DOUBLE FEATURE: CNN Perpetuates Myths of Haditha and Nutty Professor Steps Into Congressman's Role

NewsBusters / Defend Our Marines ^ | September 2, 2007 | Robin Boyd and David Allender

[RedRover]

CNN Perpetuates the Myths of Haditha

By Robin Boyd | September 1, 2007

CNN has an article up about the Sky Eagle drone that flew over Haditha that dreadful day in November 2005. Attached to the story are actual snips from the drone video. Not content to let the drone video speak for itself, CNN spliced in scenes from the video made famous by TIME's Tim McGirk.

The footage of the bodies wrapped in blankets is labeled "Hammurabi Human Rights Association." There is no such "association" - only two men who have documented ties to terrorist/insurgent activities per Marine Intelligence Reports from the Haditha testimony. CNN failed to note that the bodies were removed from the morgue and the body bags replaced with blankets. The bodies were then put on display in one of the Haditha homes. The scene was a staged production - similar to the lurid photos from Qana II.

Typical of the media reports regarding the incident at Haditha, CNN uses distortions and half truths to perpetuate the myth of a cold blooded massacre. Just count the number of times the word "civilians" is used in an article about Haditha.

"The Scan Eagle arrived about 30 minutes after the initial bomb attack on the Marines and does not show the civilians being killed."

"Shortly after the bomb attack, Marines hunting the attackers killed 24 Iraqi civilians, leading to murder charges against four Marines a year later."

There were 24 Iraqis killed in Haditha that morning. Four were insurgents in the house cleared by LCpl Sharratt and Sgt. Wuterich. The families of the 4 men were not paid solatia payments until after the the media driven investigation began. Too many intelligence reports and too many coincidences conflict with the version of 5 schoolboys on their way to classes that early Saturday morning.

CNN attempts to gin up outrage over the drone footage of aerial bombardments...

"The video appears to show that, throughout that day, Marines engaged in fierce firefights and called in air strikes to level buildings - often with no definitive idea of who was inside."

Of course the Marines did not know the people in the buildings by name. They didn't use the white pages of the phone book to see who lived at each residence. All the Marines knew was they were taking fire from the houses. THAT is as definitive as they needed to take action. CNN also neglected to mention the 11 Marines injured during that day of battle in Haditha.

The myth of "coverup" is perpetuated by CNN...

"The service launched its investigation into the killings in March 2006, after an Iraq human rights group raised allegations that the Marines had gone on a house-to-house rampage after the bombing, and brought charges the following December."

Again CNN gives the Hammurabi Human Rights Assoc credibility despite mountains of evidence to the contrary. There is no mention of the after action reports, the powerpoint presentation of the day's events, and reviews by the chain of command done by the Marines - all of which are well documented. But those don't count since Tim McGirk did not report on them.

What article about the Haditha Marines would be complete without Gary Solis' two cents?

"But while prosecutors may be having a hard time winning convictions, Solis believes someone should be accountable for the 24 civilian deaths in Haditha."

"It would be difficult to say justice has been served if no one is convicted in Haditha," he said."

What? Justice is only served if someone is found guilty of a non-crime? What about justice for the LCpl Terrazas whose murder began the whole incident? How about holding the terrorists who use women and children as human kevlar responsible?

CNN claims that supporters of the Haditha Marines believe the government railroaded these young men. As an ardent supporter of the Haditha Marines, I believe it was the media and John Murtha who did the railroading. The media consistently twists the facts in this case to fit the "bad Marines" template. The media must be held accountable for their complicity in the lies and distortions. Only then will justice be fully served.

[RedRover]

CNN Finds Murtha Replacement: Nutty Professor Steps Into Congressman's Role

By David Allender | September 2, 2007

We're so used to leaks in the Haditha Marine case that they now go unnoticed. But CNN's broadcast of evidence in the SSgt Frank Wuterich case is particularly disturbing.

CNN obtained an edited video taken by a surveillance drone flying above Haditha on the day of the incident. The video, CNN reported, would be introduced as evidence for the defense.

JAMIE MCINTYRE: The bombing and strafing seen on this aerial video obtained exclusively by CNN shows Haditha was a hotbed of insurgent activity, back on that day of November 19, 2005. Early in the morning, a US Marine died in an IED attack.
Shortly afterward, 24 Iraqi civilians were killed by Marines hunting the attackers, leading to murder charges a year later. A small, unmanned spy plane called Scan Eagle arrived about 30 minutes after the initial attack on the US Marine vehicle, focusing on a house from which the military suspected, insurgents triggered the bomb, and showing the aftermath of the blast here, some 1,000 yards away.
Just up the road is a white sedan and the bodies of five Iraqi men who Marines say refused to lay down and were shot while running away.... The video will soon be evidence in the case of squad leader, Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich, accused of doing some of the shooting.

Who leaked the video? Suspicious minds notice that CNN credited the US Defense Department onscreen.

Regardless, CNN hired military law professor Gary Solis to "interpret" the video as evidence. He thought it was crap.

GARY SOLIS (shaking head): If I'm a juror, I'm not going to be impressed.

