Soldier kills 5 comrades in Baghad.
 

BAGHDAD, May 11 -- An American soldier opened fire on comrades Monday afternoon inside a combat stress clinic at a large U.S. military base in Baghdad, killing five and wounding three in an attack that prompted officials to promise to try to ease the strain on troops deployed to war zones.

The gunman was taken into custody shortly after the 2 p.m. shooting at Camp Liberty, part of a sprawling military installation near Baghdad International Airport, U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Brian Tribus said.

The military did not identify the gunman or shed light on what his motive might have been. Tribus said the gunman's name will be disclosed when and if charges are filed.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and President Obama vowed to conduct a thorough investigation.

"I would like to express my horror and deep regret for today's shooting incident," Gates said at a briefing at the Pentagon. "Such a tragic loss of life at the hands of our own forces is a cause for great and urgent concern."

Gates said the Pentagon needs to redouble its efforts to relieve the stress caused by repeated deployments in war zones with limited time at home in between.

The shooting, among the deadliest attacks on American troops in Iraq in recent months, comes as U.S. commanders are grappling with the rising rate at which service members are committing suicide. Military leaders have attributed the increase to the stress of multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Monday's attack was the deadliest incident involving a soldier opening fire on comrades since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The rampage shook up soldiers at Victory Base Compound, which includes Camp Liberty, in large part because most feel relatively safe at the heavily guarded base.

"A lot of soldiers are wondering why," said a senior military official in Baghdad, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "We will be asking as leaders: What could we have done? How could we have protected the soldiers?"

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said that Obama was "saddened" and "shocked" by the shootings and that the president's "heart goes out" to the families of those killed.

Obama will press Gates in a meeting Monday afternoon to investigate the shootings to "ensure we fully understand what happened," Gibbs said.

Most military facilities in Iraq have combat stress clinics. Small outposts have officers trained to counsel soldiers experiencing depression, anxiety and other symptoms of combat stress. The military in recent years has launched campaigns to ease the stigma often associated with counseling.

Soldiers may walk into the clinics without making an appointment and are sometimes escorted by a friend or supervisor.

Soldiers are generally required to carry their weapons on military bases, which in the past have been targeted by extremists. They are supposed to make sure the weapons are not loaded when they enter buildings such as dining facilities, stores and office buildings.

At least 140 soldiers committed suicide in 2008, according to the Army, a considerable increase compared with the 115 cases reported the previous year and the 102 documented in 2006. The number is the highest since the military started tracking suicide data in 1980. The Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force also reported an uptick in suicides last year.

The number of soldiers who committed suicide during the first few months of this year is on pace to surpass last year's figure.

The Army's vice chief of staff, Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, told lawmakers in April that at least 48 soldiers had committed suicide this year. "These current figures are unacceptable," he said.

Also on Monday, the military said an American soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in southern Iraq. The attack occurred at 2 p.m. Sunday in Basra province. U.S. soldiers recently deployed additional troops to the province to replace British soldiers, who formally ended their mission there last month.

From: The Washington Post

I am sure glad I didnt goto the clinic for any reason. This shooting was about 300-400 meters from my tent where I am staying. I heard the shots and just thought it was a weapons firing range. Then they came and everyone in our unit has to be physically accounted for, and they posted double the guards at each major location on base. Almost home, and I still gotta watch my back. Jeeze.

The messed up thing is, the guy who did the shooting is apparently one of the new guys just getting to Iraq. You would think someone to go over the edge like that would be someone in mid-tour or later...

Wow, that is freaky. While I was reading that, I wondered if you were anywhere near it. It must be freaky over there.

I saw this yesterday, almost posted it but didn't. Crazy that it was so close to you SYG. Keep safe, no use dying just before you get out.

:edit:doublepost delete this one

Same thing, and glad to hear you're okay dude. That's a freak type thing, since most guys do it from PTSD and if this guy is new, he probably shouldn't have that disorder. They ID'd the soldier today and have a bit more information out on it, but nothing substantial thus far.

Glad to see you're ok man. It's awful knowing you're never safe even from your own guys.

I heard sometimes they send in psychotic people, just for the idea that "they have issues, nobody will miss them, and they wouldn't mind killing at all".

Yea there are secret black operations all over the army, where they test crazy ideas on us soldiers... :sarcasm:

I'm glad that wasn't you SYG. You need to slap some bitches.

Wasn't he going to "get out" in 2007? The cake is still a lie.

Oh really? ELABORATE

The cake is not a lie! I saw it during the credits. Anyways I believe 2007 was my original timeframe for my contract to end. However last time I was in Iraq in 2006 I extended my contract by 2 years.

so you should've been out 2008?

6+2 = 8.

2009= 2009.

Hmm.... odd....

Maybe if you read what I wrote you would get it. My contract was to END in 2007. In 2006 I added 2 years to my contract. 2007 + 2 = 2009

OOoo, ok. I missed that part of the equation. the "added", It just went though as "I added 2 years to my current date" or something.

Scary shit man. Keep safe.

Your avatar is creepy. Why would you extend your contract? More $$?

That's some crazy shit. Glad you're all right.