The wife of accused murderer Staff Sgt. Robert Bales appeared on the NBC television show "Today" this morning. It is Karilyn Bales' only television appearance since her husband was accused of murdering nine children and eight adults as they slept in their Afghan villages on March 11. Bales has been charged with 17 counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder.
Karilyn Bales said on "Today" of her husband's alleged actions:
“I just don't think he was involved. I don't know enough information. This is not him. It's not him."
Bales attorney, John Henry Browne, has said his client does not remember the massacre. And although there's no proof Bales took the controversial anti-malarial drug mefloquine (also called Lariam), the Huffington Post has reported that less than two weeks after the Afghan civilian massacre, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Jonathan Woodson ordered an immediate review whether mefloquine was being prescribed to troops when it shouldn't be.
According to U.S. National Library of Medicine, the side effects of mefloquine include:
- hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
- violent behavior
- losing touch with reality
- feeling that others want to harm you
- thoughts of hurting or killing yourself
Again, the Army won't release information as to whether Bales ever took mefloquine. But if he did, wouldn't you think his attorney might use it as a possible defense?
That is, if he was involved. And his wife is quite certain he wasn't. Here's the entire interview from "Today" with Karilyn Bales:
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