'Kill Team' Brigade Commander Given Wrist Slap; Issue Disappears

The investigation into those responsible for the Afghanistan "kill team" tactics led to "a letter of admonition" of Col. Harry D. Tunnell IV, reports the Military Times on Tuesday. According to MT:

"Was a brigade commander an instigator or just asleep at the switch while the 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, “kill team” was allegedly murdering civilians?

"An Army investigation finds no “causal relationship” between Col. Harry D. Tunnell IV’s aggressive leadership and the killings, but it criticizes Tunnell for neglectfulness that created a climate ripe for misconduct.

"The investigation, first reported by Der Spiegel on Monday, ended in a letter of admonition for Tunnell, per I Corps Commander Lt. Gen Curtis “Mike” Scaparotti."

The Washington Times Water Cooler found that lawmakers on the hill claim to either not know the story or refuse to comment on the alleged actions of the Afghanistan "kill team."

In a Washington Times piece, Joe Curl described the media blackout of the story, even after Spc. Jeremy Morlock pleaded guilty in March for his part in murdering unarmed Afghanistan civilians.

The incident has brought comparisons to the 11 army guards at Abu Ghraib in 2004 who were tried and convicted on a number of counts for what was called detainee abuse and torture. No Abu Ghraib prisoners were killed, however, as a result of the crimes.

Washington Times