‘Totally Shocked’: Neighbors Say Soldier Accused in Afghan Killings Was a Family Man
- Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:16am by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, 1st platoon sergeant, Blackhorse Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, in 2011. (Image source: ABC News)
LAKE TAPPS, Wash. (AP) — On a winding road of wood-frame homes tucked amid towering pines, Robert Bales was the father who joined his two young children for playtime in the yard, a career soldier who greeted neighbors warmly but was guarded when talking about the years he spent away at war.
(Related: Karzai: At the ‘End of the Rope’ With U.S. Over Shooting Probe)
“When I heard him talk, he said … `Yeah, that’s my job. That‘s what I do’,” said Kassie Holland, a next-door neighbor to the soldier who is now suspected of killing 16 Afghan civilians. “He never expressed a lot of emotion toward it.”
Speaking to his fellow soldiers, though, Bales could exult in the role. Plunged into battle in Iraq, he told an interviewer for a base newspaper in 2009 that he and his comrades proved “the real difference between being an American as opposed to being a bad guy.”
As reporters swarmed Bales’ neighborhood late Friday, Holland and other neighbors shook their heads, trying but failing to reconcile the man they thought they knew with the allegations against him. Military officials say that at about 3 a.m. last Sunday, the 38-year-old staff sergeant crept away from the Army base where he was stationed in southern Afghanistan, entered two slumbering villages and unleashed a massacre, shooting his victims and setting many of the bodies on fire. Eleven of those killed belonged to one family. Nine were children.
“I can’t believe it was him,” said Holland, recalling a kind-hearted neighbor. “There were no signs. It’s really sad. I don’t want to believe that he did it.”
Until Friday, military officials had kept Bales’ identity secret and what little was known about him remained sketchy. But with the release of his name, a still-incomplete, but sharply conflicting portrait of the man comes into focus. Part of it reveals the father and husband neighbors recall, and a soldier quietly proud of his 11-year record of service, including three tours in Iraq.
But it also shows Bales had previous brushes with trouble. In 2002, records show, he was arrested at a Tacoma, Wash., hotel for assault on a girlfriend. Bales pleaded not guilty and was required to undergo 20 hours of anger management counseling, after which the case was dismissed. A separate hit-and-run charge was dismissed in a nearby town’s municipal court three years ago, according to records.
Bales has not yet been charged in the killings in Afghanistan. He was flown Friday from Kuwait to the military’s only maximum-security prison, at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. When the Air Force cargo jet with the soldier aboard arrived at Kansas City International Airport, about an hour from the military prison, security was very tight, with the terminal completely blocked off. It marked the tragic end of Bales’ fourth tour of duty in a war zone, one his lawyer said he had hoped to avoid.
“He wasn’t thrilled about going on another deployment,” said the attorney, John Henry Browne of Seattle. “He was told he wasn’t going back, and then he was told he was going.”
A neighbor, Paul Wohlberg, recalled that when he last saw Bales in November the two men talked briefly about the soldier’s imminent departure for Afghanistan.
“I just told him to be safe. He said, `I will. See you when I get back,” said Wohlberg, who recalled attending barbeques at the Bales’ homes.
Wohlberg described Bales as a man who clearly loved his country.
“I’m sure he still does,” he said.
Bales told neighbors little about his brigade’s three tours of duty to Iraq. But in a 2009 article published in Fort Lewis’ Northwest Guardian, Bales told the interviewer about finding many dead and wounded when his unit was sent to recover a downed Apache helicopter in Iraq.
“I’ve never been more proud to be a part of this unit than that day, for the simple fact that we discriminated between the bad guys and the noncombatants and then afterward we ended up helping the people that three or four hours before were trying to kill us, ” Bales said.
After returning from his second deployment to Iraq, Bales was elevated to staff sergeant. In three tours of duty, Browne says his client was injured twice. One of those injuries required the surgical removal of part of one foot. In a vehicle accident, Bales suffered a concussion, the lawyer said.
But by last year, the soldier had reached a disappointing juncture. Bales received more than 20 awards and commendations, including three Army Good Conduct medals. But military files show a largely unremarkable service record, absent the Purple Heart awards that would be expected following a significant injury or wound in combat.
Then he was passed over for a promotion, according to a posting by his wife on her blog, The Bales Family Adventures.
