Updated: U.S. Soldier Kills 5 Troops at U.S. Base in Iraq

By Liliana Segura, AlterNet
Posted on May 11, 2009, Printed on December 17, 2009
http://www.alternet.org/bloggers/www.alternet.org/139948/

MSNBC reports that a U.S. soldier, who apparently suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, opened fire on a clinic at a U.S. base in Iraq, killing five soldiers and wounding three.

"NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reported the assailant took his own life after the violent outburst," according to MSNBC. "The attacker was described as a 'stressed out' U.S. soldier."

Retired Col Jack Jacobs tells MSNBC that this is evidence of the adverse effects of "repetitive tours (with) no end in sight," which "makes life very difficult" for U.S. troops.

Initial reports said that the soldier killed himself after opening fire on four soldiers, but news outlets soon backtracked, reporting that the gunman was still alive and in custody. Five servicemen are dead and three are wounded.

Go here for more on this breaking news story.

Liliana Segura is a staff writer and editor of AlterNet's Rights and Liberties and War on Iraq Special Coverage.

© 2009 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved.
View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/bloggers/www.alternet.org/139948/