Marine at Haditha: 'I Can Still Smell the Blood'

ABC News ^ | May 29, 2006 | JONATHAN KARL

[Marli]

Only hours after Iraqi civilians were killed, a second team of Marines was sent in to take the victims' bodies to a local morgue.

Lance Corp. Ryan Briones was among the Marines sent in to recover the bodies, and he told the Los Angeles Times he is still haunted by what he saw, including a young girl who was shot in the head.

"[The victims] ranged from little babies to adult males and females," Briones told the newspaper. "I can still smell the blood."

Briones says he and another Marine were told to photograph the bodies. Military officials say those photos — which they say show people shot at close range in the head and chest — clearly contradict initial reports that the civilians were killed by a roadside bomb.

[I see my hands]

"The left wants Marines to be killed walking on the streets... hence this story."

That's a lot of truth in just a few words. Way to keep perspective!

[freema]

Well you missed the one that said this was a previously scheduled trip.

[Dave S]

sure hope these Marines have really, really good defense lawyers, because I think they are being set up as sacrificial lambs.

It will be interesting to see how the defense lawyer explains how the Marine after action report says all but five of the the Iraqis were killed by the IED blast and that there was no firefight. Combat marines cant tell difference between bullet wound and bomb blast? Come on, what you smoking.

[oceanview]

there are cars wired to explode, with people inside them, all over iraq. whether they drive them into the target and commit suicide, or jump out at the last minute - doesn't really concern me.

[freema]

"I dont think its unpatriotic to warn our breathen that this could be bad."

Is THAT what you've done?! Again, thank you for clarifying your position. Where or where would we be without you and Murtha?!

[processing please hold]

I bet you fell for this story too.

Burning Taliban

[MJY1288]

:-)

At least you don't have binoculars with a range of 6,000 miles, (you know! the ones that can follow the curvature of the Earth) so I feel safe

[Eagles6]

Uh, yeah. It was all over the msm for weeks and months. The body is an Iraqi general who was killed while being interrogated during a very bad time at the beginning of the "insurgency". The soldiers who did it were prosecuted and punished. The information gotten from him may have saved Americans. It was a very bad time.

Please do some research on the context; such as the riot that precluded the pictures, the records of the "victims of the atrocity" and the attacks on the prison at the time.

Also take a peek at a few of the beheading videos. It may give you an idea about who we are fighting. While you're at it, run back some 911 video.

[Dave S]

Don't you wish people would just wait for the investigation to be completed before they follow Jack Murtha around on their knees screaming, "They're guilty! Sting 'em up!"

Where do you see that? I havent seen that. On the other hand I do see people saying couldnt have happened, we dont do that.

[Lancey Howard]

I haven't seen the "after action report". Can you give me a link so I can review it? Thanks.

[MJY1288]

Game..... Set..... Match!

[Spruce]

I am all for playing 'devil's advocate', but really, what is more logical?

A company of Marines Massacres 24 civilians, including children, and agree to cover it up. Because one, maybe two, are freaks? So the whole platoon decides to 'take it up the keister'.

Or, a platoon of Marines comes under fire, defends themselves, and in the ensuing battle the jihadis murder 24 civilians, including children, using a weapon taken from a fallen Marine, so that the exact reaction we are all having now ensues.

Weigh that with the fact that the jihadis have been trying to execute this exact plan since the day our forces crossed from Kuwait.

Any wonder why some of us get a bit angry at the defenders of the story as it stands?

These Marines are innocent.

[Dave S]

Gee, Dave, if the terrorists have done this, because, let's just say for the sake of argument that these folks tipped our troops to who laid the IED- do you really think it helps the folks that actually DO cooperate with our troops to know they're in such danger?

Boy I can tell I must be tired. I dont understand a word of what you are saying. The first marine report said the Iraqis were killed by the IED blast. When challenged later they said they were killed in firefight. How did the terrorists kill the Iraqis that were still alive after the IED blast when the marines immediately entered their homes and when the marines admit they shot them in firefight. How does that work? When do the terrorists inflict their trouble and get away?

[Dave S]

Why is it so hard to conceive that the jihadis massacred civilians and blamed the Marines? It's an effective tactic they will use again.

Because the marines who first said the Iraqis were killed by the IED blast later changed their story to they were killed in a fire fight when they entered their homes. IF the marines are saying they killed them, why blame Jihadis?

[freema]

Weapons were seized in the ambush on the Ohio Reserve unit, BTW.

Where's the outrage at the massacres perpetuated by the terrorists on the police recruits, the buses, the markets, the mosques. If the righteous anger were just, we'd have folks beating down the recruiters' doors to enlist.

The pansies in the garden are pretty lame this time of year- losing their color, drooping, spindly.

[freema]

It's not that you're tired, Dave.

[Dave S]

How can one take a position other than soldiers are innocent until that status changes?,

Perhaps you and some of the others on this thread ought to look up "presumption of innocence" and learn what it really means. It doesnt mean that you or are have to give anyone the presumption of innocense until they have been proven guilty. It's the GOVERNMENT that must hold this presumption, not the people. We are free to use our God given minds.

[RunningWolf]

I know that horrid atrocities happen when men have been exposed to the horror of war for to long, but my gut says this one is a setup. It happens in every war.

How hard would it be for the 'insurgents' to get M16's and any other light weapons (incendiary etc) to massacre families they were going to murder anyway? All to easy I think.

Wolf

[Dave S]

I damn sure hope if I'm ever accused of anything, that you aren't in the jury pool.

Dont worry. If I knew I was convinced that you were guilty I wouldnt lie during the jury selection process.

[Eagles6]

Allright, it seems you're busy helping the enemy out tonight, so I'll give you a heads up.

Please post the transcript of the classified Marine after action report that you seem to have in your possession. Also please provide the transcript of Gen. Hagee's remarks to his Marines and transcript of your personal conversation with the Commandant detailing his reasons for his trip.

Oh, you don't have the classified information that you alluded that you have? That all you have is stories from the msm?

Put up or shut up.