U.S. ‘Kill Team’ Soldier Pleads Guilty to Murdering 3 Unarmed Afghan Civilians
- Posted on March 23, 2011 at 4:34pm by
Meredith Jessup
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AP/The Blaze) — A 22-year-old soldier accused of carrying out a plot to kill unarmed Afghan civilians pleaded guilty to murder and other charges Wednesday. case that has raised some of the most serious criminal allegations to come from the war in Afghanistan.
U.S. Army Cpl. Jeremy Morlock (AP)
Spc. Jeremy Morlock, of Wasilla, Alaska, is the first of five soldiers from the 5th Stryker Brigade charged in the 2010 killings of three Afghan men in Kandahar province and now faces a court-martial at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which is south of Seattle.
A copy of the plea agreement obtained by The Associated Press shows Morlock said the accused U.S soldiers deliberately slaughtered the civilians, knowing they posed no legitimate threat. Asked by a military judge whether the plan was to shoot at people to scare them, or shoot to kill, Morlock replied: “The plan was to kill people.”
Morlock told the judge, Lt. Col. Kwasi Hawks, that he and his co-defendants first began plotting to murder unarmed Afghans in late 2009, several weeks before the first killing took place. To make the killings appear justified, the soldiers planned to plant weapons near the bodies of the victims, Morlock said.
“Did everybody know, `We‘re killing people who are completely innocent’?” the judge asked.
“Generally, yes, sir, everyone knew,” Morlock replied.
Morlock told investigators the murder plot was led by Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs of Billings, Mont., who is also charged in the case; Gibbs maintains the killings were legitimate.
Morlock’s lawyer says his client has agreed to plead guilty to three counts of murder, one count of conspiracy and one drug charge in exchange for a maximum sentence of just 24 years in prison.
“The first up gets the best deal,” attorney Geoffrey Nathan said Tuesday before the hearing, noting that even under the maximum sentence, Morlock would serve no more than eight years before becoming eligible for parole. Under the plea deal, Morlock has agreed to testify against his co-defendants. “He’s really a good kid. This is just a bad war at a bad time in our country’s history,” he added. “There was a lack of supervision, a lack of command control, the environment was terrible. In his mind, he had no choice.”
Earlier this week, the German news organization Der Spiegel published three graphic photos showing Morlock and other soldiers posing with dead Afghans. One image features Morlock grinning as he lifts the head of a corpse by its hair.
Army officials had sought to strictly limit access to the photographs due to their sensitive nature. A spokesman for the magazine declined to tell The Associated Press how it had obtained the pictures, citing the need to protect its sources.
After the January killing, platoon member Spc. Adam Winfield of Cape Coral, Fla., sent Facebook messages to his parents saying that his fellow soldiers had murdered a civilian and were planning to kill more. Winfield said his colleagues warned him not to tell anyone.
Winfield’s father alerted a staff sergeant at Lewis-McChord, south of Seattle, but no action was taken until May, when a witness in a drug investigation in the unit reported the deaths.
Winfield is accused of participating in the final murder. He admitted in a videotaped interview that he took part and said he feared the others might kill him if he didn’t.
Also charged in the murders are Pvt. 1st Class Andrew Holmes of Boise, Idaho, and Spc. Michael Wagnon II of Las Vegas, Nev.
Seven other soldiers in the platoon face charges for lesser crimes, including assaulting the witness in the drug investigation, drug use, firing on unarmed farmers and stabbing a corpse.
