U.S. Troops in Iraq to Get Ethics Training( Iraq opens own probe of civilian deaths)

The Washington Times ^ | Jun 1, 2006 | PATRICK QUINN

[kellynla]

And when they find out that these people were either killed by crossfire and/or by the "bad guys" before they "bugged out"; I fully expect the MSM to post these Marines' exoneration on their front pages and at the top of their news hour.

Semper Fi, Kelly

[sarasota]

Don't hold your breath. What annoys me is the ethics training and the fact that GWB is "troubled". Why not take a strong stand for "innocent until proven guilty"???

[kellynla]

ping

[ladtx]

The problem with this, true or not, is that the result may be to create the slightest hesitation in our guys with a deadly result. And all of it gets laid directly at Murtha's and the MSM's feet.

[ContemptofCourt]

He added, however, that "unfortunately, there are a few individuals who sometimes choose the wrong path."

Umm, he isn't telegraphing this punch...he's plain telling you it is coming.

[Texas Songwriter]

Yes. Let's have the soldiers have a New AGe encounter group session and include the islamofascists too. Think how much they could grow.

[MNJohnnie]

HADITHA. A rush to Judgment.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/05/31/haditha/index.html

Video on lower right hand side of the screen. Called "Haditha Uncovered. Go watch it.

Perhaps someone can explain to me the logical and factual flaws in the "Iraqi Civilian Right Groups" "story. How can these facts be logically reconciled with what the Iraqis, and some supposed Freepers, are accusing the Marines of doing?

To Quote CNN:

"According to published reports, a number of Marines from the storied 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division are accused killing more than 20 Iraqi civilians in retaliation for the death of one of their comrades by a roadside bomb in November, 2005."

Okie, 20 Dead Civilians. Which we are told were all shot thus supposedly proving "the Marines falsified the original report". So what could just be an honest mistake between a Marine's assumption on the spot of cause of death in his After Action Report (We didn't fire up the building, they were dead, must of been the bomb shrapnel) with a medical examiners report filed after a autopsies is NOW claimed by the accusers as"proof" that the "Marines Lied".

Ok so the accusation is they were all shot to death at short range in a building that had not been penetrated by any rounds from outside. No bullet holes in the building, must mean it was not Collateral Damage but a deliberate act is the accusers claims. In other words the accusers claim the Marines shot to death the Iraqis inside the building as a deliberate act not an accident of war. In fact, Some are running around claiming a shrapnel wound is so obviously different that a Combat Infantry Marine would know the difference between the two. Leave aside the obviously question why would Infantry Marine would be examining the wounds of dead Civilians, lets assume, that is correct.

Ok, then how come the "survivors" as interviewed for CNN by the "Iraqi Civil Rights group" are making such obviously absurd claims on the video?

"They burned the room with my father in it then threw a bomb"? Neat trick that. How they "Burn the room"? We don't use flame throwers. "Threw a bomb" but the accusers are telling us it all gun shot wounds. "a Bomb" inflict shrapnel wounds.

Notice also the mannerism of the "children survivors". Having come thru what would of been the most terrifying event of their lives and being forced to talk about it again, yet the kids show no hesitation or emotion. Just a dull recital of supposed "Facts" as if they were reciting a story as an memorization assignment in School. Very strange that. Absolutely no real emotion, just a breathless recital of "Facts" Then when done speaking look over to the person standing to the right of the camera (You can see his shadow behind the kids). Sure looks like kids looking at a teacher to see how they did in reciting their "lesson"

Then there is the part where the "Iraqi Civil Rights Group" filming the kids told the Iraqi boy to "show his wounds". It must not of occurred to the "Iraqi Civil Rights Group" making the video to consider the Iraqi boy's supposed "wound". Apparently no one bothered to think about where he was "shot". The supposed "wound" supposedly inflicted by US Marines at point blank range, (as claimed by the "Iraqi Civil Rights Group)" is directly over his spine. Yet when told he got up and turned around for the camera to "Show his wounds"?

If he HAD been shot there, he would be crippled for life, his spine severed just below the neck. So all this is being based on the claims of an "Iraqi Civil Rights Group" which are demonstrated to be lying. Since they lied about this, what ELSE might they have lied about? So maybe some one can explain these inconsistencies in the "witnesses" testimony? Some "Americans", especially in the Junk Media, maybe want to rethink their rush to judgment on these Marines

[kellynla]

"Don't hold your breath"

you thought I was serious?

I went through all of this during Viet Nam;
before, during and after I got back!

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[MNJohnnie]

Let us all take a deep breath There is no harm in retraining on the Rules of Land Warfare and ROE. We are NOT perfect. In this sort of warfare it WOULD be easy to lose it. Indecision kills. It actually helps these Marines to KNOW what they can and cannot do. It also helps impose some order on the chaos. Killing everything that moves may make sound like a good idea, it is a disaster. It also puts our guys at greater risk of Blue on Blue incidents. They are the US Military NOT a mob of tribal s@#$heads. It will not harm them to get their training refreshed on this.

What WAS the mistake was announcing it. Some "genius" in the Pentagon decided to make this a PR announcement. That was dumb and a serious PR error.

[sarasota]

Agreed. Makes it look like we're being apologetic (and weak) before the incident has even been investigated.

[Texas Songwriter]

From a factual basis I don't know yet that our troups committed a mistake. The investigators have not yet make public their findings. Right now all is speculation...speculation which puts troops at risk.

[sageb1]

I have to agree that the video does raise a lot of questions. The part where the girl says she "knew the bomb was going to go off...????" They tried to explain that away by saying she got confused. Right.

[DoctorMichael]

"Grog demand US troops get Ethics training"

[45Auto]

God Bless the Marine Corps. I am of the Genghis Khan/George S Patton school of military operations.

"A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week." - George S Patton

[Enchante]

I'm still waiting for the day when headlines announce that all MSM reporters and editors are submitting to voluntary "ethics training" to learn to write honest, objective reporting and commentary.......

[TomasUSMC]

Indecision kills. It actually helps these Marines to KNOW what they can and cannot do.

---

and to know what they cannot do? They are being shot at and blown up with mines and we want to tell them what they are not allowed to do? If that doesn't create indecision nothing will.

This will do nothing but embolden the enemy and make it more difficult for our already ROE-handcuffed troops to fight successfully.

Why doesn't the White House come out and support the Marines, saying that if Marines wanted to murder civilians they would just have called down 500lb bombs on those homes.

Instead they risked their lives going into those homes, into room after room.

If indecision kill we need less not more stinking rules of engagement. Our troops shouldn't have to WAIT, and check off the ROE list, while they are being shot at.

Level Ramadi
Semper Fi

[SandRat]

Like this new investigation can be trusted.....

[MEG33]

We Support Our Troops

[MNJohnnie]

From a factual basis I don't know yet that our troops committed a mistake

Oh I agree. My gut instinct is they did NOT make a mistake. From looking at all the "Evidence" I can find it sure looks like a Terrorist "Staged Atrocity". Sort of like what the Pals accused the Israelis of doing in Jenin during the 1990s.

Only this time Al Qeda actually massacred some civilians to set up the Marines. The Claims of "Civilians made to knee and being shot while praying" is pure Al Qeda tactics. It could also be the legitimate collateral damaged caused by Terrorist hiding among Civilians is being stage managed as a "Massacre". And yes, it is possible someone lost it. We don't know. Neither do those screaming the accusations in the Junk Media.

[MNJohnnie]

Mandatory ethics training for "Journalists" what a splendid idea.