“It is very disappointed after all of the work Bob has done and all the sacrifices he has made for his love of his country, family and friends,” Karilyn Bales wrote early last year on the blog, which could not be independently verified. “I am sad and disappointed too, but I am also relieved, we can finally move on to the next phase of our lives.”
The best case scenario for that next phase, Karilyn Bales wrote, would be an Army assignment in an adventurous location like Germany, Italy or Hawaii, and barring that, possibly an assignment in Georgia, where her husband could become a sniper instructor.
“We are hoping that if we are proactive and ask to go to a location that the Army will allow us to have some control over where we go next,” Karilyn Bailey wrote.
By late last year, Bales was training to be an Army recruiter, Bales’ lawyer said. When he learned he would be dispatched to Afghanistan, Bales and his family were very disappointed. Still, the staff sergeant’s family saw no indication sign of undue anger, Browne said.
“They were totally shocked,” by accounts of the massacre, Browne said. “He’s never said anything antagonistic about Muslims. He’s in general very mild-mannered.”
Bales departed with his unit on Dec. 3 and was assigned about six weeks ago to a base in the Panjwai District, near Kandahar, to work with a village stability force pairing special operations troops with villagers to help provide neighborhood security.
On Saturday, the day before the shooting spree, Browne said, the soldier saw his friend’s leg blown off. Browne said his client’s family provided him with that information, which has not been verified.
On Friday, a senior U.S. defense official said Bales was drinking in the hours before the attack on Afghan villagers, violating a U.S. military order banning alcohol in war zones. The official discussed the matter on condition of anonymity because charges have not yet been filed.
Browne said his client’s family told him they were not aware of any drinking problem – not necessarily a contradiction. Pressed on the issue in interviews with news organizations, Browne said he did not know if his client had been drinking the night of the massacre.
Then, in the middle of the night last Sunday, shots rang out in a pair of villages within walking distance of the base. Soon after, a surveillance camera mounted to a blimp captured an image of a soldier the Army identifies as Bales returning in the dark. A traditional Afghan shawl was draped over the gun in his hands. As he reached the gates of the base, the man in uniform lay the weapon down. He raised his arms in surrender.
Browne said he did not know if his client had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, but said it could be an issue at trial if experts believe it’s relevant. Experts on PTSD said witnessing the injury of a fellow soldier and the soldier’s own previous injuries put him at risk.
“We’ve known ever since the Vietnam war that the unfortunate phenomenon of abusive violence often closely follows the injury or death of a buddy in combat,” said Dr. Roger Pitman, a Harvard Medical School psychiatrist who heads the PTSD Research Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital. “The injury or death of a buddy creates a kind of a blind rage.”
On Friday evening, Bales’ neighbors said they did not know what to think. They gazed toward the soldier’s home, where overflowing boxes were piled on the front porch and a U.S. flag leaned against the siding.
“I just can‘t believe Bob’s the guy who did this,” Wohlberg said. “A good guy got put in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
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Comments (131)
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 12:47pm.
Either turn them loose or bring them home. What are we getting for our treasure?…..
Playing at War is killing US……….
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 1:56pmThe Liberals… do not like Real Soldiers… and Real War… but want a Video Game version, with Rules, Regualtions, and Cheats!
Report Post »junkmaninohio
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 3:05pmWar without end is sucking the life blood out of our military and our country. Of course, the Joint Chiefs want war without end in order to justify and protect their precious military budgets. Beware the military industrial complex.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 3:38pmhe signed up after 9-11 to commit genocide. after yrs of being a sniper killing iraqis he was angry realizing he had been manipulated to join cause our gov has no plans on committing genocide. the last straw wasthe US being thrown out by the iraqi gov.as he realized those muslims still exist and he was not satisfied having murdered many of them as a sniper. that’s why he chose to act out his genocidal fantasies by going after muslim children.He didn’t snap-he wanted genocide from day one[9-11] and is angry that that is not our plan. though the media fed him genocidal fantasies to get him to join[totalizing good vs. evil narrative about islam vs. the wes tetc].he realized he was manipulated and acted out those fantasies himself going after children[muslimgenes].send him to guantanamo to be around muslims the rest of his life.
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 4:50pmAll I can say is “Not Guilty”.
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 5:02pmThe Democrat-Commie Party And Obama Have Turned America Into The Bad Guys Over This Obama May Li Massacre.
