Report Finds Lapses in Handling of G.I. Accused of Murders in Iraq

Sergeant John Russell, 44, a 15 year service man in the Army, was in his first year of his third deployment to Iraq. Mr. Russell had visited the stress clinic located on Camp Liberty; this was where he was being counseled. United States military investigators said in a report, Sgt. Russell had been behaving erratically for weeks — even threatening to commit suicide — but a lack of adequate guidelines on how to handle his case allowed it to get out of control, United States military investigators said in a report. Sgt. Russell had visited the stress clinic four times before the shootings, but there were no guidelines for someone in this mental state. Members of his unit were concerned enough they took it upon themselves to put a watch on him during the evening. Sgt. Russell’ unit commander took it upon his self to remove the bolt from his weapon three days prior to the incident. Sgt. Russell stole a M-16 rifle and a vehicle from one of the M.P.’s that was assigned to return him to his unit after an altercation at the clinic. Although the M.P. reported immediately of his vehicle being stolen and his weapon and the Sergeant was on his way to the clinic in a very agitated state. Sgt. Russell opened fire on three patients and two staff members one of which was a Navy commander.

This story ripped my heart out, knowing this man had went for help time and time again. My ex-husband was in the military so I got a close up as to how the military works. I know the war is horrible, and I know the horrible casualties that lie within it. The system is in dire need of revamping and this incident is exactly the proof that there needs to be change now. The fact that the report even states the chase with Sgt. Russell was disorganized proves my point, unable to establish telephone or radio contact with one another.

The Sergeant, “stated the he had several doctors and they had all made him angry, that one of them made fun of him, one of them mocked him, and that this doctor had just made him angry. If you can’t help me then I will just kill myself.” I personally think that a statement as such would warrant to stepping up and locking this man up until someone can reach the obviously unreachable person that has to authorize his detention. This situation was able to be avoided and the fact it wasn’t shows there is room for improvement. And as it was so well stated in http://www.nytimes.com many of the report’s recommendations have already been carried out, stated by a military spokesmen

With our men and women risking their lives then I think this issue should be addressed and solved immediately before any other fatalities occur. My heart goes out to those lost, either in battle or friendly fire.