Monday, June 27, 2005
Speculating About A Military Murder
My fascination with the recent murder of two National Guard officers near Tikrit continues. The news on the situation has slowed down considerably, which I am grateful for because the press has been using it for fodder for the Iraq=Vietnam meme.
But a little news continues to leak out. Star and Stripes has a piece on the whole units efforts to come to grips with the situation. This unit needs to know that our prayers and best wishes are with them.
The Journal News of Westchester, New York has a piece about how the military legal process will work in this situation.
Within these stories, there are some interesting little tidbits. And since some in the press have used this incident to speculate, I thought I might speculate as well -- call it forming a theory of the crime so we can look for evidence to see if it's true.
First snippet (from the S&S piece)
Think also what it would be like if you were someone who had demonstrated a propensity for breaking the law -- something we learned about the accused in this case in the last post. All that stuff sitting around, some of it worth enormous amounts of money, and you controlling at least some of the paperwork -- sure would make it easy to steal something, wouldn't it?
Consider the next snippet (also from the S&S piece)
Now, suppose you were this law-breaking supply sargeant when Allen shows, what would you do? Remember now, you have already demonstrated that you don't have a lot of problems with things like theft, destruction of property, and at least the potential to harm another human. Murder might just seem like a good way to save yourself.
Look, I'm speculating here, I admit it, unlike some in the MSM. But my point is this -- why rush to decide there are big problems in the military? This could be nothing more than the most common of crime stories -- murder for profit.
But a little news continues to leak out. Star and Stripes has a piece on the whole units efforts to come to grips with the situation. This unit needs to know that our prayers and best wishes are with them.
The Journal News of Westchester, New York has a piece about how the military legal process will work in this situation.
Within these stories, there are some interesting little tidbits. And since some in the press have used this incident to speculate, I thought I might speculate as well -- call it forming a theory of the crime so we can look for evidence to see if it's true.
First snippet (from the S&S piece)
The mission is supplying the entire division?s 23,000 soldiers with armored trucks, uniforms, office supplies, ammunition and everything else the units need to operate.My father was a supply sargeant during the Korean War era, though fortunately never deployed. I am not sure people understand how incredibly complex that job is. Think about the amount of material required to supply 23,000 poeple with everything. Just keeping track of all of it is an enormous job.
Think also what it would be like if you were someone who had demonstrated a propensity for breaking the law -- something we learned about the accused in this case in the last post. All that stuff sitting around, some of it worth enormous amounts of money, and you controlling at least some of the paperwork -- sure would make it easy to steal something, wouldn't it?
Consider the next snippet (also from the S&S piece)
Allen, 34, had arrived in Iraq just four days before he died. He had volunteered to come over and help this specific company, Willsey said.Maybe 1st Lt. Allen so volunteered specifically because there were indications of problems in the unit -- funky paperwork, material missing, who knows, but something.
Now, suppose you were this law-breaking supply sargeant when Allen shows, what would you do? Remember now, you have already demonstrated that you don't have a lot of problems with things like theft, destruction of property, and at least the potential to harm another human. Murder might just seem like a good way to save yourself.
Look, I'm speculating here, I admit it, unlike some in the MSM. But my point is this -- why rush to decide there are big problems in the military? This could be nothing more than the most common of crime stories -- murder for profit.