Even now the GOP remains silent over everything that has happened. Obama should step down as President and let Biden fix things. Penetta DoD should resign and submit to arrest for War Crimes in Afghanistan. That Obama Massacre was not a Abu Ghraib photo shoot. No one got killed at Abu Ghraib.
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 5:07pmThe New Smoke Free, Green Veggie, Homosexual US Military Is Not Working Out As Intended, Is It?
We are now the bad guys and the only way to fix it is to march a lot of people before firing squads. The anti-American Democrat-Commie Party comes to mind.
Report Post »Bluefish49
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 10:48amSpank…I totally agree….they are going to cruxify this poor soilder who shouldn’t have been over there to begin with with a brain injury…..he just say his buddy killed and the stress alone from not being able to trust that an Afgan Soilder is nott going to do a 180 and blow your head off has to be off the charts. So of all the thousands of soilders we have over there and one finally goes postal….I say war is hell. Pin a medal on him and give him an honorable discharge.
Report Post »robert
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 12:01pmCondemning this man by the radicals in the press is shameful. The, more than anybody, are responsible to for pushing to make war in the Middle East. They cause the conflicts to go on for years, with many guys having to do multiple tours, and when one of them reaches the end of his human endurace and snaps, they crucify him unmercifully in every biased edition they put out.
Every soldier now fighting in every area of the Middle East and elsewhere should put down his weaoon and state that he’s tired of being useless cannon fodder for leftist geeks who should be fighting here in his place, since they want the conflicts so badly.
Let the pansies among the politicians and the effeminiate media get up off their azzes and fight the wars they want others to fight for them, instead of criticizing them when they are forced to perform above normal human endurance.
Report Post »db321
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 1:29pmDrop all Charges – Reminds me of a time when an arrogant Patton slapped around a Battle Weary Soldier. Ike sure let Patton have it. Ike had Balls. Wish we had a General that would let this Administration have it – I guess America does not have any Generals in our Military with big enough balls to put a stop to this.
Report Post »VanceUppercut
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 1:33pm@lukerw
So, we shouldn‘t have tried the Nazi’s and Japanese for war crimes?
Report Post »Canyouhearus
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 9:47pmTreat the man for stress and send him home to his family! He’s served enough time for an insane war!
Still waiting for an apolgy for the American citizen killed by radicals in Yemen! Guess one American isn’t worth asking for an apology!
Report Post »taxwarrior
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 12:34amBring them home
bring them home now
the present government doesn’t want us to win
the people we are training are turning the weapons we give them against us
so why would a twice wounded soldier go crazy
if we don‘t bring them home soon we’ll have to disarm them all
else they’ll all go postal
bring them home now
Report Post »ginge
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 2:01pmDo we think there is mind control going on? I remember an article that came out at least a year ago that mentioned a new treatment for PTSD. It involved “deep brain stimulation” The goal was to avoid costly psych therapy by targeting areas of the brain which control memories. If the soldier can’t remember the trauma he is cured. More recently an article touts drug trials of new medication that wipes out memories of depressed patients. That is a lot of interference with the brain and prompts me to wonder what else “they” are doing? The article also mentioned mind control attempts used by CIA using sedating drugs in combination with LSD and shock therapy. Very scary stuff. It would not shock me for a desperate bunch to use desperate measures.
Report Post »SpeckledPup
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 12:45pmthat rabid obama coddles his beloved muslim the FT HOOD SHOOTER all these years now….. but he’s really going to make an example of an extraordinary AMERICAN soldier with 4 tours: SSgt Bales.
never forget THE LEAVENWORTH 10, imprisoned for doing their job: AMERICAN SOLDIER.
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 5:10pmThe Military will have to design a new Ft. Leavenworth Ribbon for serving time.
Report Post »taxwarrior
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 12:36amBring them home NOW
Report Post »SpeckledPup
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 12:40pmof course that rabid animal obama would release the soldier‘s name and family’s hometown, just making sure ”everything is fair” so those muslims can go after his innocent family and frinds.
Give SSgt Bales a combat medal and leave him alone.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 12:33pm.
Pin a Medal on the Man and send him home to his family……..
The Ft. Hood Shooter will get a better deal, than this Hero…..
Report Post »netmail
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 1:16pmIt‘s the sneaky BS of war where infiltrators shoot or blow your buddies up in front of your face in supposedly ’safe’ areas that make soldiers snap. I believe he snapped. There’s no medals for that. This whole story is just heartbreaking. That’s what it is to me. No matter what happens, this soldier’s life is over.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 2:00pmMedal… hell! Promote him to Captain!
