Army contractor faces murder charge
Wired:
"A member of the Army's controversial Human Terrain project has been charged with second degree murder, for an alleged revenge killing in Afghanistan.
Don Ayala supposedly shot Kandahar native Abdul Salam in the head, after Salam set one of Ayala's co-workers on fire in an Afghan village. Ayala, a former bodyguard to both the Afghan president and the Iraqi prime minister, could face life in prison if convicted, according to documents filed yesterday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia. The already-embattled Human Terrain program, which embeds cultural specialists in combat units, could be in serious trouble, as well.
On November 4th, Ayala was on a foot patrol in the village of Chehel Gazni, about 40 miles outside of Kandahar. He was accompanying social scientist Paula Loyd, who was interviewing locals. Three local interpreters, and a platoon of U.S. soldiers from C company, 2-2 Infantry Battalion, rounded out the group.
Loyd approached Abdul Salam, who was carrying a fuel jug. They began talking about the price of gas. Suddenly, the man doused Lloyd in a flammable liquid and set her on fire. She suffered second- and third-degree burns over 60 percent of her body.
Salam immediately fled the scene and ran about 50 meters toward Ayala," according to an affidavit filed by Jennifer Bryan, a special agent with the Army's Criminal Investigation Division. "Ayala drew his pistol but did not fire at Salam. Ayala instead extended his arm, causing Salam to run into his arm and fall to the ground. Ayala attempted to restrain Salam and was assisted by soldiers from the platoon who responded to the scene. Salam was restrained with plastic restraints (also called "flexcuffs" or "zipcuffs"), around his wrists, which were behind his back."
"Ayala further restrained Salam by kneeling over Salam and using his body weight to hold Salam to the ground. Ayala also pointed his pistol at Salam's head. Salam continued to resist detention, but there were several Soldiers around him and Ayala had Salam effectively immobilized," Bryan goes on to say. "After about ten minutes, a soldier approached the location where Ayalahad Salam detained and informed the personnel in the area that Loyd was burned badly. Ayala pushed his pistol against Salam's head and shot Salam, killing him instantly." "
Being held accountable is a step in the right direction, but let's just wait and see if any punishment is in line with the severity of the crime. Right now I find that prospect doubtful.
-Diane
"A member of the Army's controversial Human Terrain project has been charged with second degree murder, for an alleged revenge killing in Afghanistan.
Don Ayala supposedly shot Kandahar native Abdul Salam in the head, after Salam set one of Ayala's co-workers on fire in an Afghan village. Ayala, a former bodyguard to both the Afghan president and the Iraqi prime minister, could face life in prison if convicted, according to documents filed yesterday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia. The already-embattled Human Terrain program, which embeds cultural specialists in combat units, could be in serious trouble, as well.
On November 4th, Ayala was on a foot patrol in the village of Chehel Gazni, about 40 miles outside of Kandahar. He was accompanying social scientist Paula Loyd, who was interviewing locals. Three local interpreters, and a platoon of U.S. soldiers from C company, 2-2 Infantry Battalion, rounded out the group.
Loyd approached Abdul Salam, who was carrying a fuel jug. They began talking about the price of gas. Suddenly, the man doused Lloyd in a flammable liquid and set her on fire. She suffered second- and third-degree burns over 60 percent of her body.
Salam immediately fled the scene and ran about 50 meters toward Ayala," according to an affidavit filed by Jennifer Bryan, a special agent with the Army's Criminal Investigation Division. "Ayala drew his pistol but did not fire at Salam. Ayala instead extended his arm, causing Salam to run into his arm and fall to the ground. Ayala attempted to restrain Salam and was assisted by soldiers from the platoon who responded to the scene. Salam was restrained with plastic restraints (also called "flexcuffs" or "zipcuffs"), around his wrists, which were behind his back."
"Ayala further restrained Salam by kneeling over Salam and using his body weight to hold Salam to the ground. Ayala also pointed his pistol at Salam's head. Salam continued to resist detention, but there were several Soldiers around him and Ayala had Salam effectively immobilized," Bryan goes on to say. "After about ten minutes, a soldier approached the location where Ayalahad Salam detained and informed the personnel in the area that Loyd was burned badly. Ayala pushed his pistol against Salam's head and shot Salam, killing him instantly." "
Being held accountable is a step in the right direction, but let's just wait and see if any punishment is in line with the severity of the crime. Right now I find that prospect doubtful.
-Diane
at
6:03 PM
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