Fascinating. This expert in military law doesn't seem to realize that there is no jury in SSgt Wuterich's hearing.

Solis and CNN have no idea how the defense would actually use the video so they just make things up...

SOLIS: It tends to prove that this was a violent place where you had enemy fighters. Where it was necessary to bring in air support....The defense can say, 'Hey, look, you had to do this later in the day, what's the difference between what happened later in the day and what our guys did earlier in the day?

McINTYRE: And that might help explain why, so far, prosecutors have had trouble making murder charges stick. Charges have been dropped against two Marines, another is awaiting a decision.

Jamie McIntyre is either misinformed or is deliberately attempting to misinform the audience. So far, prosecutors have had trouble making charges "stick" because there was no evidence that a massacre ever took place.

No lawyer in any of the hearings has used the "hey, what's the diff" argument (thank God).

CNN rolls on...

McINTYRE: Is there a tendency to give Marines, soldiers in combat the benefit of the doubt when it comes to these kind of split-second decisions?

SOLIS: You have a military jury, probably most of whom, if not all of whom, will have been in Iraq.

This time, Solis' imaginary jury has had service in Iraq.

In keeping with the make-believe theme, CNN closes with images courtesy of the long-exposed-as-bogus Hammurabi Human Rights Association.

McINTYRE: But while prosecutors may have a hard time winning convictions... Gary Solis believes someone should be accountable for the 24 civilian deaths in Haditha.

SOLIS: It be would be difficult to say justice has been served if no one is convicted.

And on that note, CNN ends its report. Never mind the actual finding of fact that the judicial process represents. No convictions, no justice, says CNN's hired sockpuppet. Disgracefully, even when CNN has proof in their hands that Murtha was lying, the massacre must go on.

Congressman Murtha, CNN, May 30, 2006: There was no enemy action at all.

Care to watch a video, Murtha?

[Leofl]

Good Job and bookmark for wider distribution...... and to watch the moonbats heads exploding

[RedRover]

Hey, it's two blogs in one!

Robin Boyd at Newsbuster and David Allender at Defend Our Marines wrote these responses to CNN's latest salvo at the Haditha Marines.

If you have a chance, go over to Newbusters (at the link) and give Robin a bump. You'll help get her piece up on the Newsbusters' sidebar.

Two blogs, and one...

[in hoc signo vinces]

One day...soon...these liars (CNN et. al.) will get the justice they deserve...soon...the whirlwind is coming.

[xzins]

It would be difficult to say justice has been served if no one is convicted in Haditha," he said."

Such a comment from one who claims legal expertise renders his opinion worthless.

He's really not serious, is he? Should innocent people be convicted, just because we "need" convictions?

Along that line, and just in order to argue, why are Air Force pilots not charged for bombing homes with "unidentified" persons in them? Isn't it harder to have your life at risk on the ground as you make split second decisions? Who was the Air Force commander who authorized bombs before an Air Force ground team scouted out the building to determine its occupants? Why is he not charged with murder? Where is the investigation that he immediately ordered to be conducted?

[stylin19a]

I wonder if Solis knows there was also an RQ1 Predator and a Dragon Eye in the sky at Haditha

[billmor]

Great job here RedRover....this is an example of outstanding citizen journalism- an insightful analysis well done.

[Paperdoll]

Convict Murtha!

[Chickenhawk Warmonger]

THAT was great Red - we make a good team! Excellent screen caps of that ninnyhammer Solis and his smirking face...

[pinkpanther111]

Great JOB by both Robin and David!!!!

[RedRover]

We interrupt this thread for a special announcement!

Our pal, Phil Brennan, has been suffering ill health. He had an operation on Thursday and, according to an e-mail just received, he's "back, alive and ready to resume kicking ass".

Thank God! We need Phil at his desk now more than ever!

Phil Brennan in his office at his palatial estate, somewhere very expensive in Florida.

[RedRover]

Glad you like it, Chick! I’ve never posted a double feature before but seems to work (and it gets more info in one place).

Thanks for all your great work on Haditha and the media. I’m looking forward to the next installment in your series on the accusers!

[RedRover]

Just sent the html to you if you can use it!

[RedRover]

Many thanks for the kind words.

[Girlene]

Good job, Chick and Red.

SOLIS: It be would be difficult to say justice has been served if no one is convicted.

How about the triggerman? How about insurgents who were firing on the Marines that day?

I thought the whole point of these hearings was to determine if there were any war crimes, not to assume there were and then find someone to take the blame.

[smoothsailing]

I want the Marine Corps to pin a medal on you, for valor, honor, and perserverence. You do our nation proud.

Nuff said.

[RedRover]

It doesn’t sound like Solis knows anything about this case at all. I (briefly) corresponded with him once. He gave the most superficial answers to questions that I really wonder what his classes are like.

[RedRover]

Only if we’re in the Winner’s Circle at the end of this mess, smooth! Anything less than that is unacceptable to us all.

[smoothsailing]

I look forward to that day, and for all of us, it's a day that must arrive. Prayers aplenty.

[RS]

I’m just glad he told us that the video “tends to prove that Iraq is a violent place” ... whod’a thunk it ?

( What a Marroon ! )