiers are trained with the emphasis that unarmed, injured enemy soldiers/insurgents that are clearly not resisting in anyway, are not to be killed.

The major problem in my experience is determining who is unarmed and who is just pretending to be unarmed. The "double tapping" law which covers when you can shot a combatant and when you must care for him has a refrence which might be of help. If your line of advance has not reached the enemies position and if the enemy has not made absolutely clear that he wants to surrender then he is a legal target. Once your line of advance has passed him then it is assumed he is wounded or wants to surrender unless he behaives in a combant style.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
And yet this somehow makes it right? I don't know what your definition of murder is, but it isn't mine...

Before you rush to judgement my I point out we don't have both sides nor all of the evidence of what actually did occur?

[GhengisFarb™]

Correct me if I'm off but WEREN'T ALL CIVILIANS AND NONCOMBATANTS TOLD TO GET THE HECK OUT?

If you move they're going to shoot you. Either you're the enemy or someone Darwin dictates should be removed from the gene pool.

[Berzerker]

From what I heard in the tape, the soldier, scared, shouts that "he's faking he's dead" and empties a whole clip on the man. He definitely lost his nerve.

Going on what I've learned on Hardball, the US soldier saw a buddy blown up by a booby trapped body just a few days before and may have thought this guy had a bomb or something. The problem is these Iraqis had been wounded in a previous attack and left there to be picked up later.

Clearly this guy was on edge, who wouldn't be in that situation?

[Dinner]

It's hard to be constently seeing other human beings killed and fearing for your life. The stress really does get to a person and some people crack. It's still wrong and if he did break the law then I'm sure he will be punished. At the end of the day that's what makes us better then Saddam; if one of our guys breaks the law he goes to jail while Saddam gave them a medal.

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Berzerker

Clearly this guy was on edge, who wouldn't be in that situation?

Come man, poly is full of seasoned veterns of Civ, they know all about combat.