SAVANNAH, GEORGIA // Private Isaac Aguigui held the army's lowest rank, served in the military less than two years and never saw combat. Yet prosecutors say the 21-year-old soldier commanded enough authority to form an anti-government militia within the US military with soldiers of greater rank and experience following his orders - including an order to commit murder.
That an untested soldier might possess such power adds another odd twist to an unfolding legal case full of stunning allegations.
Prosecutors in rural Georgia said in court this week that Pvt Aguigui and three fellow soldiers at Fort Stewart killed a former comrade and his girlfriend last December. Their motive, prosecutors said, was to protect a secret plot to assassinate the president and overthrow the US government - and along the way to bomb a park fountain in nearby Savannah, poison apple orchards in Washington state and take over the army post where they were stationed. Authorities say the group stockpiled guns and bomb components that were seized from their homes and a storage locker.
Federal authorities have not said publicly whether they considered Pvt Aguigui and his associates a serious threat. One private group that monitors home-grown terrorism said it had never heard of Pvt Aguigui or his militia group.
"They were never on our radar screen," said Mark Potok, an expert on militia and hate groups for the Southern Poverty Law Center. "You'd think the whole thing would be a joke except for that two people died and that they apparently spent 87,000 dollars on guns."
Among the other details that emerged this week: authorities say Pvt Aguigui funded the weapons purchases using US$500,000 (Dh1.8 million) in life insurance benefits from the 2011 death of his pregnant wife - a death that authorities call "highly suspicious". And in a videotaped interview with military investigators, a prosecutor said, Pvt Aguigui called himself "the nicest cold-blooded murderer you will ever meet".
Pvt Aguigui was due back in court yesterday along with two fellow soldiers for arraignment on charges including malice murder, felony murder and illegal gang activity in the December 4 slayings of Michael Roark and his 17-year-old girlfriend, Tiffany York.
The three are being prosecuted by the state. The army filed murder charges against them in March, but dropped them August 15.
A fourth Fort Stewart soldier pleaded guilty to reduced charges on Tuesday and told a judge Pvt Aguigui ordered two older, more experienced soldiers to commit the killings.
Michael Burnett, the soldier who cut the plea deal, said Anthony Peden, a 26-year-old sergeant and veteran of two tours in Afghanistan whose army record lists 16 medals and commendations, shot the teenage girl twice at Pvt Aguigui's command. Burnett also testified Private Christopher Salmon, 26 with one Iraq tour on his service record, put Roark on his knees and shot him in the head.
The prosecutor Isabel Pauley said Pvt Aguigui targeted troubled soldiers for his militia, which he called F.E.A.R. - Forever Enduring Always Ready. Whatever the young private lacked in rank and combat experience, he had something else: roughly $500,000. Ms Pauley said he received the life insurance and benefit payments after his wife, army Sergeant Deirdre Aguigui, died.
Prosecutors say Aguigui bought $87,000 worth of semi-automatic assault rifles, other guns and bomb-making materials. Pvt Aguigui would give Roark money to buy weapons for him, the slain soldier's father said.
"They were using Michael and other kids as straw buyers, giving them money to go buy guns," said Brett Roark, citing conversations with prosecutors. "He wasn't a member of the gang."
Pvt Aguigui grew up with six siblings in a military family in the state of Washington. Their father, according to a short alumnus profile on his high school's website, retired after serving 20 years in the Army. Articles from Aguigui's hometown newspaper, The Wenatchee World, say Aguigui was home-schooled. His father, Edward Aguigui, did not return a phone message seeking comment.
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
The biog
Hobbies: Writing and running
Favourite sport: beach volleyball
Favourite holiday destinations: Turkey and Puerto Rico
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
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The five pillars of Islam
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Have you been targeted?
Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:
1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.
2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.
3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.
4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.
5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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