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.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Check all the posts on the threads currently running on this topic. They are there. Jack Murtha has convinced a lot of people. These Marines are guilty. End of subject.

[jveritas]

I agree with you, it is very easy for terrorists to set this up.

[freema]

See post #315

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

".....to express concern that some Marines may have lost control and killed innocent people?"

That, sir, is not a reasonable characterization of what you have done.

[Spruce]

I don't think they lied to cover some freak. I think they told it like they saw it. And the jihadis made a play that worked. And now those men are out of action, instead of killing jihadis, while our media destroys morale.

[jazusamo]

It's the GOVERNMENT that must hold this presumption, not the people. We are free to use our God given minds.

And you seem to be using it in much the same way as Murtha. If you haven't read the letter to WaPo from Marine Lt. Pantano it's posted at #268. You might get some insight into the presumption of innocence.

[spunkets]

"Marine officials initially said 15 Iraqi civilians also were killed in the blast, but later reported that the civilians were killed in a firefight that took place after the explosion."

The number of deaths was later changed to 24. The firefight(s) took place after the houses were raided and the car was shot up.

[MJY1288]

" Boy I can tell I must be tired"

Trust me.. You are more than tired...

You are what our Mainstream Media considers "the catch of the day"

I have read all the reports by the NYT's and WP and the usual suspects, but NONE of it is backed up by the comments of those investigating these allegations, nor the Commanders in theater.

Please don't take this as a personal attack, but I think you are watching way too much coverage of John Murtha, and not enough of those on the battlefield

[Dave S]

Nice to know you've clarified your position. You're "standing up" to stick their head in the sand idiots. What a crock. YOU are saying they MUST have done this. You've accused them, tried then, and lined them up in front of a firing squad. Just like Murtha.

Nice to know that OJ and Berreta were both innocent.

Gee if you guys didnt complain about how these marines were being framed and shafted (despite four investigations)without any more evidence than Sink and I have, then maybe we wouldnt say wait a minute. Someting stinks here. Maybe you ought to take a look.

[RunningWolf]

I am not deep into the reporting on this incident but I agree with your premise here.

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'

Yeah right /sarc>

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

You nailed it.

The jihadis are losing they are about to go under, this is one of their last gasps IMO. I think even the Iraqis will see thru it after a few days.

Wolf

[Dave S]

What is your agenda? Why are you so vociferous in your defense of the jihadis?

What is your agenda? Would you be willing to let a few bad apple marines escape justice to avoid embarrasing President Bush?

[Dave S]

Are you seriously suggesting that there is a moral equivalence between blowing a child's head off and fudging a form?

Hell no, I'm questioning why the marines would find it necessary to lie on their after action report if nothing happened.

[brazzaville]

Good evening.
"Them's screwed up priorities there, bud."

Considering the record of the MSM when it comes to making up facts and it's clear bias when it comes to the WOT, I would say that the guy talking to the press is something to worry about.

Why do you automatically assume that he is telling the truth or that he understands correctly what he saw. The article says that his buddy from Novato had just been killed and he was badly traumatized when he was told to move the bodies of dead Iraqis, not that he saw them killed. Why do you assume 24 "innocent" people died? They could just as easily have been unlucky shields.

Did I read correctly that the Lance Corporal is home and in the care of a civilian shrink?

I'm not saying there wasn't a massacre committed by US troops, but I will believe it when it is proved to me, not when Murtha and the Mercury-News tell me was.

Michael Frazier

[freema]

It's past your bedtime.

OJ & Beretta, complaining about them being framed and shafted?

Sleep tight, I'm shooing the boogey man out of the room.

[pissant]

Don't forget the "wedding party massacre". The MSM had it tried and convicted before the embers cooled.

[MJY1288]

I'll take that bait....

Would you be willing to let a few bad apple marines escape justice to avoid embarrasing President Bush?"

Why yould you be so willing to accept the reports of the leftist media about what our Marines "might" have done to justify your hatred for President Bush?

[freema]

You know, if this is the scenario, Murtha is crucifying these Marines.

[Dave S]

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

And all you have is what you think up as you go. You also have no idea what the marines said. But if there wasnt smoke, the DOD wouldnt have conducted 4 investigations and they wouldnt be investigating whether a cover up occured if there wasnt an underlying offense.

[processing please hold]

Don't forget the "wedding party massacre". The MSM had it tried and convicted before the embers cooled.

Great example. Looks like they're trying to pull the same game again with this story.

A lot more needs to be investigated before I throw our soldiers away over a story by our military hating msm.

[Lancey Howard]

I remember reading that story. It's mostly quotes from Murtha and a lot of reliance on "a 10-week investigation by Time magazine.... that included claims by an Iraqi civil rights group that the Marines barged into houses near the bomb strike in retaliation, throwing grenades and shooting civilians who were cowering in fear."

I think I'll wait for the real investigation to be completed before joining the firing squad.