Investigation: Bales showed signs of potential violence

FILE - In this Aug. 23, 2011 image provided by the Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS), Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, left, 1st platoon sergeant, Blackhorse Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division participates in an exercise at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. A U.S. military investigation into Bales shooting rampage in Afghanistan concludes that there were advance warnings that he was capable of unwarranted violence, but not that he would commit a large-scale atrocity like the slaughtering of 16 Afghan civilians, including seven children. (DVIDS/Spc. Ryan Hallock via AP, File) FILE - In this Aug. 23, 2011 image provided by the Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS), Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, left, 1st platoon sergeant, Blackhorse Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division participates in an exercise at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. A U.S. military investigation into Bales shooting rampage in Afghanistan concludes that there were advance warnings that he was capable of unwarranted violence, but not that he would commit a large-scale atrocity like the slaughtering of 16 Afghan civilians, including seven children. (DVIDS/Spc. Ryan Hallock via AP, File)

By Associated Press August 18, 2015 3 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – A soldier convicted two years ago of one of the worst American atrocities of the war in Afghanistan had exhibited warning signs of unwarranted violent behavior, but none that indicated he was capable of slaughtering 16 Afghan civilians, including seven children, and burning some of their bodies, according to a military investigation report released Tuesday.

The report also concluded that while behavior standards inside former Staff Sgt. Robert Bales’ unit were sometimes violated, this “command climate” problem did not contribute to his crime.

When he was sentenced to life in prison in August 2013, Bales offered no explanation for sneaking off post to undertake the killing mission, but he apologized on the witness stand and described the slaughter as an “act of cowardice, behind a mask of fear, bulls— and bravado.”

Prosecutors argued that Bales’ own “stomach-churning” words demonstrated that he knew exactly what he was doing.

“My count is 20,” Bales told another soldier when he returned to the base. Bales shot 22 people in all, killing 16.