On a Marine Base, Disbelief Over Charges

New York Times ^ | May 29, 2006 | Carolyn Marshall

[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

[kellynla]

yeaaaaa...well ya know what you can do with your "style manual"...
and we ain't in the Army, genius! LMAO

now, go bother someone else

[F.J. Mitchell]

Are you saying, without even benefit of a trial, that street justice was administered by our Marines in this particular instance?

[Huevos Rancheros]

Yep, the MSM is nifonging the case.

[jazusamo]

I read the quote and was taken aback because I spoke to the same Brig. Gen. David M. Brahms about the case this week, and his sentiments were very different from those presented in the Post. Which explains why he sent me this statement yesterday:

Thanks for this post. It shows only too well how the media distort facts to report an event to suit their own political bent.

Also, there are some others here that say that General Pace and some other military officers have been hinting that this could be bad. That's bunk, General Pace doesn't hint, he has said he won't comment until the investigation is complete. I don't understand the motives of naysayers that read between the lines and imply the worst about this event, it's disgusting.

[dfwgator]

What do you mean by "it can't be good."

Of course, pictures of slain women and children aren't good, but does that necessary mean he thinks it was those Marines that were guilty of those crimes?

[wtc911]

Okay, I apologize to LS, but that is still the image his/her responses bring to mind.

=================================================

Commendable.

I don't read LS the way you do. I think he is cautioning against any rush to judgement. There is a danger in declaring with absolute confidence the impossibility of there being any truth in these allegations. That danger, as I see it, is that contradiction of that position by the facts (should that occur) leaves only two paths...eat crow or spin (lie is the better word).

Allowing for the possibility of a transgression and advising that we all wait for the truth to be revealed is not contrary to the presumption of innocence. In the civilian world we have the Grand Jury system that allows that a crime may have been commited but that can only indict, not convict and does not presume guilt.

[Peach]

We've seen this played out before and I'm still surprised, as you are, that people actually believe the media when they so regularly mis-quote people.

Our Marines and military deserve our support and respect and are innocent until proven guilty. No one has even been charged in this matter.

And for those saying that people have been removed from their posts, that is SOP when something is being investigated.

[delacoert]

...her sources in the Pentagon say it's bad.

I don't think we can/should make a judgement based on this sort of heresay!

Bad might mean that there is so much political intervention (Pentagon COA, US politics, and/or international politics) that it's going to be difficult to get evidence and/or a fair hearing.

Even if there was more meat than the comment "it's bad", I would still shut my mouth and wait for the trial.

I didn't hear/read Laura's comments, but I'm much more prone to make a negative judgement about her than the marines.

[F.J. Mitchell]

LOL!, Eggs Ranchstyle. As infamous as Nifong has become,I'm not sure the whole country is acquainted with the term Nifonging. But I believe you are right on.

[jazusamo]

Some may say this is off topic, I don't believe it is.

Help support Diana Irey so the despicable actions of Jack Murtha can't be repeated should another incident occur in which our military are denigrated in the press before due process has been afforded them.

DIANA IREY FOR CONGRESS
600 PARK AVENUE
MONONGAHELA, PA 15063
724-258-2300
http://www.irey.com/

[oyez]

I'm praying that this is another story that the MSM wants to be true. I know a lot of people are licking their chops at this item. They relish the the chance of broad brush painting our GI's as war criminals like they did in VN. Now with mass communication is the Middle East they can do a Hell of a lot of damage.

[oyez]

The left have stood with every tinpot dictator the world ever produced.

You know how it is. Democracy might bring rise to capitalism.

[Brit1]

As a Brit I hope and pray this is not true especially of the Marines.

As somebody once said 'God' might like flyers,he warms to the army and he is very fond of all sailors but he LOVES his Marines both yours and ours.

God bless them all.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

Are you saying, without even benefit of a trial, that street justice was administered by our Marines in this particular instance?

I'm raising it solely as a hypothetical question. That said, where would you draw the line on what is and isn't acceptable behavior on the part of the troops?

[Brit1]

As a Brit I hope and pray this is not true especially of the Marines.

As somebody once said 'God' might like flyers,he warms to the army and he is very fond of all sailors but he LOVES his Marines both yours and ours.

God bless them all. My tagline says all that needs to be said.

[processing please hold]

As a Brit I hope and pray this is not true especially of the Marines.

I'll give the Marines my vote of confidence before the LSM. Their leftist agenda is carved in stone.

As somebody once said 'God' might like flyers,he warms to the army and he is very fond of all sailors but he LOVES his Marines both yours and ours.

Thanks for my big smile.

God bless them all.

Amen.

[Arrowhead1952]

That would make a great statement on a bumper sticker!!

[F.J. Mitchell]

I just feel that as long as we send nineteen year olds, who are barely trusted to drive, and who are still denied the right to an adult beverage,and barely six years past puberty, into battle in defense of old farts such as my self, among others, we owe it to them to see that those who survive the ordeal aren't robbed of their future, over a reaction to some situation so tense that we, despite our years and experience can't even imagine.

These kids are there for our well being, they are employed by us, and if they screw up, who the hell are we to criticize and condemn them? If their actions are deemed a crime, it is our duty to volunteer to serve their time and convey unto them our earthly possessions. Anything less exposes us as selfish hypocrites.

[tertiary01]

Never hurts to prepare for the worst.

[edpc]

I have a feeling this story is just like it. Utterly false.

How? You're a numbskull, IMO.
Why is it impossible for you to grasp that US Marines...who are taught to be killing machines...to...under certain battle conditions...lose their sanity?

I wouldn't call it impossible, but I'll say it's improbable. I'll say it for the same reason the stories about a wounded militant being murdered in cold blood in a mosque, a wedding party massacre, and truckloads of forged Iraqi ballots turned out to be a gigantic pile of BS.

Wake the F up and realize the MSM and left have been digging, hoping, and praying for something like this to happen. They've wanted a return to Vietnam. This, they hope, is their My Lai. Now they just need to find their Calley.

I'm always on the side of our Armed Forces. Having served in them, I think I know a little about it. I left due to the fact we had a CiC in the 90s who showed open disdain and contempt for the military. If I am a numbskull to choose our fighting men and women over Clinton, Murtha, the MSM, and their ilk (which I hope does not include you), so be it!