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Evidence of massacre by Marines caught on film
The Courier Mail ^ | May 29, 2006 | AP

Posted on 05/29/2006 8:36:31 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

PHOTOGRAPHS taken by US military intelligence have provided crucial evidence that up to 24 Iraqis were massacred by marines in the insurgent stronghold of Haditha.

One photograph shows an Iraqi mother and young child, kneeling on the floor as if in prayer. They have both been shot dead at close range.

The pictures also show other Iraqi victims, shot execution-style in the head and chest in their ownhomes.

A US government official said the marines involved had "suffered a total breakdown in morality and leadership".

The killings are emerging as the worst known US atrocity of the Iraq war.

At least seven women and three children were among those killed in the massacre.

Witness accounts obtained by The Sunday Times suggest the number of children killed may be as high as six.

"This one is ugly," a US military official said.

In Britain, the chief of the defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Jock Stirrup, said at the weekend the "appalling" reports of the massacre could undermine British support for the war.

"This sort of accusation does make that harder to achieve," Air Chief Marshal said.

The pictures of the dead, which are being closely guarded by the US military criminal investigation service, were taken by a military photographer who is believed to have arrived on the scene moments after the shootings.

Many US forces are accompanied by photographers to gather intelligence and to shield soldiers from accusations of torture, intimidation and violence.

But the evidence in this case points to a murder rampage by the US marines.

The stain on the US military could prove harder to erase than the photographs of sadistic abuse and torture by US guards at the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad.

Comparisons are being made to the My Lai massacre in Vietnam in 1968, in which US troops slaughtered 500 villagers.

Up to a dozen marines may face criminal charges -- including murder, which carries the death penalty -- dereliction of duty and filing false reports.

Three marine commanders were suspended last month.

With a political storm brewing, the top US marine, General Michael Hagee, flew to Baghdad on Friday to tell his troops they must kill "only when justified".

The naval inquiry is focusing on the actions of a sergeant who may have been the leader of a four-man fire team.

Miguel Terrazas, 20, a lance-corporal from El Paso, Texas, was travelling in a convoy of four Humvees in Haditha just after 7am on November 19 last year when a roadside bomb struck his vehicle, killing him and wounding two others.

The events that followed are the subject of two military inquiries due to report soon: one into the facts of the case, the other into a cover-up.

One witness, Aws Fahmi, heard his neighbour, Yunis Salim Khafif, plead for his life in English, shouting: "I am a friend, I am good."

"But they killed him, his wife and daughters," Fahmi said.

Haditha, about 225km northwest of Baghdad, has long been considered a rebel stronghold. It is among a string of Euphrates Valley towns used by insurgents and foreign fighters to infiltrate from Syria to reach Baghdad and the Sunni heartland.

The Sunday Times, AP


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: awsfahmi; drivebymedia; fahmi; haditha; iraq; khafif; salimkhafif; yuniskhafif; yunissalimkhafif
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To: neutrino
Why on Earth would they take pictures?

I think there was a Times magazine reporter with them.

61 posted on 05/29/2006 9:08:19 PM PDT by demlosers
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To: Androcles
"If it is verified that the events occurred as described, then the perpetrators should hang."

I fully understand that feeling. But do you know, or have you really reflected on, what it is that these guys go through that is so destructive of their ability to judge and control their actions?

Cause living as a marine in Iraq, having IED's go off right in your face, watching your best friends die, torn to pieces, really messes up your head.

62 posted on 05/29/2006 9:09:41 PM PDT by Nova
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To: Siena Dreaming
A far cry from My Lai where 500 villagers were killed.

Oh the MSM wants an incident like My Lai BIG TIME!! They can't wait to paint the Marines as George Bush's gestapo gone wild!!

While the incident, IF TRUE, is of COURSE a horrible CRIME, it must be said that EVEN during WAR, the UNITED STATES of AMERICA punishes it's SONS and DAUGHTERS that are defending their nation and FIGHTING that WAR, IF they commit a CRIME!!!

