Posted on 05/26/2006 4:18:27 PM PDT by 68skylark
WASHINGTON, May 25 — A military investigation into the deaths of two dozen Iraqis last November is expected to find that a small number of marines in western Iraq carried out extensive, unprovoked killings of civilians, Congressional, military and Pentagon officials said Thursday.
Two lawyers involved in discussions about individual marines' defenses said they thought the investigation could result in charges of murder, a capital offense. That possibility and the emerging details of the killings have raised fears that the incident could be the gravest case involving misconduct by American ground forces in Iraq.
Officials briefed on preliminary results of the inquiry said the civilians killed at Haditha, a lawless, insurgent-plagued city deep in Sunni-dominated Anbar Province, did not die from a makeshift bomb, as the military first reported, or in cross-fire between marines and attackers, as was later announced. A separate inquiry has begun to find whether the events were deliberately covered up.
Evidence indicates that the civilians were killed during a sustained sweep by a small group of marines that lasted three to five hours and included shootings of five men standing near a taxi at a checkpoint, and killings inside at least two homes that included women and children, officials said.
That evidence, described by Congressional, Pentagon and military officials briefed on the inquiry, suggested to one Congressional official that the killings were "methodical in nature."
Congressional and military officials say the Naval Criminal Investigative Service inquiry is focusing on the actions of a Marine Corps staff sergeant serving as squad leader at the time, but that Marine officials have told members of Congress that up to a dozen other marines in the unit are also under investigation.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
But if these civilians were murdered, the killers are about as bad as the terrorists we're fighting.
Jubilation down at the New Yawk Slimes just in time for the Memorial Day weekend. Commie scumbags. Go ahead and celebrate you bass turds.
Yes, and if found guilty they will either be a long time in jail or hung by the neck until dead I would think.
I wonder what the situation was that led to that event?
Still speculation and no real details. No new information at all.
It's possible that all of the speculators could be right, but I'll wait for the official report before believing the speculation.
Yeah, unfortunately, the left loves it when they can slam the U.S. military. If there are charges in this case, we'll probably have this story thrust in our face every day for years, I'm afraid.
Reuters is already proclaiming this a setback to President Bush, who the gleefully state, admitted errors.
Yeah, that's probably the best attitude of all.
That they latch onto these rare cases and pretend they are indicative of a larger issue is truly sickening. If they were interested in telling the whole truth they wouldn't be trying to slant this as just one corner of the larger crimes they claim go on. This must be condemned in no uncertain terms. At the same time, it must be emphasized how incredibly rare this is.
You can hear the Times licking their chops. Rest assured they will do their best to make an already ugly situation (if it's in fact true) even uglier.
I am not defending their actions, but you are absolutely wrong in your comparison.
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Yeah, we all know from bitter experience how the press works. They'll thrust this in our face every days for years if the charges seem to be true.
On the other hand, I think the press goes a little easier on the Marine Corps than on the Army. And they're easier on active duty troops than reservists. So maybe there won't have quite the same frenzy as there was with the Abu Ghraib story.
I have a feeling the DUmmies will be pushing for the death penalty if these US soldiers are guilty. Odd since they didn't push for it in the case of one of the 9-11 conspirators.
Well when people kill women and kids, they're in the same "moral vicinity" I think. Being American doesn't give anyone immunity from doing evil - we're supposed to be better than the bad guys.
They want the death penalty all right. But not for the poor, dumb, clueless hicks who are forced to join the military by economic desperation and then sent to fight impossible battles against the much-loved "resistance," who represents the righteous anger of the oppressed proletariat.
They want the death penalty for the real wrong-doers: Bush and Rumsfeld, and for Republicans in general.
I wonder how many of YOU have been in a real comabt situation? Not in the rear with the gear, but up front where the bleeding edge is? In a war like this you can not discern the good from the bad, the danger from the calm. If there is an error to be made, make it in favor of the grunt on the gound. I have been there where these guys have been and it is not easy folks...not easy at all. I vote for the Marines, no matter what happened. Semper Fi.
Have you ever been shot at?
This could have not happened at a worse time. The MSM will be all over this story. Let the military justice system do its thing. But no, they will report this thing every night. MSM news followed the disturbance at the Rayburn building today with this story.
These soldiers will be tried and convicted in the press.
The fact the Commandant is going over there indicates the seriousness of this case.
LOL! PERFECT characterization of the DUmmie mindset, well done!
No, I haven't been deployed yet. If you want to argue that this makes a difference, I'll have to say you may have a very good point.
Of course, terrorists have also been shot at in Iraq -- and that doesn't exactly excuse or explain the evil deeds that they do.
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