Sunday, September 18, 2005
MIlitary Murder Drama Continues
We reported earlier this week that the legal process to bring to justices American sodliers that killed other American soldiers to justice was about to begin. Now there is a bit of a snafu.
I think given the woman's willingness to compromise here something should be worked out that accomodates her desires. However, I think as a society we need to be careful and not confuse societal justice with personal.
The widow of Capt. Phillip Esposito asked the Army yesterday to let her attend a military court hearing in Iraq that will probe her husband's killing, which the military suspects was committed by a subordinate.Mrs. Esposito is more than willing to meet the Army halfway on, offering to bear the travel costs herself, but I do not know what to make of all this. I have sympathy for the woman's desire to confront her husband's killer, but justice in this situation belongs to the military courts, not her.
Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez of Troy, N.Y., is accused of killing Esposito, 30, of Suffern, and Lt. Louis Allen, 34, of Milford, Pa., at a former palace of Saddam Hussein's near Tikrit. The June 7 attack at first was thought to be by the enemy, but the military later ordered a criminal investigation.
"As of today, we have put in a request to the Army to go to Iraq so that we can bear witness to the first step to bring our husbands' murderer to justice," said Siobhan Esposito, 31, who made the request along with Allen's widow, Barbara.
I think given the woman's willingness to compromise here something should be worked out that accomodates her desires. However, I think as a society we need to be careful and not confuse societal justice with personal.
