Posted on 05/04/2007 3:52:05 PM PDT by RedRover
Notice how NCT is the only one to mention that there was small arms fire coming from those houses.
The Slimes is...predictably treacherous, the Marine Corps Times claims that Kallop never asks Wuterich any questions, when obviously he did, and refers to the small arms fire in the third person, that is someone told Kallop that "who earlier had reported taking enemy fire"........They're making this whole thing sound like it was over in seconds, that the only actions, the only shots fired after the bomb killed Terraza, were by Wuterich and a handful of other crazed and out of control marines while peaceful citizens, stacked up like sardines(17 in one house!!), sipped their tea and waited to be slaughtered.
Red, where's that article that actually describes the battle that ensued? If I remember correctly, it was substantial.
There have been a few accounts. You’re right. Remember that Lt. Kallop is only testifying to what he saw personally. And it’s not clear from the quotes whether he’s only referring to the first two houses or all three. Marine IOs were all over Haditha that day so Lt. Kallop is just setting the stage.
Yeah, but thought I’d stop by and see what you were up to! ;*)
Here’s another for your roundup of articles Marine Officer: Haditha Killings Lawful from NBC SanDiego.com
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/13279850/detail.html
Pretty much the same, with a little more from Kallop and Gittins, the atty. Any news from the hearing today?
The one from the Terraza family.
Redrover, here’s the latest from NBC Sandiego, “Sergeant: Calls For Haditha Investigation Ignored”
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/13287223/detail.html?dl=headlineclick
4WB - here’s an old article about Marine Terrazas’ family.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/10636883/detail.html
Woops, also forgot the latest from North County Times - “Marine 1st sergeant says he pressed for Haditha probe”
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/05/09/news/top_stories/8_58_865_9_07.txt
That’s the one I just read, thanks.
Marine sergeant says call for Haditha investigation was ignored
By THOMAS WATKINS, The Associated Press
CAMP PENDLETON
A Marine sergeant testified Wednesday that he repeatedly told higher-ups that the November 2005 killings of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha warranted an investigation but he was told not to worry about it.
"Knowing what happened on Nov. 19, I knew something had to be done with an investigation," said 1st Sergeant Albert Espinosa, who maintained casualty reports for Kilo Company at the time of the killings.
Espinosa testified on the second day of a preliminary hearing for Capt. Randy W. Stone, a Marine lawyer from Dunkirk, Md. Stone is accused along with three officers of dereliction of duty for failing to investigate the deaths.
Espinosa said in the days after the killings, he told Stone and the company's commander, Capt. Lucas McConnell, that an investigation should be launched into the deaths.
"They said don't worry about it, battalion will handle it," he said. "It wasn't the answer I was looking for."
Espinosa also testified that log books from Nov. 19 were incomplete or missing.
The hearing is part of an Article 32 investigation, the military's equivalent to a grand jury proceeding. Maj. Thomas McCann, the investigating officer, will hear evidence and recommend whether the charges should go to trial in the biggest U.S. criminal case involving civilian deaths in the Iraq war.
A platoon commander testified Tuesday that he was shocked civilians had died but he defended the move as a legitimate combat operation.
"There's a difference between killing and murder," Marine 1st Lt. William Kallop told a military hearing Tuesday. "At the time, I think they had a good understanding of the rules of engagement."
Kallop was the first officer at the scene of the roadside bomb blast that killed one Marine and injured two others.
He was called to the stand by Stone's civilian attorney, Charles Gittins, who hoped the commander's testimony would show that Stone, 34, did nothing wrong because he thought the killings were a legitimate outcome of combat. Gittins noted that Stone reported the incident up the chain of command and said he had been told not to investigate further.
Recalling the aftermath of the killings, Kallop said he went to inspect one of several cleared houses. Instead of finding dead insurgents, he found body parts, an injured boy and a dead Iraqi man.
"The only thing I thought, sir, was what the crap?" Kallop said. "Where are the bad guys? Why aren't any insurgents here?"
Kallop said a Marine who had helped clear the house looked "just as shocked."
Three enlisted Marines are charged with unpremeditated murder in the case. They deny any wrongdoing, saying they responded properly to a perceived threat.
Under questioning from prosecutor Lt. Col. Sean Sullivan, Kallop said Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, a squad leader, reported to him after the houses were cleared but did not mention that many civilians were killed.
After Kallop saw the bodies himself, he did not question Wuterich about the deaths.
"You didn't even have one question that maybe the rules of engagement, it wasn't applied?" asked Sullivan.
"No, sir," Kallop replied.
Wuterich is charged with unpremeditated murder in 18 of the Iraqi deaths. Prosecutors have given several other Marines immunity in return for their testimony.
Gittins said he expects to call 25 witnesses, including a two-star general, over the next few days.
BTW, I'm also putting links to articles over here. Click on the link at "Go to more news."
According to reports, Sgt. Dela Cruz will testify later today.
That’ll be very interesting as Dela Cruz will reappear in the enlisted men’s hearings.
Wish this was on C-Span. I feel like a guy during the Civil War, waiting at the telegram office for news....
Under questioning by Stone's attorney Charles Gittins, Espinosa said he was unaware of what reports were being filed at the battalion level.
Gittins also said a regimental commander had determined that the civilians deaths were "collateral damage" and that no investigation was necessary. The defense attorney's statement made in the course of questioning Espinosa went unchallenged by prosecutors.
Thanks for the Civil War visual...are you all ponied up?
Can’t wait for your next gram.
Of course.
That was right on cue! Nice.
Trying to keep lily amused is just about a full-time job.
LMAO! You know trying to keep ALL of us amused is a full-time job, Red.
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