The Truth About Haditha(Michelle Malkin)

Real Clear Politics ^ | May 31, 2006 | Michelle Malkin

[kellynla]

Democrat Rep. John "Cut and Run" Murtha thinks he knows the truth about Haditha -- and he has been blabbing it to every last cable show host that will host him. The loose-lipped former Marine has accused troops of wantonly killing some two dozen civilians, including children, "in cold blood" in the terrorist stronghold in Iraq last November. There are two ongoing military investigations into the incident itself and the actions of higher-ups in the Haditha aftermath.

Let me repeat that: The investigations are ongoing. Not complete. Official reports aren't expected for several weeks.

I do not know the truth about Haditha. Neither do Murtha and the media outlets calling the alleged massacre a massacre before all the facts are in. It would be helpful if they could handle these grave charges without serving as al Jazeera satellite offices. GOP Sen. John Warner, who like Murtha also served in the Marines, struck the right tone over the weekend -- refusing, unlike Murtha, to render a verdict against the Marines before trial and avoiding Bush Derangement Syndrome, but also taking the allegations very seriously.

I do know this. Children are dead. Other children have been orphaned. There are pictures of bullet holes and bloodied homes. There are evolving stories about what happened last Nov. 19 and serious allegations of a possible cover-up.

I also know this: Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas, the Marine who was killed by a roadside IED (improvised explosive device) that day, followed a proud family tradition of military service. He had received a commendation for bravery on his first tour of duty in Iraq in 2004. One of his fellow Marines said Terrazas's body was split in two by the bomb explosion that rocked his Hummer while on patrol that morning.

[dfwgator]

But in those areas that are affected, support is phenomenal.

And to me, that's all that matters. The rest can just go back to watching Oprah and American Idol, while the real heroes go out and make a difference.

[khnyny]

Personally, I am disgusted and have zero respect for Murtha and the MSM. Whose side are they on?

[Iscool]

I agree...Damon was defending the marines...She doesn't believe the charges...

But that one probably won't make it to Headline News...

[kellynla]

Iraqi soldiers were with the Marines that day.
But I suspect that there is more likelihood that these people were killed by crossfire and/or by the "bad guys" before they "bugged out."

[karnage]

I'm shocked that there haven't been 100 Hadithas. War is hell.

[kellynla]

"Whose side are they on?"

the same side they were on during the Viet Nam war.
Against the war, against the military and against America!
The Left are socialists & communists.

[NavyCanDo]

Great Post Ping!

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

Audio of radio traffic that day reportedly contradicts Rep. Murtha's claim that the Marines did not come under small-arms fire after the roadside explosion

[G.Mason]

"I agree...Damon was defending the marines...She doesn't believe the charges..."

Agreed.

" But that one probably won't make it to Headline News..."

Wholeheartedly ... agreed.

[kellynla]

"I'm shocked that there haven't been 100 Hadithas. War is hell."

"shocked?"
well if you had ever been in combat much less uniform;
you would know that Marines are trained professional combatants and we don't fly off the handle and murder!

Ya might want to get out of Hollyweird and away from the Lefties in the film industry and spend a little more time with Marines!

A large dose of reality would do ya a world of good! LOL

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[Allegra]

You're right; war sucks. It can be very nasty and cause people to do things they would not do under normal circumstances.

That being said, I don't believe this "massacre" occured as the libs are telling it. Were they there? No.

I'll wait for the facts to come out, but I haven't believed Murtha's take on this since he first started spewing it.

[kellynla]

"Audio of radio traffic that day reportedly contradicts Rep. Murtha's claim that the Marines did not come under small-arms fire after the roadside explosion"

drip,drip,drip...


And just like the Marine who, according to the LSM, "murdered" an Iraqi who was "playing dead";
I predict that these Marines will also be exonerated.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[Sisku Hanne]

possible candidate for most senseless comment of the day.

[PISANO]

The MSM in this country is pathetic. The Democrat leadership along with Murtha are even worse.

As difficult as it will be to vote for the GOP, THE ONLY reason I will vote this NOVEMEBER is to HONOR our Military! I will NOT be a part of turning my back on their sacrifice by voting AGAINST my party because they have come up so lame on so many issues.

It is FOR THEM [our men and women in the Military] that I will vote against any Democrat on the ballot. Our troops deserve the best of everything, and I firmly believe the GOP is light years better than the Dims in the DEFENSE of OUR NATION.

[eazdzit]

They already have control of Congress. WE need to clean house.

:)Easy Does It:)

[pfflier]

were killed by crossfire and/or by the "bad guys" before they "bugged out" which is the terrorists' M.O.!

I suspect that it is the second case. The terrorists killed the people then immediately went to the media. This pattern has occurred over and over again with "Mosque attacks" and "Wedding Parties". Al Jeezera always blames the US military and the MSM jumps on this before our military even has a chance to respond. When the facts do come out, reasonable people (excluding Dean/DNC, Amnesty International, ANSWER, Move On and the other professional America haters) usually see through the BS.

The USMC is the most effective and admired fighting force in the world. In order for the terrorists to beat them, it must be done politically and here at home.

For the left, everything is another Vietnam. That is when they were happiest and most demonstrated their skills as "useful idiots".

[Natural Law]

The collective "Laws of War" made up of the four Geneva conventions, the Hague conventions and numerous other treaties and agreements, clearly stipulates that "indiscriminate" attacks on civilian targets are prohibited. Attacks to achieve clear military objectives are permitted. In the case if Haditha, returning overwhelming fire on a building, home or compound, even when civilians are present, is completely within the law.

A fact overlooked by the main stream media and the left wing blow hards is that these same laws of war prohibit using civilians and civilian objects and facilities as cover. The blame for the Haditha deaths lies with those initiating hostilities, the terrorists, not those responding.

[mfnorman]

i'm thinking that in a city of 90,000 and only 150 people voted in the last election that there must be 1 of 2 things happening here: 1. there is a huge amount of fear and intimidation from the enemy to the populace that they would be less than honest as to what really happened on that day out of fear of reprisals or...2. there is a huge amount of anti-American sentiment there that they would exagerate this story to cause a huge backlash back home against our brave fighting men over there. Just a thought that crossed my mind.

[DBeers]

Democrat Rep. John "Cut and Run" Murtha thinks he knows the truth about Haditha -- and he has been blabbing it to every last cable show host that will host him.

Democrat Rep. John "leftist meme prostitute" Murtha thinks he knows the truth about Haditha -- and he has been blabbing it to every last cable show host that will pimp him...

[higgmeister]

JAGs Explain, please?

JAGs (mil lawyers)

Stands for Judge Advocates General, like the Justice Department is for Civilians.