The news that charges were filed against Former Pfc. Steven D. Green, 21, and other members of 1st Platoon, B Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division casts a new light on the capture and execution of two U.S. soldiers two weeks ago. Whether or not the charges against the U.S. soldier are true, the fact that Iraqis in the area where the soldiers were taken prisoner believed that soldiers from the 101st were responsible provides another motive for the torture, beheading, and booby trapping of the bodies. This was an act of tribal revenge rather than a random act of terrorism. Al Qaeda took responsibility but I suspect they were taking credit for the action of others.
Call it terrorism, call it vigilantism, the fact remains that U.S. troops who were part of the unit perceived to be responsible (or actually responsible) for the rape and murder of an Iraqi girl were specifically targeted. Welcome to the 12th Century. Our soldiers who were murdered were not responsible for the heinous act against that Iraqi family. Nonetheless, it appears they were forced to pay the price for the belief that their fellow soldiers were guilty of an atrocity against Iraqi Sunnis. We’re talking Old Testament “justice” here folks.
