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Afghanistan
US Army Opens Criminal Investigation of Death of Unarmed Taliban Detainee
2016-12-10
[VOA News] The U.S. Army has opened a criminal investigation of a soldier who confessed on national television to killing an unarmed Taliban detainee, a senior Army official told VOA Thursday.

The investigation of former Major Mathew Golsteyn, first reported by The Washington Post, began earlier this month, according to the senior Army official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

In an October interview, Golsteyn admitted to Fox News Channel that he had killed the alleged bomb maker while in Marja in 2010.

"This is a criminal case that was opened up because of a public confession," a U.S. official told VOA. "It is incumbent upon the Army to investigate that."

In the interview, the show host asks, "Did you kill the Taliban bomb maker?"

"Yes," Golsteyn replied.

Honor removed
Golsteyn initially acknowledged killing the detainee - who was accused of making a bomb that killed two Marines serving under Golsteyn's command - during a polygraph test while applying for a job with the CIA in 2011.

According to The Washington Post report, Golsteyn said a tribal leader who had identified the detainee as a Taliban member said he feared that if the American unit let the detainee go, the detainee would kill the tribal leader and his family.

A U.S. official said the CIA alerted the Army of the statement, and the Army launched an administrative board of inquiry into the killing.
Hey big Army, Golsteyn is moving in on our market share. Handle it.
The administrative review ended in 2014 without the Army finding evidence to charge Golsteyn; none of his fellow soldiers corroborated the story of the killing and Army officials weren't in the room to confirm the CIA confession.

But then-Army Secretary John McHugh decided to revoke Golsteyn's Silver Star Medal, the U.S. military's third-highest decoration for valor in combat, which he had earned in Afghanistan.

The U.S. official said an Army administrative review is different from an Army criminal case, and added that the October confession provides new evidence about the incident.

"So double jeopardy doesn't apply," the official said, referring to a law in the United States that prohibits citizens from being retried for the same crime using the same evidence.

Golsteyn told The Washington Post in an email Thursday that the Defense Department and Army have "viciously pursued me without a discernible cause or a stated goal for over five years."

A senior Army official said there is currently a complaint on the Army’s handling of the case that was filed with the Defense Department Inspector General. There cannot be any results released from the case until the complaint is resolved.
Posted by:Fred

#6  Trump on day one, pardon the Major, return awards, end criminal ROE.
When you know the guy killed your comrades and will do so again for certain , and some jackass has kissed White House butt for career enhancement by drafting utter insanity for ROE because some lawyer wants to cover political risk by impossible standards that ensure never defeating barbarians, end the mess, don't ruin the instruments. You want to try someone for this, how about Susan Rice?
Posted by: NoMoreBS   2016-12-10 12:48  

#5  The moral of the story is don't talk to reporters.
Posted by: Abu Uluque   2016-12-10 11:58  

#4  Ditto Billy, and in light of his potential employer selection and personal admissions, charges sadly....well earned.
Posted by: Besoeker   2016-12-10 09:40  

#3  His first mistake was applying for job that required a poly. I think this guy will end up be charged. There's no right way to do the wrong thing. Our spineless politicians (both in and out of uniform) share the guilt for forcing us to fight with one arm tied behind our backs and one eye taped shut.

For all of the great quotes from Gen, Mattis - we never really "did" what the survivors will talk about for 10,000 years. We should have and that's the problem. The Pashtun/Tajik/Hazara people understand that.
Posted by: Bangkok Billy   2016-12-10 09:33  

#2  CIA Polygrapher: Have you ever killed anyone?

Golsteyn: Yes, several, perhaps dozens.

CIA Polygrapher: Were these people armed.

Golsteyn: Yes, all had arms.

Posted by: Besoeker   2016-12-10 04:08  

#1  Shoot. Shovel. SHUT UP.
Posted by: gorb   2016-12-10 03:59  

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