In 2012, U.S Army Staff Sergeant Robert “Bob” Bales conducted, what he believed to be, a pre-emptive strike against Taliban fighters who had previously harmed U.S. Servicemen and were coordinating another attack. The Afghans claimed Bales killed sixteen (16) “civilians,” including women and children. Bales claimed he killed twenty (20), including Taliban enemy combatants.
In August 2013, Bales was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, and he is presently at USDB, Ft. Leavenworth.
The U.S. Government:
- DID NOT AFFORD BALES THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE – President Obama instructed the military to “prosecute the case aggressively” and Defense Secretary Panetta said Bales could face the “death penalty,” prior to any charges or investigation
- DID NOT CHALLENGE ALLEGATIONS the Afghan’s made against Bales, a US Soldier
- DID NOT EXAMINE THE BODIES nor conduct autopsies/forensics to confirm allegations
- DID NOT CONFIRM IF THOSE KILLED WERE ENEMY COMBATANTS via biometrics
- THREATENED BALES WITH THE DEATH PENALTY to coerce an inaccurate/incomplete confession
- DID NOT PROVE THEIR CASE IN A TRIAL, went straight to sentencing after the confession
- DID FLY IN CONFIRMED ENEMY COMBATANTS, with aliases, to testify against Bales.
- DID NOT APPROPRIATELY EVALUATE BALES’ “MENS REA” (mindset/intent for murder)
- DID NOT DISCLOSE THE ARMY ADMINISTERED BALES “MEFLOQUINE” – an anti-malaria drug with psychotic effects, but stopped administering it to Soldiers after Bales’ incident
- CONVICTED BALES: 16 COUNTS OF MURDER & SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE
Now, a 12-episode investigative podcast expolores the details of this infamous case with new episodes dropping every Thursday beginning June 29.
Subscribe, listen, and share with your friends and family. Please also consider making a donation in support of Robert Bales’ legal fees as he continues his battle to receive a full and unconditional pardon or commutation of sentence to 20 years.
THE WAR WITHIN: THE ROBERT BALES STORY
It’s March 2012 in a region of Afghanistan known as the birthplace of the Taliban. Staff Sergeant Robert Bales leaves his base–in the dead of the night–and lays siege to two villages, killing a reported sixteen innocent Afghan civilians. The reaction from the American government is swift and severe; provoking universal condemnation and a life sentence in Fort Leavenworth military prison. Over a decade later, the lingering question about what became known as the Kandahar Massacre remains. Why did it happen? Anchored by 18 hours of exclusive interviews from America’s most notorious war criminal and complemented by a chorus of people central to this polarizing case, THE WAR WITHIN: THE ROBERT BALES STORY is a 12-episode investigative podcast that will shed new light on the inner sanctum of the military. Throughout, the series will contain explosive revelations that run the gamut, from brain injuries, to potentially toxic drugs, to possible cover-ups by the nation Robert Bales swore to protect.
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