Two important developments related to Iraq that you may not have heard of.
First, the latest on the gang rape and murder (and attempted buring of the corpse of) fourteen-year-old Abeer Qassim Hamza al-Janabi and the murders of her five-year-old sister and both of their parents.
The crimes were committed on March 12, 2006. Originally, the crimes were blamed on Iraqis. In November, James P. Barker confessed to his part (gang rape) and fingered other US soldiers involved.
The press has long portrayed Steven D. Green as the 'ringleader' of the war crimes. Green will be tried in a (civilian) federal court due to the fact that he was discharged from the military before it was reported that Iraqis were not responsible for the crimes, US soldiers were.
Green enlisted shortly after a jail stay and singed a moral waiver to get past the fact that he reportedly had a history of prior drug and alcohol related arrests.
Last week, Ryan Lenz (AP) reported the latest development in the war crimes: In December of 2005, three months prior to the gang rape and multiple murders, Green was diagnosed with "homicidal ideations" by the Army Combat Stress Team and 'treated' with the drug Seroquel and the suggesting that he "get some sleep."
How far up the chain does the blame for the murders and gang rape go?
The second item is about Ehren Watada who, in June of last year, became the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq. Watada faces a court-martial on February 5th at Fort Lewis. In a show of support, Camp Resistance has been set up "at at off ramp 119, gates of Fort Lewis." Camp Resistance is an ongoing action started and led by Iraq Veterans Against the War. You can find photos and reports on Camp Resistance at the special page Iraq Veterans Against the War have set up to cover the camp.
We think those are two important developments and are disappointed (though not surprised) with how little attention independent media has given them.