I couldn't think of any debatable topic about this, but what does everybody think about the grenade incident at "Camp Pennsylvania" in Iraq?

For those who somehow haven't heard yet, a U.S. soldier is currently in custody suspected of tossing at least three hand grenades into the tents of commanding officers, killing one and wounding (at last count I saw) 13. Early reports are playing it up that the suspect has an "Arabic-sounding surname," if that matters to anybody.

Regardless, the situation remains that we have U.S. soldier who is presumably guilty of attacking his fellow soldiers in the war for Iraq. I'll be interested to see what kind of thoughts are out there on maybe how this could happen, why, etc.... I'm sure somebody has some thoughts.

I do. First of all I think the media needs to follow their ethics and stop reporting speculation. The religion of this man shouldn't even be implied until they have their facts. The motives shouldn't be reported until they are determined by a law enforcement investigation.

It's hard to comment on the topic without knowing the motive. He could be sympathetic to Saddam, an angry employee, or simply insane. I'm surprised that the military doesn't keep the command center of each group heavily protected, even within the camps. Certainly, this will change from this point on.

I have to agree with eva. at this point, there really aren't enough facts to judge. I've heard he was detained with two kuwaitis as well. it is possible he is sympathetic to Iraq, or he could've just snapped. maybe the commander sent one of his friends out and he got killed, and he was *** NOTICE: THIS WORD IS AGAINST THE RULES. FAILURE TO REMOVE IT WILL RESULT IN A STRIKE. *** at the commander. who knows. we will knew soon I think.

But now to add to the speculation we have an eyewitness account saying the suspect didn't have any contact with the officers in the tent and thus no personal motive for attacking them. Further, that he'd been acting "weird" for days before and as result had been told he wouldn't be coming along when the unit moved into Iraq. Can't give you a source for that, just clips I heard on radio and TV and don't remember the names. Not enough facts to be sure, but it does appear that it may be a case of an Islamic soldier with conflicted loyalties. If that does turn out to be the case, I can't say it comes as a surprise since that's something I've worried about before.

I'll confirm Izdaari's television and radio sources. I too have recently heard that he had no contact with the officers and his "weird" behavior over the past few days.

I have not heard that he was informed that he would not be permitted to join in the unit when it moved into Iraq. That alone could be a motive of an unstable person without any religious factors.

New about the identity of the man who threw the grenade has broken. Does it reveal anything worthy of debate? Is this still all too early too discern anything? Our local paper seemed to have broken some of this information. It went up and interviewed his neighbors and called his Baton, Rouge, LA mother for an interview.

Of some interest is a reference to the fact that he stayed out of the gulf war for his religious beliefs.

U.S. Soldier Detained In Attack Is Identified

Here is a little more information on this story.

While discussing this with a neighbor of mine, he said it was common in Vietnam for enlisted men to attack their commanders (I don't know how "common" that means). I have also heard the "shell shock" theory where one becomes disoriented when in the environs of combat.

I did here that he was a recent covert to Islam, although I can't say that would be a determining factor (although it might) since most Islamic sects preach peace.

After the appropriate Article 32 investigation, followed by a Court Martial, If SGT Asan Akbar is found guilty of treason and intentional murder, then he could receive the death sentence.

I was in the 101st Airborne Division when we deployed to the first gulf war, and I can tell you that such an event in this close knit unit seriously rattled the men and women over there. According to the Uniformed Code of Military Justice, any sentence given to this 'alleged' murderer could be carried out in the theater of operations, to include death by firing squad, something that has not been done since WWII.

If this person is indeed guilty, may he never set foot again on American soil.

Before I get bashed by anyone, keep in mind this hits me as if he did this to my own family, I'm still seeing red.