It is as simple as that. To make it something more [which the MSM WILL] is contemptible.

63 posted on 05/29/2006 9:12:10 PM PDT by PISANO (We will not tire......We will not falter.......We will NOT FAIL!!! .........GW Bush [Oct 2001])
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To: Blue Jays
Trying not to bite, but my oldest boy is a Navy Master-at-Arms (MP) and he's looking at going pull a 3rd tour in Iraq in a few months.

I'm just afraid of the witch hunt that's sure to follow these young , brave Marines. If they're guilty, the UCMJ will handle it. But if they're innocent, the stigma will still follow them. It's almost on par with an innocent man being accused of rape. Even though proven innocent, the stain of accusation will be with them for the rest of their lives.

It's funny, I fear for my boy (and all of our young heroes that are serving), but now it's the MSM that I fear, not the terrorists.

64 posted on 05/29/2006 9:12:41 PM PDT by CrawDaddyCA (Free Travis McGee!!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

And yet, not a word supporting the other 99.9% of troops not implicated in anything coming close to this.

Why even bother with an investigation? The media is trying this in the public without the Marines ever getting a chance to state their side.

If guilty I have no doubt they will will be dealt with appropriately. But, as in every other case, they should be considered innocent until proven guilty.


65 posted on 05/29/2006 9:14:10 PM PDT by DakotaRed
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To: misterrob

I somewhat agree.

That is why as others have said that Freepers should go to war over this. From an international perspective this should only be seen as a good thing-- WHY?

All of the alternatives to this are worse.

Al Sadr's militias do not investigate themselves. Al Qaeda does not investigate its Beany Baby bombings of children. Sunni death squads do not investigate themselves.

Innocents are being killed. Innocents will be killed.

The only question is whether these will be investigated. The news in this case is that it is being investigated. That is absolutely good news.

All other interpretations of this news event are pro KILLING INNOCENTS, because the apparent alternatives ALL lead to uninvestigated crimes against innocents.

Freepers must fight in the global communication world against anti-American interpretations like they themselves are the soldiers. This is where the war is truly taking place.


66 posted on 05/29/2006 9:15:26 PM PDT by lonestar67
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To: Androcles

Troubling if true. This could be a real morale buster for our Troops and media bonanza for Murtha and the leftists who long for any American failure.


67 posted on 05/29/2006 9:16:13 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life)
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To: All

Let's get real. Whether the Marines are guilty or not is irrelevant. The purpose for this story is to (1) get the Muzzies all riled up to kill more Americans. (2) Get the 'RATS their "powah" back. (3) Help the sagging sales of the new Ditzy Chicks CD. (4) Help Fat Jack Murtha restore his public image after trashing our troops.


68 posted on 05/29/2006 9:18:15 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Dat you Jesse?)
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To: randog
This story doesn't smell right.

I agree. 

69 posted on 05/29/2006 9:18:23 PM PDT by 1035rep
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To: randog

What does not smell right is the execution style slaying.

Granted, I have no frame of reference whatsoever, but it just not sound right.


70 posted on 05/29/2006 9:18:54 PM PDT by Protect the Bill of Rights
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To: pfflier; JustPiper; La Enchiladita; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; bert; The Mayor; HopeandGlory; ...

WORTH REPEATING--




Except for Abu Gharib, virtually no convictions have been made on these types of allegations. The usual evolution of these types of stories:

The allegation

The "unnamed sources" usually "highly placed officials" but never identified, or , in this case the guilt stricken concientious and heroic Marine that wasn't there and only saw his interpretation of events.

The media hysteria

The condemnation

The facts

The truth

No retraction

Public memory of the allegation but not the outcome.


71 posted on 05/29/2006 9:19:23 PM PDT by The Spirit Of Allegiance (Public Employees: Defend the Constitution! Represent LAWFUL Constituents! SEAL THE BORDERS NOW)
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To: MinorityRepublican

"One witness, Aws Fahmi, heard his neighbour, Yunis Salim Khafif, plead for his life in English, shouting: "I am a friend, I am good."