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 3:50pmPTSD-anger he didn’t have a green light to turn the place into a parking lot which is why he joined after 9-11.angry that after murdering iraqis as a sniper-those iraqis are still there. angry that the iraqi gov. threw us out and realizing he was manipulated to join the military with genocidal fantasies fed by the media who alluded to it but never sid it. that was why he joined. he decided to act out his thwarted genocidal fantasies bu murdering children. he’s not sorry -he said after murdering 9 children-send my love to MY children-thereby admitting muslim children have no right to exis.he drank to lower inhibition-but his desire to commit genocide was there since 9-11 and his desire to kill muslim children was there when we got thrown out of iraq and he realized he had been manipulated with genocidal fantasies that our gov had no intension of carry out.hence is statement of we’re helping the people who attacked us-expressing his disappointment that we wern’t killing more people over ther eand a simmering anger that he was manipulated into thinking we would turn the place into a parking lot instead of building roads etc. This was his way of carrying outtwarted genocideal fantasies.
Report Post »VanceUppercut
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 1:37pm@SpankDaMonkey
“Pin a Medal on the Man and send him home to his family……..
The Ft. Hood Shooter will get a better deal, than this Hero…..”
Yes, he is a hero who murdered children in their sleep. If he had killed them in the womb, I guess your attitude would be different, but since they were out of the womb, screw them, right? Too bad your boyfriend Sgt. McChildkiller is gonna spend the rest of his life getting raped in prison, and missing out on his own kids lives.
Report Post »taxwarrior
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 12:38amVance you are a sweetheart, what a maroon.
Bring them home get them all medical attention
Show them our love. They’ve done enough
Report Post »Shane74
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 4:02pmDefending the murder of innocent women and children is deplorable.
He killed women and children in their sleep, poured chemicals on them, and lit them on fire. Two women were raped.
And yet there are sick morons here who will call this an act of heroism.
Also, the “brain damage” story is fake. The military has already replaced it with “he was drunk.”
But hey, keep rooting for total evil.
I mean, our fathers and grandfathers would not have won WWI and WWII without raping and killing the **** out of women and children!
Right?
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 12:26pmWhat can reasonable minds really expect? This war has turned into a freakin’ sham!
Why do elitists loathe history? This war is really no different than Vietnam, with our government not caring about winning and losing.
I fear we can expect more of the same. I feel for the soldiers having to live amongst absolute animals, and then not being able to do anything about it. It’s gotta take a toll at some point.
Report Post »AmazingGrace8
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 2:39pmI have been praying for him & his family. The Liberals are going to have a field-day with this and will drag-it-out. A co-worker’s Marine/Nam/Vet husband 10 years after his military service ended..just kinda snapped & started having nightmares and self-medicated with alcohol for the next 10 years & died broke & alone. We that have not been in the military/combat will never have to be tested.
Report Post »God Bless Our Military & Their Families! God Bless America!
Mil-Dot
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 4:54pmThe only reason we are there is to pacify the Afghans and to get at their mineral wealth. Wherever you have giant mountain ranges like that you have untold tons of gold, silver, platinum, diamonds, rubys and emeralds. That is why we are there. Because some NWO banker goon told our presidents to send them there or else. If you don’t think that some foreign entity is controlling our politicians you are naive. It became obvious to me 20 years ago. When actions don’t jive with common sense, something is askew.
Report Post »Mglas
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 12:19pmLets compare the rhetoric of the President on 2 similar incidents
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/A-Disconnected-President.html
http://articles.cnn.com/2012-03-11/politics/politics_us-afghanistan-reaction_1_afghanistan-mission-afghan-security-forces-afghan-people?_s=PM:POLITICS
so if Americans are killed then its a muted response, wait for the facts, but when am American soldier kills others, its a tragedy, shameful, so so so SOOOOOO sorry. We will bring those to justice immediately. Talk of death penalty. And for the Ft. Hood shooter????? get all the facts, sweep it under the rug and now silence
Report Post »db321
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 3:33pmI hear what you are saying – I understands your are a little upset – you must understand America needs to pay for all the War Crimes that it has commented over the years.
Obama is just doing what he feels needs to be done to remedy the problem – understand, Obama is a very wise man and many believe he was a Special Forces Hero before he took office – this is why his history has been hidden from us.
