Posted on 11/15/2004 4:49:43 PM PST by Cornpone
The US military is looking into whether an American marine in Falluja shot dead a severely wounded Iraqi insurgent at point-blank range. Television footage shows US soldiers entering a building as injured prisoners lie on the floor.
The soldier, from the 3rd battalion of the US marines, has been removed from the field and faces possible charges.
The images were taken by an NBC reporter embedded with the US troops in the Sunni city under assault.
The BBC's James Robbins says the incident could prove highly damaging and that the US military will need to answer key questions about whether the rules of engagement were broken during the incident.
It must explain, he says, whether wounded combatants were abandoned, or killed, illegally.
Mosque stormed
US marines have been battling with sporadic but fierce pockets of resistance inside the city. They say they have already killed 1,200 insurgents.
The images show a group of marines, armed with rifles, entering a building near a mosque.
The mosque had been used by insurgents to attack US forces, who had stormed it, killing 10 militants and wounding five.
At least three severely wounded men are seen in a room inside the building - two are slumped against one of the walls, partially covered with a blanket.
The NBC's Kevin Sites says the wounded men had been left in the mosque after marines had fought their way in on Friday and Saturday.
According to Mr Sites, one of the soldiers points his rifle at the head of one of the injured, an old man. The sound of a shot is then heard.
There was no immediate comment from the Pentagon on the report.
Note that there is one war crime mentioned in the article with no comment - attacking from the Mosque.
The BBC finds one American problem and we all are expected to punish ourselves endlessly over it. The folks we are fighting A. Represent no country, B. Do not wear uniforms, C. Hide among the civilian population, D. Murder any prisoners they capture - civilian or military, and E. Attack from Mosques. In other words, fairly standard behaviour for Muslims. (Note - this is not an anti-Muslim rant - those are the facts - that is how the girlie men fight. Fact.)
Maybe the poor innocent terrorist should have thought his actions through a bit further prior to joining an organization with no respect for the law or common human decency. Quite frankly, even if an accident, he deserved it - in fact, earned it.
His parents must be so sad - they were hoping he could advance in his career to blowing up busloads of schoolchildren.
BBC has no credibility until all war crimes reported equally. The only thing keeping these terrorists alive is the US military.
One potential solution is to risk no more casualties or injured terrorists - just bomb Fallujah into a giant crater. It would certainly get the attention of the next city that allowed terrorists to operate a base from their city.
Diva's Husband
"This is astonishingly dangerous journalism."
Why even let them be there? They follow marines around looking for an atrocity and will fabricate one if neccessary.
Sick of the entire MSM including FNC. I wish they would just let our guys fight this friggin war without the EYES of every left wing, socialist trying to catch them doing something they consider WRONG!!!
This reminds me of the scene from the "Dirty Dozen" where Lee Marvin says "you made one mistake ... you let them see you do it". If there wasn't film of it and the previous prison abuse photo we wouldn't be talking about this.
Your rabid dog analogy stinks.
I have no clue what happened. I have no clue whether this marine was justified - whether the terrorist was armed or whether he looked like he was reaching for a weapon or whether the Marine executed the guy. I do think airing this video is irresponsible - this stuff should be dealt with by the Marines. I'm not saying we shouldn't learn about it, but I think we should learn about it in the context of the entire attack unless for instance, this was common policy - Marines offing wounded enemy combatants for the sport of it. I also don't think this Marine should be tried by ratings-driven network and cable news shows. This should be handled by the military police and the Marine's CO.
Now the MSM is calling it an "execution" Maybe the marines should shoot the MSM since they are more dangerous to the operation than the insurgents would be. Think about it, a faggot producer in NY decides that this footage may make the Marines look bad and thus try to sway puplic opinion againt the war, then orders dinner for two at Lutesse. No sense of what this decision would do. That decision was made by one fagboy in NY without any depth of understanding what is going on...
I do too, on another note, wasn't a former Presidential candidate given a medal for killing a wounded enemy that was running away? A Silver Star I believ, on top of his 3 Purple Hearts....
At least he did not shoot the reporter.
a warning shot was fired at wrong person..intended for the media...absolutely justifiable use of force..no doubt levin and his thugs will blame the president for this as well...kerry would have shot the guy in the back and asked for your silver star medal..a canuck says don't let the media and the dems destroy this kid...bcboy
If I was this NBC reporter. Or if I was ANY NBC imbed reporter, I think I'd go home now. They won't want to be around any live fire.
Our mission is to close with and destroy the enemy.
And we watch the NBC story spread into global anti-American propaganda....
Good work, Tommy Brokaw!
Nope, only keep a scrap book of dead terrorists and dead liberals - they aren't people. Which are you?
"I say Kill 'em all! That soldier should be rewarded! "
I second that.....
When they find those old Gitmo prisoners out being terrorists again, head shoot them. And
e'F the MSM butt wipes. You do not make an issue out of this crap. This Terrorist that got whacked got what was coming to him. Kick-out that SOB of an in-bed-with-the-terrorist reporter.
Here's the website for the NBC photographer:
http://www.kevinsites.net/
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