The American Rapist

[AhmedBahgat]

FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (AP) -- A U.S. soldier was sentenced to 100 years in prison Thursday for the gang rape and murder of an Iraqi girl and the killing of her family last year.

Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, 24, also was given a dishonorable discharge. He will be eligible for parole in 10 years under the terms of his plea agreement.

Cortez, of Barstow, California, pleaded guilty this week to four counts of felony murder, rape and conspiracy to rape in a case considered among the worst atrocities by U.S. military personnel in Iraq.

In his plea agreement, he said he conspired with three other soldiers from the Fort Campbell-based 101st Airborne Division to rape 14-year-old Abeer Qassim al-Janabi. The girl, her parents and a younger sister were all killed.

Earlier Thursday, tears rolled down Cortez's face as he apologized for the rape and murders. He said he could not explain why he took part.

"I still don't have an answer," Cortez told the judge. "I don't know why. I wish I hadn't. The lives of four innocent people were taken. I want to apologize for all of the pain and suffering I have caused the al-Janabi family."

The military judge hearing the case, Col. Stephen R. Henley, issued a sentence of life in prison without parole, the maximum for the charges. Under military law, the defendant is given the lesser sentence unless he violates terms of the plea agreement, which requires Cortez to testify against others charged in the case.

Psychologist Charles Figley testified that Cortez and the other soldiers likely suffered stress brought on by fatigue and trauma.

"It eats you up," Figley said. "It's a horrible thing. This is not unique. We've seen this in other wars."

Five soldiers who served with Cortez in Iraq testified that his actions were out of character and described the hardships of war they experienced, including sleep deprivation and the lack of running water.

"I just never would have seen it coming," said Staff Sgt. Tim Briggs, who has known Cortez for five years and served with him in Iraq.

Prosecutors said the stress was no excuse for the actions of Cortez and the other soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell.

On Wednesday, Cortez described raping the girl in her family's home in Mahmoudiya last March, along with Spc. James Barker, 24. Barker pleaded guilty in November to rape and murder and was sentenced to 90 years in military prison.

Cortez said this week that former private Steven D. Green raped the girl in front of him; shot her father, mother and sister; and then shot her in the head. He also testified that the soldiers attempted to burn the girl's body; burned their own clothes; and threw the murder weapon, an AK-47, into a canal in an attempt to dispose of the evidence.

Cortez was found not guilty of more serious charges of premeditated murder and conspiracy to premeditated murder.

Pfcs. Jesse Spielman, 22, and Bryan Howard, 19, await courts-martial. Green, who is accused of being the ringleader but was discharged from the military before being charged, will be prosecuted in a federal court in Kentucky.

Sourse

[AhmedBahgat]

FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (AP) -- A U.S. soldier was sentenced to 100 years in prison Thursday for the gang rape and murder of an Iraqi girl and the killing of her family last year.

Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, 24, also was given a dishonorable discharge. He will be eligible for parole in 10 years under the terms of his plea agreement.

Cortez, of Barstow, California, pleaded guilty this week to four counts of felony murder, rape and conspiracy to rape in a case considered among the worst atrocities by U.S. military personnel in Iraq.

In his plea agreement, he said he conspired with three other soldiers from the Fort Campbell-based 101st Airborne Division to rape 14-year-old Abeer Qassim al-Janabi. The girl, her parents and a younger sister were all killed.

Earlier Thursday, tears rolled down Cortez's face as he apologized for the rape and murders. He said he could not explain why he took part.

"I still don't have an answer," Cortez told the judge. "I don't know why. I wish I hadn't. The lives of four innocent people were taken. I want to apologize for all of the pain and suffering I have caused the al-Janabi family."

The military judge hearing the case, Col. Stephen R. Henley, issued a sentence of life in prison without parole, the maximum for the charges. Under military law, the defendant is given the lesser sentence unless he violates terms of the plea agreement, which requires Cortez to testify against others charged in the case.