He knows what is right for his country – He is the only one in the World Helping Illegals – He understands Women Health issues better than anyone – even better than those greedy Catholic Churches – It may be a tuff pill to swallow – but our Military needs to be Fundamentally Transformed so the rest of the World respects us – it is the right thing to do for America – and Obama is the only man in the World than can lead us through these difficult times.
All hail the Power of Obama Name!
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 4:56pmIf he was a black guy or mexican, he would walk with sympathy. But, since he is a white guy, they are going to nail him to the wall.
Report Post »thegrassroots
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 5:09pm@rose-ellen & db321
What Good Little Flukes You Are For Your Pimp-In-Chief!
Your Pimp Might Even Call You Or, At Least, Give You A Pat On The Head!
How Special You Little Flukes Are —
Report Post »Getting To Whore BHO‘s Hate For America and BHO’s Hate For Our Constitution On Every “Street Corner!”
Seede
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:56amSgt. Bales could very well have had battle fatigue and hope he does recover. Hundreds of men and women have gone through this. Drinking may have helped it along but doubt that booze was the only cause. Don’t understand just why the commander is so lax as to allow booze in combat zone in the first place. People who arm chair this warrior should zip their lips till the whole truth is known. Could happen to anyone including the self righteous mental midgets who have never been there and done that. My salute to a brave warrior.
Report Post »2theADDLED
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 9:35pmDon’t criticize the leadership or your post will be removed.
Report Post »2theADDLED
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 9:37pmI guess I hurt someone’s feelings AWWWWWWWWWW !
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:53pmbooze was a tool like the gun and the boots he wore to stomp on the child. a tool to lessen any inhibition in his decision to murder children to express his desire for genocide of muslims for which he signed up for after 9-11 only to find he had been manipulated to believe we would by the media propaganda alluding to it[totalizing good vs. evil narrative ]but for which our gov had no intention of doing. hence his statement about how even though they killed us we help them. once they threw us out of iraq he got more angry and decided to act out a genocidal fantasy by killing the children.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:51amI will never trust this Far Left Democrat administration after the ” General Be-Tray-Us” rhetoric. Their views toward the American military were made quite clear then.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:50amHe said this: “I’ve never been more proud to be a part of this unit than that day for the simple fact that we discriminated between the bad guys and the noncombatants and then afterward we ended up helping the people that three or four hours before were trying to kill us,”
Report Post »After his buddy had his leg blown off the day before, I think he just came to the conclusion that they are ALL bad guys. There is no taking it back now. He and his family are on my prayer list.
barber2
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:58amYes. Have a feeling that the working under citizen/soldier guerilla warfare is very difficult – especially when you see your buddies killed due to their actions. And your government has announced a pull-out. What a very sad waste.
Report Post »MastrSSG
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:47amSeriously, Lets let the facts win out and leave opinion to those who make a living smearing the truth.
1. Innocent until proven guilty.
Report Post »2. He is home and being charged and not being fed to the Afghan authorities nor should he be.
3. We are a country of laws and although flawed is still the best legal system in the world
4. Not every man serving is of sound mind and some criminals serve in the military who never saw combat.
5. his injuries may or may NOT have anything to do with his actions.
6. Many of us have been through as much or more and never murdered ANYONE
7. According to his record Sgt. Bales has had at least 1 brush with the law involving an assault and had to attend anger management several years before this deployment. (2002)
8. Several years before his injuries or deployment the man had anger problems but was cleared by those authorities for duty.
9. He isn’t convicted of anything yet.
10. his family has done nothing …leave them alone!
11. The vast majority of us who serve in combat have issues but we don’t go kill innocent people nor do we become criminals. We lead normal lives with families and are good members of our communities and we don’t all need a shrink to cope with life. So focus on those men and women who need your love and attention. Just because we seem to be ok don’t forget that just a while ago, living or being alive meant something totally different than it does to you stressing over rent or the creamer in your latte
SpeckledPup
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 12:50pmNEVER FORGET: The Leavenworth 10, a group of soldiers/Marines incarcerated at Ft. Leavenworth for killing members of Al-Qaeda or Iraqi insurgents. These decorated and committed soldiers/Marines who honorably served their country—achieving a significant number of combat medals over multiple deployments—are now serving sentences ranging between 10 and 40 years. They and their families have fallen victim to the untenable Rules of Engagement, demoralizing “Catch and Release” policies, and climate of political correctness that govern our troops’ actions while trying to survive a combat zone. While these soldiers/Marines have been judged very harshly by the military, our ”’military leadership”’ is currently releasing imprisoned enemy combatants back to the battlefield. We request the same mercy for these troops, many of whom have been denied clemency time and again. The Leavenworth 10 do not pose any threat and deserve to be returned to their families.
