Danatra Taylor
Did this soldier receive just reward for his crime, or did he deserve more. I believe rape, especially of a 14 year old is a heinous crime, premeditated murder is equally wrong. The average verdict of the premeditated murder (first degree murder) is 25 to life. Should he have received a heavier sentence? I believe so. I am not saying that anybody the kills another person deserves the death penalty, but this crime is among those that do. This crime included hatred/discrimination for and against a certain people because of the situation he was placed in. Many including myself, believe this crime was deserving of the death penalty, however many can also argue that the sentence he received was just. There are many elements to cover. Like the psychological strains of the war, the mental stability of the soldier at the time of the crime. What frame of mind was he in, can he claim temporary insanity. Can an ‘I was drunk’ excuse certify that the crime as a spur of the moment type or did his inebriety heighten his quest. Then there were many warning signs detected and overlooked by the army.
According to the army stress counselor, Private Green wanted to take revenge on Iraqis including civilians. The counselor labeled Green’s unit ‘mission incapable’ because of poor morale, high combat stress and anger over the deaths of their fellow soldiers. The counselor said that it needed stronger supervision and rest. It received neither, testimony revealed. The counselor told the Kentucky jury that most of the soldiers have thoughts like this and dismissed it thinking that Private Green knew that the killing of innocent civilians was wrong. Obviously the neglect and overlooking of the army resulted in those innocent deaths in part. Looking back however showed that Green was considered very impulsive. He only got into the army on a so-called moral waiver because he had had problems with drugs and alcohol.
Could these murders have been prevented by denying his entry into the army way back when? The army recruited a highly volatile person. Impulsive people do not think about their actions before the do them nor do the show much remorse for doing so; instead they try to justify it. However I do not believe that the tragedy that occurred would have been prevented just by the denial of entry of one soldier. Any of the soldiers that claimed to want to harm civilians could have done it. The army having had privy to feelings such as those of the Ex soldier, should have made some attempt immediately, at extensive therapy for him, and others like him. In my opinion there were enough warnings to suggest that Private Green was a volatile soldier. Private Green had left after being given an honorary discharge on a diagnosis for a personality disorder just weeks before his arrest. The mere fact that he received the honorary discharge showed that they knew this all along. He should have been evaluated and diagnosed after the visit with the counselor. I know of therapy treatment for soldiers when the return home, however there should also be effective modes of therapy for soldiers still abroad.
Although I do think the Army could have prevented this tragedy, most the blame must of course goes to the perpetrator. This crime however many people contributed was solely the result of an impulsive angry man. The punishment for his crime was indeed lighter than he deserved. He raped a child, killed another child and both their parents, regardless of their nationality. The Iraqi authorities were outraged and felt if he had been tried in Iraq he would have gotten a heavier sentence. I have not doubts about that and I do believe that is why it was not. This crime is the first since 2000 that has been tried in America that was done overseas. I do not know if premeditation has levels but the way this crime was done clearly showed that the ex soldier was very much aware of what he was doing, not mentally challenged.
According to the New York Times (pub may 21 2009) on the night of May 11th 2006, after drinking Iraqi whiskey, Mr. Green, along with other soldiers, wearing civilian clothing, broke into the home of the Iraqi girl who lived nearby. The soldiers that were with Private Green, testified that the soldier killed the girl’s parents and younger sister, before raping her. Then the soldier shot the girl in the head with an AK-47 that was in the family’s possession. According to both Iraqi and American authorities, the murders/murder scene was so bloody that they thought it was done by insurgents. A fellow soldier acknowledged Private’s Green and the others as the criminals. This was malicious and heinous, he knew what he was doing and he wanted to do it. The crime was vengeful, and in my opinion showed more of his impulsive nature than.
The Kentucky jury after 12 hours of deliberation ended up being hung, which resulted in the lesser sentence. If not would he have gotten the death penalty? Whatever the case, it is what he really deserves? I do believe Private Green was given grace. I guess he should thank his lucky stars, because the Iraqi judges feel that death was the only retribution. Of course we can argue that the Iraqi government just wants the serve the death penalty because perpetrators are American. I am on the fence about that because it could be true, but a premeditated murder is wrong no matter who does it, or who the victim is. He raped a 14 year old and killed her whole family. I believe had he done this in America, the American public would feel the same as the Iraqis. This was a vengeful act yet it cannot be based on vengeance alone. This man, regardless of his trauma, was clearly racist and discriminating. They jury and Judge allowed a man to live and be eligible for parole after taking 4 innocent lives, purposefully and maliciously. Not punishment enough in my opinion. Why is his life being spared after he decisively and vengefully disregarded the lives of others? Fair is fair, yet as the saying goes, life is not fair.
Reference:
https://online.valenciacc.edu/webct/ Discussions, Current events: Ex Soldier receives capital punishment for killing Iraqi citizen http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/22/us/22soldier.html?_r=2&hpw
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