Soldiers Say They Had Orders to 'Kill All Military Age Males' in Iraq Raid

Daisy Cutter, Daily Kos

A disturbing report from the AP: Soldiers in Murder Case Claim They Were Ordered to 'Kill All Military Age Males' in Iraq Raid EL PASO, Texas Jul 21, 2006 (AP)-- Four U.S. soldiers accused of murdering suspected insurgents during a raid in Iraq said they were under orders to "kill all military age males," according to sworn statements obtained by The Associated Press. The soldiers first took some of the men into custody because they were using two women and a toddler as human shields. They shot three of the men after the women and child were safe and say the men attacked them. "The ROE (rule of engagement) was to kill all military age males on Objective Murray," Staff Sgt. Raymond L. Girouard told investigators, referring to the target by its code name. This is a very chilling statement and horrifying if true. The collective punishment of military age males among rebellious civilian populations is sadly a common tactic of occupying armies. It has become all too familiar in US Military operations. In Fallujah, the Army prohibited military age males from fleeing the city during the late 2004 offensive. The Army also had orders to shoot any men between the ages of 15 and 50 seen on the street, regardless of wether the men were armed or not...

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