Report Post »DrKev
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 3:46pmYour lkst is so strange becuz u say things that seem to condemn this man yet u say innocent until proven guilty … strange way of expressing your “nuetrality???”
Report Post »MastrSSG
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 4:14pmI haven’t condemned anyone read my post with open eyes.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 12:02amhe’s a muslim genocidst who signed up for the military after 9-11 expressively for that purpose. he was angry that 10yrs later those muslims are still there and the iraqis acturally threw us out.so he acted on his initial reason for joining-murdering muslims.hence choosing mostly women and children to act out his twarted genocidal fantasies.wouldn‘t be surprised if he’s been a“ blazer” all these years too.
Report Post »taxwarrior
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 12:48amAwww Rose give it a rest.
Let’s Bring Them Home. Let’s show them all the love we can and not call them genocidist, murderers, etc. They are in an untenable situation. They are subject to constant cognitive dissonance. They don’t know who to trust. Death is an everyday occurrence.
Stress makes people crazy. Look at how unhinged you are.
Peace and Love
Bring them home
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 12:22pmGood post Master Sergeant.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:47amOver two hundred of out guys killed by those that they trusted and were working side by side with. The liberal news people keep low key on it. Then one of ours has a mental brake down and all of our troops are the bad guys. Whoever leaked this mans name should be handled. I’m not sure that what is being reported is what really happened.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:34amHe knows something and Obama will prevent it from being told to the American public. It’s what he does!!!!
Report Post »Tandem2011
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:17amHow many of us under the worst kinds of stress or rage opt NOT to kill innocent bystanders? How many of us have silent, unacted upon hatreds that will NEVER result in crimes of passion or cold-blooded murder? Is it luck…or a conscience that stays our hand when we CHOOSE not to take innocent life? When does rage become insanity…and when does insanity become just another dishonest or delusional EXCUSE to break laws?
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:50amI pity you you’re a idiot.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 2:25pmAll War… is a form of Insanity. And, BRUTALITY wins WARS!
Report Post »DrKev
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 3:51pmSorry but your philosopphical rhetoric is self puffing it has no meaning whatsoever hope u dont have a lot of student loans to lay back becuz if so uve wasted ur money.
Report Post »Bush Hating Conervatives make me sick
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 9:31pmYeah I‘m sure you’ve seen your brother killed, or mutilated. Don’t kid yourself, the Military is a brotherhood!
When have you been shot at, I bet you’d piss your panties!!
Instead of being grateful, for the heroes that stand up for your freedom. You wanna condemn them!
Who amongst us in Perfect!
Pleaser dear lord bless this man and his family!
Let this man finde peace
Report Post »cookcountypatriot
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:15amthis man was burnt out and stressed out…after all those deployments its understadable..this man needs our prayers and help…im sure alot of vets who are home are going through stress we can never imagine..the sad thing is this…all that chaos in muslim countrys will be coming here and soon…we think were war weary now..and over what?? anybody know anymore?
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 12:10amhe didn’t attack his commanders or even afghan soldiers. after being a sniper and killing many people he wasn’t satisfied .he wants genocide and so picked children and women to assert his genocidal desires. right after he was caught he said send my love to my wife and children afirming that they have the right to live as oppossed to afghan women and children. a genocidist from day one.[9-11].thwarted and angry that not only did we have no intentions of doing that but we were taking orders from the iraqi gov. who told us to leave iraq. his fantasies were rendered out of touch with reality and he felt he had been manipulated.so he did what he wanted to do since 9-11-kill em all[civlian children adn women being symbols for genocide].send him to gitmo to be around muslims for the rest of his life!
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:14amThis will give Team O more ammo to bring all families back to the bases…the buzz in WA State is that Obama wants to have military families living on base as a cost savings.
They moved his family, for safety purposes, to Fort Lewis.
