Warning
This video may contain images depicting the reality and horror of war/violence and should only be viewed by a mature audience.
WARNING: Graphic and disturbing photos between 38:47 and 40:00.
U.S. Army Ranger John Needham, who was awarded two purple hearts and three medals for heroism, wrote to military authorities in 2007 reporting war crimes that he witnessed being committed by his own command and fellow soldiers in Al Doura, Iraq. His charges were supported by atrocity photos which, in the public interest, are now released in this video. John paid a terrible price for his opposition to these acts. His story is tragic.
CBS reported obtaining an Army document from the Criminal Investigation Command suggestive of an investigation into these war crimes allegations. The Army’s conclusion was that the “offense of War Crimes did not occur.” However, CBS also stated that the report was “redacted and incomplete; 111 pages were withheld.”
This video is placed with the context of Vice President, Dick Cheney, insistence that this nation’s efforts “must go to the dark side;” which included ignoring the Geneva Conventions.
John’s story is told, here, by his father, Michael Needham. It is produced in the spirit of the public interest and towards promoting justice foundational to the rule of law.
On the Dark Side in Al Doura – A Soldier in the Shadows (graphic)
see
Smoked! A soldier’s life and death: The story of John Needham
Ch. 7: SAMs for Uncle Sam by William T. Hathaway
War crimes tribunal tries Bush, Blair + Bush/Blair Found Guilty of War Crimes
Pingback: Heroes By Gary Corseri « Dandelion Salad
Pingback: Kevin Baker: Soldiers have real power when they organize « Dandelion Salad
Pingback: Tareq Aziz, Whose Life Hangs in the Balance by Felicity Arbuthnot « Dandelion Salad
Pingback: Never forget Iraq + Happy New Year: 2012 News Highlights (satire) by William Blum « Dandelion Salad
Pingback: An inside the beast account of the US’ governing and reconstruction efforts in Iraq by Daniel N. White « Dandelion Salad
Pingback: Complicit in War Crimes by Ed Ciaccio « Dandelion Salad