Afghan killings suspect: Recent life was struggle_美文

Afghan killings suspect: Recent life was struggle

Bales hasn't been charged yet with the shootings, which have endangered complicated relations between the United States and Afghanistan and threatened to up end US policy over the decade-old war.

But Bales' family troubles were hinted at by his wife, Kari, on multiple blogs posted with names like The Bales Family Adventures and Baby Bales. A year ago, she wrote that Bales was hoping for a promotion or a transfer after nine years stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord outside Tacoma, Washington.

After Bales lost out on a promotion to E7 - a first-class sergeant - the family hoped to go to Germany, Italy or Hawaii for an "adventure", she said. They hoped to move by last summer; instead the army redeployed his unit to Afghanistan.

It would be Bales' fourth tour in a war zone. He joined the military two months after 9/11 and spent more than three years in Iraq during three separate assignments since 2003. His attorney said he was injured twice in Iraq - once losing part of his foot.

Bales was struggling to keep payments on his own home in Lake Tapps, a rural community south of Seattle. His wife asked to put the house on the market three days before the shootings, real estate Philip Rodocker said.

Bales and his wife bought the Lake Tapps home in 2005, according to records, for $280,000. It was listed this week at $229,000. Overflowing boxes were piled on the front porch, and a US flag leaned against the siding.