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ArghandabVet
Posted on March 28, 2011 at 8:50amFor one, If you have never deployed to afghanistan and faught against this insurgency, than dont comment. If you sit your ass on a couch and in the safety of your home and think you have an opinion that someone wants to hear, Your wrong. So these soldiers may have put some afghanistan locals to rest without total cause. But if you know anything about this place, we are fighting an insurgency, there is no uniformed enemy, and almost every local has a part in Taliban affairs. We are are put in the path of death on a daily basis, but yet nobody really see’s this. Soldiers barely get awarded what they should get awarded for doing the right thing, but when one does something wrong they throw the book at them. WHY? If you are one that is going towards the death sentence for these soldiers, than you are wrong! These people dont give a damn about the US, they blame the americans for everything, they blame us for the taliban emplacing IED’s and land mines in there fields. Really, And the Locals are more afraid of the Taliban than us because we are winning hearts and minds, so why would they put their life in jeopardy by telling us where the Taliban are located, They aren’t scared of us, they are scared of the taliban. So dont judge someone until you’ve walked in their shoes. This place is confusing and is scary as hell. So should they be punished yes, but they also need the support of the U.S. They are still our soldiers and most likely have done a lot of good before the confusion set in. Ask yourself if you were in the scariest situation in your life, and mulitply that by about 3-4, and do it every day. Do you think your gonna be of sound mind and judgement after consecutive months of enduring this. Arghandab vet, OUT”
Report Post »Longshot35
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 6:08amWhy. . . ?
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 6:15pmHey….it cut down on the phrase….’hey mister soldier…can I ask you something?”
Report Post »Navyveteran
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 10:53amIf this story is true they should all face the firing squad. There is no honor in killing prisoners, kill them while they are shooting at you.
Report Post »hightide
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 8:24amIt‘s a war zone and the enemy doesn’t wear a uniform. What about the innocent civilians killed in Israel? Where is the outrage…
Report Post »entropy
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 7:05amI believe that the reason we are in Afgahnistan is to secure their mineral wealth some global goons. It is estimated at over a trillion dollars worth. That is why we are there. It has nothing to do with the security of the USA.
Report Post »sbleve
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 6:40amThe long-term effects on the soul (that which humanity or a god gives) of soldiers that have been tasked to do some political mitigation (what all wars have in common) that last for more than 3 years.
Those beat down combat divisions that participated in Normandy and the race towards Berlin, were in most part, near mutiny when tasked in mid 1945 to prepare for the Japanese mainland invasion. Human emotion can not endure perpetual combat – whether intimate or off-hand for an extended period of time.
In a group of persons gathered in one place for an extension of time will when pushed to the brink of emotional panic, produce at least foster zealotry. Genghis Kan nearly made this happen perpetually.
War Powers Resolution 1973, must be nothing more than a Barking dog! Perhaps Represenative Dennis Kucinich has prescribed the medicine concern the bumballing of Executive overreach-Congressional rubber condumbed decision making and the use of Military force.
Report Post »mr. carbon footprint
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 3:24amYeah but it’s ok for some idiot to spend 13 trillion dollars and shove Socialism down our throats. Welcome to the new Amerika. These soldiers are merely pawns. Just saying.
Report Post »Thirdeye
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 4:47pmYou obviously are really stupid when you compare Obama to this, it has nothing to do with him. Maybe this guy was in a gang and wore his pants showing his behind/boxers or maybe he listened to rap music. Just shows that you white devils are just as violent as your black counterparts and it‘s funny this didn’t even make 1 page of comments but let it had been black men….
Report Post »colonial10
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 2:23amHow would an idea like this form in there minds? I wonder if it festered for a while or it was an on the spot decision? Was it done out of anger for being in Afghanistan against authority? I hope the world doesn’t look at all of our forces with hate. They should still be focused on people like the Palestinians who butchered a 3 month old. These soldiers will do there time and more. Murder is the oldest form of sin brought on by Lucifer.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 1:29amGOD bless our real troops.
Report Post »JoeyBagaDonuts
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 8:38amHey, did they catch those Afghan’s that killed those 10 missionaries?
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 1:15amYou’re a disgrace to the uniform .
Report Post »Winfield’s father is a brave man .
GOD Bless our troops .
dr_funk
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 2:47amThese men should be dishonorably discharged and imprisoned.
But as disgusting as these images are, they’re nothing compared to the crowds cheering the dismembered burnt corpses of innocent Americans, or the passing out of candy in celebration of the murder of children.
Report Post »Smitty1969
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 9:00amWOW! And these Army solders are the ones that would bring order to our streets if marshal law is invoked.
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