After hearing this, Aws Fahmi went over after the Marines left him in peace and shot his neighbor and his family for being collaborators.

If they can make up a story, so can I.


72 posted on 05/29/2006 9:21:30 PM PDT by truemiester (If the U.S. should fail, a veil of darkness will come over the Earth for a thousand years)
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To: The Spirit Of Allegiance; CMS; The Sailor; txradioguy; Jet Jaguar; Defender2; OneLoyalAmerican; ...

Forget "Trust but verify." We need to scrutinize, to verify. Michael Moore and his pals are still around and this sort of evil is not below them--John Kerry did his own 'films' as well.

24 posted on 05/29/2006 8:50:22 PM PDT by The Spirit Of Allegiance




Rumsfeld slams war statements by Murtha
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1580950/posts

GOP Congressman and Former POW Rips John Murtha
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1576009/posts

Young Marine Blasts Rep. Murtha at Town Hall Meeting
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1558047/posts




For those who "forgot" what Hanoi Kerry
did in the past read on and learn the truth.

Hanoi Kerry was still a USNR officer while he:
gave false hearsay testimony to Congress
negotiated with the enemy
helped the US lose a war
abetted in the deaths of millions
created a hostile environment for all servicemen

http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/index.php?topic=Documents


73 posted on 05/29/2006 9:21:42 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)
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To: MinorityRepublican; All

Let's all reserve judgement on this. I realize that there are those on the political left who are salivating and hyperventilating over this but it could be that this is just another "Dan Rather moment."


74 posted on 05/29/2006 9:21:52 PM PDT by davisfh
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To: DakotaRed
"And yet, not a word supporting the other 99.9% of troops not implicated in anything coming close to this."

That's a very good point. At least our leaders do their best to police up the baddies and prevent murders from being committed by our soldiers. Every war has its atrocities committed by the morally inclined side, and we keep on trying to prevent them from happening in our ranks. It's one important consideration that sets us apart from our enemies.
75 posted on 05/29/2006 9:25:03 PM PDT by familyop (Essayons)
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To: familyop

I really don't want to believe this. And guess what? I don't have to unless and until it is proven. The MSM on the other hand, is hoping and praying it is true.


76 posted on 05/29/2006 9:27:42 PM PDT by umgud (FR, NASCAR & 24, way too much butt time)
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"The pictures of the dead, which are being closely guarded by the US military criminal investigation service"

If so, how do they know what the pics contain??????


77 posted on 05/29/2006 9:28:27 PM PDT by Shimmer128 (I see dumb people, they're everywhere. They don't even know they're dumb.)
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To: davisfh
Let's all reserve judgement on this. I realize that there are those on the political left who are salivating and hyperventilating over this but it could be that this is just another "Dan Rather moment."

Agreed.

And the major difference lost on the MSM, between us and the terrorists, we consider this a crime (if it happened) and will punish those who did it.

They consider murder of women and children an act of heroism to be rewarded by Allah.

The same could be said for Mai Lai.

The Communists murdered thousands in Hue alone.

This an attempt by the MSM to show our 'moral relativism' with the evil forces in the world (we are not the 'good' guys).

78 posted on 05/29/2006 9:28:29 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? (Gal.4:16))
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To: woofie

You will never see a single protester anywhere in the world decrying the treatment of civilians by the "insurgents".

Kidnapping, torture, decapitation. All in the name of holy war.

The left's side is shielded from all such criticisms.

Add to that a readiness among the world press (at home an abroad) to readily believe and publish all negative reports about our military (despite a high failure rate, see the keywords "war on error"). Fake but accurate rules the day. And serves as propaganda for terrorists.


79 posted on 05/29/2006 9:28:46 PM PDT by weegee (Slowly but surely and deliberately, converativism is being made a thoughtcrime.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

No FReeper will defend murder. But you have to wonder at what happened between the time of the 'massacre' and the pictures were taken.... 24 hours


80 posted on 05/29/2006 9:29:55 PM PDT by GeronL
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