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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Another Atrocity in the War in Afghanistan

It's one of the worst war crimes by an American soldier: Sergeant Robert Bales is accused of leaving his base in a remote part of Afghanistan, brutally murdering 16 civilians, including 9 children, and trying to set their bodies on fire. Bales reportedly returned to base afterward and asked for a lawyer.

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

It's one of the worst war crimes by an American soldier: Sergeant Robert Bales is accused of leaving his base in a remote part of Afghanistan, brutally murdering 16 civilians, including 9 children, and trying to set their bodies on fire. Bales reportedly returned to base afterward and asked for a lawyer. He'll likely be tried by the military at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Does he have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Is he himself a kind of war victim, or is he a cold-blooded killer who can't be excused in any way? These and other questions will haunt the longest war in American history until long after it's over. We hear some of the early answers today.

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • KCRW placeholder

    Christian Bordal

    Managing Producer, Greater LA

  • KCRW placeholder

    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

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    Caitlin Shamberg

    KCRW

  • KCRW placeholder

    James Dao

    New York Times

  • KCRW placeholder

    David Brahms

    National Institute of Military Justice

  • KCRW placeholder

    Mike Prysner

    March Forward

    NewsNationalPolitics
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