Posted on 05/20/2004 8:18:20 AM PDT by areafiftyone
FALLUJA, Iraq, May 20 (Reuters) - A U.S. Marine general said on Thursday he had no need to apologise for an attack in the remote Iraqi desert that killed around 40 people who witnesses say included women and children celebrating a wedding.
"How many people go to the middle of the desert 10 miles (16 km) from the Syrian border to hold a wedding 80 miles (130 km) from the nearest civilisation?" Major General James Mattis, commander of the 1st Marine Division, told reporters in Falluja.
"These were more than two dozen military-age males. Let's not be naive."
Asked about witness testimony and footage from Dubai-based Al Arabiya television which showed weeping relatives lowering bodies, one of a child, into graves, he said: "I have not seen the pictures but bad things happen in wars. I don't have to apologise for the conduct of my men."
Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, deputy director of operations for the U.S. military in Iraq, earlier told Reuters the attack early on Wednesday had targeted "a suspected foreign fighter safe house", 25 km (16 miles) east of the Syrian border.
Witnesses said the attack was on a house where a wedding had been held and killed 41 people.
I believe the Marines.
BMP
"And I won't back down" T Petty
A Few Good Men
and by their own admission, firing automatic weapons into the air...
I hope the Marines continue to flip a big finger in the faces of the media and left like that. I love how he said he wont apologize for the actions of his men! Semper Fi!
This is exactly the kind of response we need to see from the Military. Ignore the critics and don't even engage in debate. State the facts and move on.
It's not naivety that leads our media to report lies like this as the truth. There's nothing naive about it at all, it'a a deliberate attempt to cause us to lose this war.
I believe the Marines.
Semper Fi!
TS
(This was a platoon SOP that I had in 1st Tanks. During the Yom Kippur War it was reported that dozens of Israeli tankers were killed because they had seen "splash" of steel on target and then moved to the next target. Then they were themselves killed having been shot by the target they had originally disabled but not killed. The Israeli's then adopted the above SOP to prevent further casualties!)
Don't get carried away. Before this is over someone in the Pentagon will apologize and offer a payment to the "victims" of the "mistake". That person will then vote for John Kerry.
I wish army spokesmen would be more explicit that Iraqi fighters use women and children as shields and that's what usually gets them killed. It needs to be said repeatedly.
Of course, for all we know, he did and they didn't print it.
The next time Al (Queda) Jazerra puts out crap like this their satellite should have " technical difficulties". Then let them try and broadcast from a friggin flying carpet.
Hoorah!
General Mattis, commander of the oldest and most decorated infantry division of the United States Marine Corps.
Spoken like a Marine.
Apology?
The only thing a Marine apologies for is not killing more of the enemy.
Semper Fi,
Kelly
Only in California would such a thing be done.
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