Bales’ Article 32 hearing underway
So we’re learning more about the Bales case when a staff sergeant went on a murderous spree in small Afghan village. It doesn’t sound like his shit was wired too tightly. As I said yesterday, Bales made two trips into two villages, and apparently he was wearing a cape like he thought he was a super hero or something. From the Associated Press;
As fellow soldiers stopped him at the base’s gate, Staff Sgt. Robert Bales was incredulous, prosecutors said. Then, as he was taken into custody, Bales said, “I thought I was doing the right thing.”
[…]
The prosecutor, Lt. Col. Jay Morse, said that after Bales attacked one village near his post at Camp Belambay, he returned, woke a colleague to report what he had done, and warned that he was headed back out to attack another village.
“I never got out of bed, sir,” the colleague, Sgt. Jason McLaughlin, testified. “I thought it was ridiculously out of the realm of normal possibility, sir.”
[…]
Prosecutors played for the first time the video captured by a surveillance blimp that showed the caped figure running toward the base, then stopping and dropping his weapons as he was confronted. There was no audio.
Apparently, he was drinking whiskey and watching “Man on Fire” before he went on his rampage. I like “Man on Fire”, but it never sent me on a killing spree.
According to the article, Bales and his attorneys haven’t entered a plea yet, but, of course, we all know that his attorneys will say that Bales suffers from TBI and PTS despite the fact that the outward signs of PTS don’t manifest as this type of violence. But it will make a sympathetic figure for the media.
Category: Military issues, Terror War
I’m willing to bet that the Soldier that he woke up will be hammered also.
TBI itself can cause those who have it to have violent episodes, far more so than someone who has PTS. They are totally separate and different issues.
Traumatic brain injury can alter the way someone thinks, acts, and completely alter their personality (depending on the severity of the injury). Whether or not that is the case with Bales is up to a doctor to decide.
It does happen… but it is not a light switch event. It does not turn on and turn off.
“I’m willing to bet that the Soldier that he woke up will be hammered also.”
I doubt it. No rational person would believe such a statement from someone they believe to be sane. It seems even more incredulous when the guy says he left the fob and came back on after the first attack. Were all of the gate guards sleeping?
I know I wouldn’t believe it.
I’m certainly no expert, but I know that the symptoms of TBI can be enhanced, (at least for some people), with the use alcohol and other mood altering drugs. Introducing chemicals to a brain that has been injured can have dire consequences, particularly if brain chemicals are out of synche and medications aren’t prescribed (or otherwise not taken). As far as PTS, I think the jury is still out on that one as there are many symptoms involved and people generally react differently. All in all, and as tragic as this event was, I hope it was an isolated case.
That Guy, I know I wouldn’t believe it either, but how many others have we seen thrown under the bus for political expediency?
Twist, I think you’re right. It’s sad but it’s likely.
Whiskey and “Man on Fire”….
Perhaps beer and “Hangover” would have been a better choice, he might have gone off looking for a tiger and a little asian man instead of killing a bunch of people in the night.
Sounds like this poor b4stard was indeed not wrapped too tight.
No excuses, screw this disgrace to the uniform.
Is anyone awear of any studies done on the effects of TBI and PTS together? PTS can manifest as a host of mental illnesses. From what I have studied it seems to be kind of like a chineese menu, it takes some from column A, some from Column B and some from Column C. The TBI could cause impulse control issues and altered states of reality. Alcohol is a drug of choice for self medication. However, all of that doesn’t add up to a premeditated attack on an unarmed populace wearing a cape. Just saying.
The guy wasn’t wrapped to tight before he joined. Look at his past shenanigans.
Sounds like a few bricks short of a full load.
Looks like the Army is actually going to seek the death penalty: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Army-seeks-death-penalty-in-Robert-Bales-Afghan-massacre-case-184126101.html
And yet there’s a question regarding Hassan? AYFKM?