Take atrocity claims with grains of salt (Four BIG Reasons)

NY DailyNews ^ | June 4, 2006 | MICHAEL ZACCHEA

[IrishMike]

Something tragic and horrible may have happened in Haditha. But do not accept at face value what you are hearing about the alleged November 2005 massacre of Iraqi civilians by U.S. Marines.

Every time you hear the reports, make sure you repeat to yourself the word "alleged." Questions about the incident - terribly serious questions - remain.

Here are four big reasons I question much of what I've heard so far:

First, I have served in peace and war with Lt. Col. Jeff Chessani, the commander of the battalion involved in the incident. Chessani, who was relieved in April in the wake of the ongoing investigation, is among the Marine Corps' best and brightest officers, a man I believe incapable of participating in or covering up such an atrocity.

Second, extensive training in the Rules of Engagement and Law of Land Warfare is an annual requirement of the Marine Corps. Before each mission, a mission brief includes a review of applicable guidelines. This regimen is not taken lightly - not by any Marine I know.

Third, I know that the payments that were made to the victims' families - which some people consider evidence that the military admits guilt in this case - are nothing out of the ordinary. In Iraq, where there is an unreliable banking system, almost no civil court system and no insurance system, the payment of cash for damages is the equivalent of our own "no fault" insurance. It is common for American units to compensate Iraqis for damages, whether a destroyed building, a car accident or inadvertent injury or death.

Fourth, I must admit I am suspicious of ulterior motives by Iraqis eager to paint the worst possible picture of the incident, the facts be damned.

[IrishMike]

Michael Zacchea, of Long Island, is a Marine Reserves officer who served in Iraq in 2004 and 2005 as an adviser to the first Iraqi Army battalion to be trained by the U.S. military

[mtbopfuyn]

Not to mention the doctor who first reported this wasn't exactly our friend and Michelle has already debunked the pictures.

[squarebarb]

Thanks for posting.

In addition FReepers have found that the doctor involved and the Muslim reporter who first brought the video to the press are both involved in very dubious activities.

[squarebarb]

Beat me to it!

There's a toaster in this somewhere for you.

[Ed25]

Thought I heard somewhere that the Reuters reporter that originally gave the story to time was held twice for questioning for believed ties with the insurgents. Can someone verify this?

[IrishMike]

See posts #2 and #3

[A. Pole]

Take atrocity claims with grains of salt

Racak, Srebrenica come to mind.

[Misplaced Texan]

There is also a Fifth Reason and that is the people killed were not "innocent civilians". Having served in a previous conflict where battle lines were not drawn and the enemy did not where a uniform, it is difficult to call anyone in an attack zone an "innocent civilian". Maybe an "unarmed combatant", maybe an "unengaged combatant", but innocence is not a trait in this situation.

The IED was planted. Someone in the neighborhood saw it done or did it themselves. If one knew, they all knew. Otherwise they would have been in harm's way themselves rather than hiding from the blast.

Did they offer warnings to the Marines that an IED was in place? Obviously not. This makes them complicit in the death and injuries to the Marines that occurred

In the heat of battle, the only thing that is black and white is life and death. Everything else is various shades of gray. However, choosing the side of the enemey by silence makes that gray become a very sharp black just as does direct action against American forces.

[IrishMike]

.......The bloodcult of Islam has learned from American liberals that if you scream loud enough and repat allegations long enough the media will accept almost anything as truth. (Except truth, of course).....


How damned true-
.........it's not the charge,
It's the NATURE of the charge

[IrishMike]

Well said.

[God luvs America]

links to your comments if available please....

[arasina]

Here are two of them:

Haditha Reporter Was Jailed by US, Shares Name with Source

Haditha Doctor Was Arrested, Hates US Too

[Sender]

I don't believe a word of it either, but that won't stop our enemies from showing "alleged" atrocities on TV from now through the next elections.

It's just slander. Show some unrelated photos of dead bodies shot by other Muslims, sling accusations around, point at us. The Muslim world and Europe will buy into it. Democrats are happy to use it. Terrorists will learn that this sort of frame up works very well and will shoot more civilians and point at us.

[arasina]

Here's the thread and story on that very thing:

The Haditha Our Media Won’t Tell You About

Questioning: Why is this the big topic of discussion? What is not being discussed because this has been brought to the forefront by Murtha and others? We know that's the diversionary technique used by the Dims and the DBM, so they obviously don't want people talking about something else. Bribery in Congress? Immigration? What?

[IrishMike]

Good graphic reminders of the religion of F*#king peace.

[Bob]

...Michelle has already debunked the pictures.

I haven't seen that yet. Do you happen to have a link?

[SERKIT]

There was a brief, early report that the "forensic evidence" did not support the massacre report. Haven't heard that claim lately. Anyone else hear this report or am I hallucinating again?