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U.S. Marine general says no apology for Iraq attack
Reuters ^ | 5/20/04

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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: iraq
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To: oceanview

I don't think Paul Harvey supports this war, based on a few comments of his that I've heard. I think he believes it's an overreach.


61 posted on 05/20/2004 9:09:50 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle ("Above all, shake your bum at Burton.")
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To: montag813
How about no apology for Abu Graib?

What about it? That behavior was not condoned but it was wrong, therefore the apology that it took place by those who were part of our forces.

62 posted on 05/20/2004 9:11:53 AM PDT by cyncooper
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To: Steve_Seattle

perhaps he needs to understand the rest of the story behind this war.


63 posted on 05/20/2004 9:14:19 AM PDT by oceanview
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To: cyncooper
"The reporters seemed reluctant to accept the word of the Coalition and appeared ready to believe the worst."

That's been the attitude of the reporters from day one. Every statement from out own military is doubted and scrutinized; any statement by a fedayeen or ex-Ba'athist is taken at face value and reported as fact, no questions asked.
64 posted on 05/20/2004 9:14:37 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle ("Above all, shake your bum at Burton.")
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To: oceanview

I'm not 100% sure what Harvey thinks of this war, but early on it sounded like he thought it was too risky, too ambitious, and too expensive.


65 posted on 05/20/2004 9:16:12 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle ("Above all, shake your bum at Burton.")
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To: Cicero

"According to earlier stories, numerous weapons were found at the site. They forgot to print that, too."

And they forgot to mention the $2,000,000 in cash in Iraqi and Syrian currency that they found there, as well.


66 posted on 05/20/2004 9:19:20 AM PDT by ought-six
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To: Klaus D. Deore

How about "civilisation"?


67 posted on 05/20/2004 9:20:52 AM PDT by DadOfFive (Stay out 'da Bushes!)
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To: areafiftyone

Another wire service reported the burial of a popular wedding singer in Baghdad and his associate both of whom were killed in the attack.


68 posted on 05/20/2004 9:21:21 AM PDT by Ranger
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To: areafiftyone

WPMA (wedding party........everyone knows the rest)


69 posted on 05/20/2004 9:21:40 AM PDT by Ben Hecks
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To: areafiftyone

Go Marines!
I'm sick of the enemy propaganda reported as gospel truth by our media.


70 posted on 05/20/2004 9:22:43 AM PDT by jrp
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To: areafiftyone
Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt....I don't have to apologize......

WHAT A MAN!


71 posted on 05/20/2004 9:23:20 AM PDT by beachn4fun (It is not Bush's fault... it is the media's fault!)
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To: RetiredArmy
... consider CNN and the rest of them to be nothing better than the terrorists. They support the terrorists by bringing the bad guys story front and center and bashing everything our guys and gals are doing. Screw the media. I don't watch them, read them, or spend a dime on them. They are the enemy plain and simple

The killers plot to kill and use maximum media splash. They are only effective with media coverage.

72 posted on 05/20/2004 9:26:29 AM PDT by alrea
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To: areafiftyone
OOOORRRRAAAAHHHHH!!!

Attention everybody else in CENTCOM:

Listen to the Marines:
WE DON'T HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR KILLING THE ENEMY!

Semper Fi, Devil Dogs, you are bringing respect back for our troops.

73 posted on 05/20/2004 9:26:42 AM PDT by Chieftain (To all who serve and support those who serve - thank you!)
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To: areafiftyone; OXENinFLA; Warrior Nurse
OOOORRRRAAAAHHHHH!!!

Attention everybody else in CENTCOM:

Listen to the Marines:
WE DON'T HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR KILLING THE ENEMY!

Semper Fi, Devil Dogs, you are bringing respect back for our troops.

74 posted on 05/20/2004 9:27:26 AM PDT by Chieftain (To all who serve and support those who serve - thank you!)
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To: 7thson

"What I like, it that most of us who served in the military - Navy, Army, and I will even include the Air Force - all joke about the Marines. But when push comes to shove, we all respect them and admire their kick arse, take names manner. Semper Fi!"

Good post. I refuse to do the service rivarly thing during a time of war also.

As an 82nd Airborne vet, the relative close proximity of Ft Bragg (airborne/special forces) to Lejune (marines) led to lots of tension when we met at the bars of Myrtle Beach.**BUT, when we were on the field together training, both units were all business.

This is an example of the Marine leadership taking care of his men. I don't buy the wedding crap either, if it's a ForFighter traffic route - they likely have an alibi to make the US look bad.

Semper Fi - All the Way Airborne



75 posted on 05/20/2004 9:28:15 AM PDT by rbmillerjr ("When you meet the unbelievers, strike off their heads” Surat Mohammed:4)
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To: beachn4fun

LOL


76 posted on 05/20/2004 9:39:46 AM PDT by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)
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To: RetiredArmy
Damned. Finally. These guys are getting their fill of this leftist media blitz supporting the terrorists trying to kill them

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.

Didn't say anything about not agreeing with the rest. Just that it doesn't matter if those in the field have got fed up; there are plenty of beauracrats to overrule them, apologize, and reimburse the "victims".

77 posted on 05/20/2004 9:41:46 AM PDT by Naspino (HTTP://NASPINO.COM)
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To: alrea
The the Amerikan Pravda plays right along with it!
78 posted on 05/20/2004 9:45:09 AM PDT by RetiredArmy (We'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American Way! Toby Keith)
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To: Pete

....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.....

Exactly right. These men are the ones fighting and getting killed - not the PC police who just judge them.


79 posted on 05/20/2004 9:56:08 AM PDT by ClancyJ (It's just not safe to vote Democratic.)
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To: RetiredArmy
Time to bring that satellite down.

I don't think we have the capability to do that, although we once did. We could jam the uplink signal though.

80 posted on 05/20/2004 9:59:43 AM PDT by El Gato (Federal Judges can twist the Constitution into anything.. Or so they think.)
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