Psychologist Charles Figley testified that Cortez and the other soldiers likely suffered stress brought on by fatigue and trauma.

"It eats you up," Figley said. "It's a horrible thing. This is not unique. We've seen this in other wars."

Five soldiers who served with Cortez in Iraq testified that his actions were out of character and described the hardships of war they experienced, including sleep deprivation and the lack of running water.

"I just never would have seen it coming," said Staff Sgt. Tim Briggs, who has known Cortez for five years and served with him in Iraq.

Prosecutors said the stress was no excuse for the actions of Cortez and the other soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell.

On Wednesday, Cortez described raping the girl in her family's home in Mahmoudiya last March, along with Spc. James Barker, 24. Barker pleaded guilty in November to rape and murder and was sentenced to 90 years in military prison.

Cortez said this week that former private Steven D. Green raped the girl in front of him; shot her father, mother and sister; and then shot her in the head. He also testified that the soldiers attempted to burn the girl's body; burned their own clothes; and threw the murder weapon, an AK-47, into a canal in an attempt to dispose of the evidence.

Cortez was found not guilty of more serious charges of premeditated murder and conspiracy to premeditated murder.

Pfcs. Jesse Spielman, 22, and Bryan Howard, 19, await courts-martial. Green, who is accused of being the ringleader but was discharged from the military before being charged, will be prosecuted in a federal court in Kentucky.

Sourse

[SlaveofAllaah]

^ I dont know its the quran or the hadith. many non-muslims ask us about right hand posseses this is in the quran, but even the prisoners of war, and why we get married to them.

The kafirs fail to understand, infact in islam it was modernized. its human tendency for months, that guy is all alone and without any physical relationship. Obviously at this time, as Allaah is gifted us some desires and hence any human's adrenalin pumps hard, i infact blame the rules and not that guy to some extent.

But look at the Islamic perspective, you are told to marry the one in prisoners of war to avoid, such a grievous sin. With marriage, you give wife a legal status, infact even what you call as right hand posseses,
1) It saves man from committing a sin, as he is bounded because of months of touchbase
2) Its more ethical, because after accepting as right hand of yours, we are ordered to take care of them, give them all the possible facilities such as food,etc.

This is such a noble way the muslims followed, and the kuffars, even find this as something against Islam. The situation is the same, Muslims attacked land, ofcourse for the sake of Allaah, its the same with US but ofcourse not for the sake of Allaah. But POW by muslims was handled perfectly, compared to the kuffars.

This is one of the practical eg, in the above article that provides a human with divinde knowledge of Allaah, and why we human are incapable of encompassing this knowledge.

Allaah knows the best.

Salamvalekum

[SlaveofAllaah]

^ I dont know its the quran or the hadith. many non-muslims ask us about right hand posseses this is in the quran, but even the prisoners of war, and why we get married to them.

The kafirs fail to understand, infact in islam it was modernized. its human tendency for months, that guy is all alone and without any physical relationship. Obviously at this time, as Allaah is gifted us some desires and hence any human's adrenalin pumps hard, i infact blame the rules and not that guy to some extent.

But look at the Islamic perspective, you are told to marry the one in prisoners of war to avoid, such a grievous sin. With marriage, you give wife a legal status, infact even what you call as right hand posseses,
1) It saves man from committing a sin, as he is bounded because of months of touchbase
2) Its more ethical, because after accepting as right hand of yours, we are ordered to take care of them, give them all the possible facilities such as food,etc.

This is such a noble way the muslims followed, and the kuffars, even find this as something against Islam. The situation is the same, Muslims attacked land, ofcourse for the sake of Allaah, its the same with US but ofcourse not for the sake of Allaah. But POW by muslims was handled perfectly, compared to the kuffars.

This is one of the practical eg, in the above article that provides a human with divinde knowledge of Allaah, and why we human are incapable of encompassing this knowledge.

Allaah knows the best.

Salamvalekum