[Q]Much has been written about how Iraqis complicated the task of rebuilding their country by looting it after Saddam Hussein's regime fell. In the case of the international airport outside Baghdad, however, the theft and vandalism were conducted largely by victorious American troops, according to U.S. officials, Iraqi Airways staff members and other airport workers. The troops, they say, stole duty-free items, needlessly shot up the airport and trashed five serviceable Boeing airplanes. "I don't want to detract from all the great work that's going into getting the airport running again," says Lieut. John Welsh, the Army civil-affairs officer charged with bringing the airport back into operation. "But you've got to ask, If this could have been avoided, did we shoot ourselves in the foot here?"[/Q]
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030714-463062,00.html
Having read the entire article in disbelief, I would love to see the soldiers prosecuted under the UCMJ. I would also love to see the commanders of the unit as well as any soldier that was there and did nothing to stop it prosecuted.
One of my jobs in the service after the first Gulf War was to nail people for looting ect.
Under the UCMJ Article 103 says:
[Q]?(a) All persons subject to this chapter shall secure all public property taken from the enemy for the service of the United States, and shall give notice and turn over to the proper authority without delay all captured or abandoned property in their possession, custody, or control.
(b) Any person subject to this chapter who?
(1) fails to carry out the duties prescribed in subsection (a);
(2) buys, sells, trades, or in any way deals in or disposes of captured or abandoned property, whereby he receives or expects any profit, benefit, or advantage to himself or another directly or in-directly connected with himself; or
(3) engages in looting or pillaging; shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.? [/Q]
There are legal grounds to punish those involved. The area in BOLD is the most serious of the offences listed, and is punishable by a minimum of the following:
[Q]1) Failing to secure public property taken from the enemy; failing to secure, give notice and turn over, selling, or otherwise wrongfully dealing in or disposing of captured or abandoned property:
(a) of a value of $500.00 or less. Bad-conduct discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 6 months.
(b) of a value of more than $500.00 or any firearm or explosive. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 5 years.
(2) Looting or pillaging. Any punishment, other than death, that a court-martial may direct . See R.C.M. 1003[/Q]
Now you may think I am harsh to say that I want the observers prosecuted as well, however under articles 92 and 134 of the UCMJ. Both of these articles detail that it is a soldiers' responsibility to report and make known that a violation of the UCMJ has occured. The punishment for prosecution under this article is:
[Q]Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 3 years. [/Q]
Why am I fired up about this? These rules were drilled into our heads in Boot Camp. Soldiers are trained and are supposed to behave in accordance with their training. The vandalism here, if it is as bad as TIME is reporting, is going to cost us money.
Enough of my ranting.
Sorry for boring you with this.http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030714-463062,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030714-463062,00.html
Having read the entire article in disbelief, I would love to see the soldiers prosecuted under the UCMJ. I would also love to see the commanders of the unit as well as any soldier that was there and did nothing to stop it prosecuted.
One of my jobs in the service after the first Gulf War was to nail people for looting ect.
Under the UCMJ Article 103 says:
[Q]?(a) All persons subject to this chapter shall secure all public property taken from the enemy for the service of the United States, and shall give notice and turn over to the proper authority without delay all captured or abandoned property in their possession, custody, or control.
(b) Any person subject to this chapter who?
(1) fails to carry out the duties prescribed in subsection (a);
(2) buys, sells, trades, or in any way deals in or disposes of captured or abandoned property, whereby he receives or expects any profit, benefit, or advantage to himself or another directly or in-directly connected with himself; or
(3) engages in looting or pillaging; shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.? [/Q]
There are legal grounds to punish those involved. The area in BOLD is the most serious of the offences listed, and is punishable by a minimum of the following:
[Q]1) Failing to secure public property taken from the enemy; failing to secure, give notice and turn over, selling, or otherwise wrongfully dealing in or disposing of captured or abandoned property:
(a) of a value of $500.00 or less. Bad-conduct discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 6 months.
(b) of a value of more than $500.00 or any firearm or explosive. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 5 years.
(2) Looting or pillaging. Any punishment, other than death, that a court-martial may direct . See R.C.M. 1003[/Q]
Now you may think I am harsh to say that I want the observers prosecuted as well, however under articles 92 and 134 of the UCMJ. Both of these articles detail that it is a soldiers' responsibility to report and make known that a violation of the UCMJ has occured. The punishment for prosecution under this article is:
[Q]Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 3 years. [/Q]
Why am I fired up about this? These rules were drilled into our heads in Boot Camp. Soldiers are trained and are supposed to behave in accordance with their training. The vandalism here, if it is as bad as TIME is reporting, is going to cost us money.
Enough of my ranting.
Sorry for boring you with this.http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030714-463062,00.html