Democracy Now: U.S. Soldier to Be Charged for Afghan Massacre; Death Toll at 17

U.S. soldier Robert Bales is expected to be charged today for the massacre of Afghan civilians earlier this month. Bales will face 17 counts of murder, reflecting the revised death toll figure of 17 civilian dead, up from 16. Bales is being held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, following his removal from Afghanistan in the days after the shooting. Afghan human rights activist Nader Nadery criticized the U.S. military’s decision to try Bales outside of Afghanistan.
Nader Nadery: “It would have been much more better if the trial would have happened here in Afghanistan, or at least, a close observation from a human rights organization, both international and national human rights organizations, or in addition, the representatives of victims to observe the trial.”

~ by wheresthemic on March 23, 2012.