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October 29, 2008
Iraqi Terrorist To Hang for Killing U.S. Soldiers
Iraqi Militant to Hang for Killing U.S. Soldiers
BAGHDAD — An Iraqi court has sentenced a militant to death by hanging for the grisly killing of three U.S. soldiers in 2006.
Ibrahim al-Qaraghuli is one of three suspected Al Qaeda in Iraq militants who went to trial for the killings. The other two — Walid al-Kartani and Kazim al-Zubaie — were found not guilty for lack of sufficient evidence.
It is not immediately clear whether the two will be released from custody. All three are Iraqis and have been in custody for at least a year.
The killing of the three 101st Airborne Division soldiers was one of the most brazen attacks against U.S. forces since the Iraq war began in 2003.
And some more information from........
The soldiers were ambushed June 16, 2006 while at an isolated checkpoint near the Euphrates River, at a time of particularly intense fighting in predominantly Sunni areas just south of Baghdad. At the time, the area was known as the Triangle of Death.
One soldier was found dead at the site of the checkpoint. The two other 101st soldiers were kidnapped, sparking a massive search effort by the military. Their mutiliated bodies were found three days later at a nearby power station, tied together and booby-trapped with roadside bombs.
An al-Qaida linked group later posted a Web video showing the bodies of the two soldiers being dragged behind a truck, then set on fire.
The evidence against the three included fingerprints collected from the truck, which was later found abandoned, along with written testimony from villagers who saw the bodies being dragged, according to U.S. military investigators.
Ibrahim al-Qaraghuli, a 29-year-old farmer, was convicted in the deaths of David J. Babineau, 25, of Springfield, Mass.; Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, of Houston; and Pfc. Thomas Tucker, 25, of Madras, Ore.
The other two Iraqis on trial — Walid al-Kartani and Kazim al-Zubaie — were acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence, but it was not immediately clear whether they would be released from custody. All three men have been in custody for at least a year.
"We would have liked to have the three convictions," U.S. Col. Rafael Lara, an adviser to the Iraqi court system, told reporters after the verdict was announced.
He said the trial showed that "the rule of law is back to Iraq and being forced equally by an independent judiciary. We honor the Iraqi court and we respect this decision."
Wild Thing's comment..........
Notice how the writer of the article which originally came from AP called the killer “a militant”. Al Qaeda basically claimed credit! Prayers for the families of these soldiers.
....Thank you Darth for sending this to me.
Posted by Wild Thing at October 29, 2008 04:45 AM
Comments
You're welcome WT and "Greater no love than this, than a man who lays down his life for a friend." - - John 15:13 and FREEDOM IS NOT FREE! GO RAYS!!
(ABP - Anybody But Philly...)
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at October 29, 2008 09:01 AM
Revenge is common in Iraq, but justice is probably not. These three terrorists had a trial. Our soldiers did not. They were captured , tortured, killed and mutilated.
Two of these terrorists were lucky. At least there will be Rule of Law justice for al-Qraghuli.
God Bless the souls and families of our three soldiers.
Posted by: TomR at October 29, 2008 10:17 AM
Darth, perfect Bible verse.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 29, 2008 04:59 PM
Tom, I think your right, there is probably very little justice.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 29, 2008 05:00 PM