Poor guy went off the grid…and I understand why…time to leave that peasant society…we proved we can’t win a political war in a peasant society during the VN days. (LBJ running the war from the basement)
PC wars are for fools…time to get out and let the peasants declare victory…
Anyhoo, they will kill each other off. Tribes fight each other over there. Iraq was a better decision. JIMHO
This is Obama’s war…his so called just war. Put your guns down and let’s have a meeting…soon they will withhold ammo from the warrior till it is seriously needed. Sick.
Report Post »mr.goodvibe
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:54amAbout time someone starts shooting the enemy. Of all the reports in the news they seem somewhat contrived, I heard one report yesterday saying that the villagers insist there was more than one shooter. And where is al the rioting over this as is the usual case in muslim countries. Something just seems off about this whole situation.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:19amYes, something isn’t being told. I don’t know what, but, something is def fishy in Afghanistan.
Some quick Internet searching tells me he did community service for assaulting a woman (allegedly) and that he committed a hit and run. Hit and run is a character flaw. Just as assaulting a woman would be. The alleged assault was at a hotel, and not with his wife, but before he was wed. I won’t even speculate on his politics… but I will point out he is from a Seattle suburb.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:23amThey are good at lying…we all know that and they put their women and children out in front to protect their evil warriors.
I recall the man being carried on the board as being dead and he fell off it and ran off…the Arab dead do act like zombies.
Report Post »VanceUppercut
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:38am@mr.goodvibe
Right on, it’s about time someone started shooting children while they sleep. Praise Jesus!
Report Post »DrKev
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 3:56pmThe.comment from the person who.said we should kill children…please move to another country try Iraq or Afgahnistan …. enjoy your bliss
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:54amAmerica has literally no chance of coming out on top in the event of a WW3.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 2:01pmYou know if you hate America so much – LEAVE – we won’t miss you. You are either for us or against us regardless of whether you are an American or not.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 2:02pmGS Patton: “Americans love to FIGHT… and be WINNERS”!
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:52amAgree with CATB and AB5R. This reminds me of the Vietnam horrors – had a husband who was a combat medic. Horrible beyond words. At the time, I thought, like most others around us and were told that we had to be there in order to prevent Communism from taking over, blah, blah. We were young and naive, like so many others.
I’m as patriotic as anyone & understand sometimes wars like WWII were necessary. But, as Eisenhower said, he was worried that future Presidents wouldn’t have the wisdom, experience to say “NO” to their Commanders & get into wars like Vietnam, which he was against. Sure enough, it happened. Vietnam was wrong and wars since have been wrong. Think it was right we went after Saddam b/c couldn’t risk the WMD deal. But after that, should have left. NO NATION BUILDING – especially in Islamic countries. Why do so many in our leadership/military not understand about Islam???? It’s easy to find out. They will NEVER be able to fight the Taliban or whoever off – it is not “in them” to be like that and that’s why they are in the tribal wars & constant messes. It is not making us safer. The “war on terror” is not being handled correctly at all. We need to concentrate on keeping troops here & be the strongest in the world, secure our borders, keep an strict eye on Muslims HERE (who never should have been allowed to come here).
I’m always amazed why people are surprised at these episodes. It’s predictable. Yes, PRAY !!!
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:04amYou are correct maam…
Report Post »AmazingGrace8
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 2:42pmAgree!
Report Post »neverending
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 3:33pmSo very well and perfectly said.
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:52amThe Hood should have a Hero Rally.
Report Post »lillymckim
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:50amIt’s obvious this soldier reached a point of no return .. this soldier reached his breaking point.
Report Post »My heart aches for all involved and the loss of life…
momrules
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:47amPlease people, remember who is making these charges against Sgt. Bales. They are the same ones that lie to us repeatedly, who apoligize and make deals with the enemy. They are the ones who disarm and insult Marines.
According to Atlasshrugs.com another American soldier was killed by an Afgahn soldier on Feb. 1, 2012 while on guard duty at an outpost in southwestern Afganistan. Lance Cpl. Edward J. Dycus was shot in the back of thhe head and killed. The Pentagon said he died while conducting combat operations but he was simply murdered by a so called ally.
Why wasn’t this reported truthfully?
Staff Sgt. Bales may or may not be guilty of what officials are saying but please don’t condemn him on the word of these officials. Do you really trust them to be truthful?
A question for you military folk…….Is it usual for a member of the military to get civilian counsel when charged with a crime?
