Posted on 05/30/2006 6:00:23 AM PDT by Peach
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., May 29 — In this "company town" where everything and everyone caters to the well-being of the Marine Corps, there is no shortage of people, both military and civilian, who are willing to give the benefit of the doubt to the troops accused of unjustified killings last November in Haditha, Iraq.
Relatives and neighbors gathered near the shrouded bodies of civilians said to have been killed by marines in Haditha, Iraq, in November.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/30/world/middleeast/30voices.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Agreed.
Er, Coop, if you were a pro-Patton reporter who was told by the General to "expect the worst" prior to the verdict, would you go around like nothing was wrong? There is a reason you have inside sources, and one of them is so that you can prepare the TRUTH to counter the likes of Murtha.
I believe that anything is possible...including good men lapsing under extreme pressure. I saw it happen more than once when I was a cop. I've seen bad behaviour covered up and I've seen acceptable and appropriate but harsh behaviour exagerated by the press and certain members of a community.
I am not though buying into this particular story yet and I will not form my own opinion until all the facts are revealed. If the Corps decides that there is not enough to move forward legally then that's good enough for me...case closed.
They need to do that anyway -- Murtha and the MSM are egregiously beyond the pale.
Let the investigative chips fall where they may. But if it turns out that Marines committed atrocities, then we should be very careful that we don't allow our antipathy toward Murtha and the MSM to blind us to things that are wrong, just because Murtha and the MSM pointed them out to us.
And by sending out such a message you're essentially rendering a verdict - with a lame "if true" caveat - before an investigation is even complete. The message that should be getting out is "presumption of innocence" and public condemnation of that treasonous Murtha. But that's no fun, now is it?
Read post 108 for my opinion IF they are found guilty.
In the meantime, I am as determined to give them the benefit of the doubt as you are to not do so.
That is exactly what they want.
Are you calling me a liar?
On a much different plain, it's like the Libby case: "Oh, he didn't lie." Well, he did. It's better to deal from reality and truth rather than wishes and hopes.
"Why couldn't the president and Congress talk about the FACTS about Abu Graib instead of hanging their heads in shame?"
I don't know.
For the most part, in the WOT, GWB has been magnificent and has set the proper tone for the LONG TERM. Why he continues to let the media and others on the Left frame the debate is mystifying. Someone needs to tell the President that he is a newsMAKER, not a follower.
"You're right -- our military will be rendered ineffective with this constant over-inspection of every move."
We can congratulate ourselves on how sophisticated our modern, supposedly moral society is, but the barbarity and absolutes of war have NOT changed. Unspeakable tragedies are going to occur, and as you said, in this war they have been uniquely rare. We need to give our soldiers very W-I-D-E latitude in the execution of their duties. Either that or we need to get out of the war business.
I've seen Gen. Pace's comments. And you ain't no reporter.
You scram, buddy. I was here long before you. And you have no answer for the fact that the MARINES' own honor code would find despicable what these soldiers are accused of doing. Marines don't do that. Not Marines with honor. Stop trying to defend the ACT and worry about whether they are innocent or guilty of the act. There's a big difference.
Look, coop -- as with Peach, I'm with you about 99% of the time. You don't need to "reason" with me, because we're on the same side.
Nevertheless, I'm asking you a question: if it turns out that Marines really did commit an atrocity in this case, will you stand up like a man and condemn them?
That, itself, is a pretty naive view.
Then you know the code of honor quite well. Why don't you post it.
Well said.
But stand by. If these charges are, God forbid, true, some of these same people will then be accusing us of not believing the truth. Guaranteed!
But no bother. Presumption of innocence for those defending our freedom seems like a very, very small price to pay.
We Americans "sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us."
Attributed to George Orwell.
Anyone here pre-judging and condemning our Marines the day following Memorial day should be ashamed of themselves.
By not preparing, you are allowing Murtha to be painted as "right" and "far seeing." Not too bright.
God help this great nation, but, I believe that day may come as well if things continue as they are. Then, the marxist, socialist, fascist, communists, leftist and any other 'ist', will have won.
Blue helmets are only good for target practice.
My question is this. All MSM outlets bend over backwards to couch their stories of murders by using words like "alleged" or "some sources". I do not read their tripe. But in what I have heard here are they convicting these Marines without a trial? If FoxNews is right and there is predator footage showing that the Marines acted correctly and are found innocent then the MSM and Murtha should make each and everyone as rich as Bill Gates for their libelous slander.
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