>Do you know why this was in the military court system in the first place? If I am not misreading the Tribune article, he committed the rapes and murders off base against civilians. He just happened to be stationed in the area at the time. Seems like he should have been tried like any other rapist or murderer.

According to the story, iirc, at least 2 of his victims were soldiers.

The first victim, Private Vickery-Clay...
On 3 January 1987, Gray entered the barracks room of Private Mary Ann Lang Nameth...

>
>>http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=311008
>>
>>His crimes:
>>
>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_A._Gray
>>
>>One thing unique to military executions:
>>
>>President Bush on July 28, 2008, approved the death sentence in the case of the United States v Ronald A. Gray. The Uniform Code of Military Justice specifies that only the president can give final approval to a military death sentence, Army officials said.
>>
>>Chicago Tribune Article:
>>
>>http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-ronald-a-gray-080729-ht,0,1444216.story
>>
>>Bush's decision marked the first time in 51 years that a president has affirmed a death sentence for a member of the U.S. military. It was the first time in 46 years that such a decision has even been weighed in the Oval Office.
>>
>>This article is concerning:
>>
>>http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/29-07-2008/105914-bush_ronald_gray-0
>>
>>The history of the US Army knows many incidents when courts martial brought down death sentences against military men. This was especially noticeable during the US-led campaign in Iraq. There was quite a number of incidents, when US military men were put on trial for their actions against Iraqi civilians. US peacemakers raped women and children, humiliated and tortured unarmed men.