Report Post »lowerclassrepublican
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:12amIt‘ sounds to me like he was told of a house with Taliban in it and how we can’t do a thing about it. He had had enough and told himself he was going to end this. He went in shot a Taliban then shot another one and next a kid. This troubled him and he returned to turn himself in. The story of the 9 children all burned I don’t think he had anything to do with.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:18amIf it were in Iraq, he would be tried by the Iraqi officials…that is the agreement singed in ink says…under Bush. And FYI Sharia law is in Iraq’s Constitution…
And you know if they have that sort of agreement in Iraq, then AFG can’t be that far off…
Thank God that he is being brought back to the US.
Report Post »5deploymentsandcounting
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 2:47pmyes it is actually quite normal, for a soldier to seek civilian lawyer help in complicated cases….JAG only really deals with Reg violations.
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:39amWell with a mission that has no objective, a country that does not want them there, a president who knows nothing but intentional ruination of a country, a military that has been infiltrated like the schools, 4 tours and who knows how many friends blow to crap. What the hell would you do. Probably shoot some of the enemy. This is a turning moment of one guy that can see the situation has fallen completely apart and the government has turned its back for political reasons. Bring them home by noon tomorrow.
Report Post »LogicalMetaphysician
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:51am^ Agreed on all points ^
Report Post »thegrassroots
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 1:10pmThe Afghans See America As The Enemy!
Therefore — It’s War!
Give Sgt Bales A Hero’s Welcome!
Award Sgt Bales His Purple Heart!
Allow Sgt Bales ALL Of The Rest and Help and Time and Space He Needs To Recover!
Sgt Bales Is A Wounded Warrior and An American Hero!
Bring ALL Of Our American Heroes Home Now!
The Afghans Are All Offended and Roiling?
So What!
The Afghans Are Always Offended and Roiling!
BHO Wants To Appease The Afghans?
Great!
BHO and His Minions and His Lemmings Can ALL Go Over There Bearing Olive Branches and Bowing!
They Are On Their Own and They Can Stay There!
The Usurper / Traitor / Apologizer-In-Chief Neither Speaks For Nor Represents The United States Of America!
What Say You, Congress O Cowards?!
You Have Failed America!
You Have Refused To Stand Up On Behalf Of America and File Treason Charges Against The Kenyan Usurper-In-Chief!
BHO’s Fault!
Congress’ Fault!
NOT Sgt Bales Fault!
NEWT 2012
Report Post »http://www.newt.org
CatB
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:37amSo many deployments .. being told he wasn’t going back and then sending him … it sounds like he just “snapped” … not an excuse — but what does anyone expect when you send people to he!! time and time again. I am glad they got him out of Afghanistan and here in the states .. I pray they don’t bend to pressure and send him back for some “trial” out of the U.S. Pray for his family and their safety .. I understand they have been moved to an undisclosed location for their safety … Does that mean that the government knows of people inside the United States who would harm this man’s family??? Who would that be? … I think we all know.
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:42amThey had to hide him from Barack Hussein Obama our muslim and chief.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:01amAnd his buddies .. the Muslim Brotherhood.
Report Post »mymissusisanutter
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:30amSounds like something the neighbors would say about a serial killer. “He was a quiet boy, kept pretty much to himself. Then one day he just snapped.”
After spending so much time at war (4 tours), you run the risk of losing that human element inside.
Report Post »Time to pack it in boys. Bring these folks home.
Baddoggy
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:02amI ahve a good friend who fit this profile that had just went to Afganistan after 3 tours in Iraq. He has two kids, married and a family man. He is a Staff Sgt. anfd he had not been on Facebook since all hell broke loose about the Koran burning…I thoiught it was my friend for a few days…
We NEVER know what lives in people’s hearts and minds. I will never excuse what this man did. he MUST serve the penalty whatever it is. There is no justification for what he did. In that same thought…I am so sad for him and his family. I am sure at the time he thought he was doing an honorable thing. That is how evil can penetrate anyone’s mind…Sad…
Brinhg our troops home. Guard the Homeland and let the Muslim’s have their Civil War. You F’img Neocons and nation Builders are responsible for this!!! Deal with it.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 11:41amRead your posts. ( raise taxes / bring the troops home ) Joined March 8. Another Troll occupies the Blaze. Been a rash of that lately.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:25amThink he’ll get as much help as the Texas Base shooter?
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