Posted on 06/01/2006 6:44:37 PM PDT by Sam Hill
You have probably heard by now that the doctor who examined the bodies of the civilians in Haditha after the alleged Marine rampage said they were shot in the chest and head and from close range.
You have probably also heard it reported that the death certificates of the deceased record that all the victims were shot. Here is an article which features the source for the quote and probably the author of the death certificates, from the terrorist supporters at Uruknet:
An image taken from footage shot on November 19, 2005 shows bodies in a morgue after an incident in Haditha.
Witnesses, video document massacre in Haditha US Marines killed Iraqi civilians in cold blood
20 May 2006
US Congressman John Murtha said on Wednesday that a Pentagon investigation into the deaths of civilians in Haditha, Iraq, last November will show that US Marines "killed innocent civilians in cold blood." Murtha (Democrat, Pennsylvania) was referring to a probe launched into a November 19 incident in which at least 23 civiliansincluding seven woman and three childrenwere gunned down by US troops. Haditha is a predominantly Sunni town 200 kilometers northwest of Baghdad in Anbar province...
Dr. Wahid, the director of the local Haditha hospital, said the Marines brought 24 bodies to his hospital around midnight November 19. He told Time the Marines claimed the victims had been killed by shrapnel, "But it was obvious to us that there were no organs slashed by shrapnel. The bullet wounds were very apparent. Most of the victims were shot in the chest and the headfrom close range."
This quote has now become an essential element in most of the articles on Haditha.
Being the highest ranking doctor on the scene, Wahid (Walid) is probably the person who filled out the death certificates, or he ordered them filled out.
What we haven't been told by our one party media is some of the background on the good doctor.
Again from Uruknet:
Iraqi Doctors Beaten and Arrested in Haditha Hospital
Sabah Ali, BRussells Tribunal
October 30, 2005
Dr. Walid Al-Obeidi, the director of Haditha General Hospital and Dr. Jamil Abdul Jabbar, the only surgeon in the Haditha area were arrested for a week, very badly beaten and threatened to face the same treatment in the future by the American troops.
Dr.Walid said "they arrested me in my house in front of my family, covered my eyes, and tied my hands to the back on Oct 5 2005 morning, during the last attack on Haditha (360 kilometers west of Baghdad). They occupied the hospital for 8 days and made it their office. The first day they beat me on my eyes, nose, back, hands, legs... My face was covered with blood .When they removed the tie I could not see. They investigated me until the afternoon. I realized later that I was arrested in the hospital store. Then they tied my hands to the front, and left me for two days. I was moved then to the pharmacy department. They accused me of treating terrorists, and asked for their names.
I told them that I treat patients regardless of their identity, according to my oath as a doctor; even if they were national guards (which we actually I did) or American soldiers. And any way, if I do not want to treat the insurgents, I have no choice, because they were armed and masked. I would do anything they tell to do. Few days later, one of the soldiers came in the room, did not say anything, kicked me again on my face and left" ...
Both doctors were threatened if they do not talk, they would receive the same treatment in the future. They were warned of passing any information of the arrest to the media. They were asked who wrote the hostile slogans against the American on the opposite wall of the hospital? What are the names of the insurgents they treated? and what are the bodies pictures in the hospital computer?
Dr.Walid said he does not know who wrote on the wall outside the hospital, what the names of the insurgents are, because they were masked. He explained that the dead bodies pictures were of unknown people whose bodies were found after the fighting. "We can not keep these bodies forever; we do not have enough cold boxes. So, after two months, we take their pictures and bury them, so that whenever some one from their families comes to ask we show the pictures of the dead bodies".
The UN, the international HR organizations, WHO, Doctors sans frontiers and all who it may concern are called upon to do some thing to help these, and other Iraqi doctors, and to prevent similar treatment in the future. Dr.Walid and Dr. Jamil believe that they may face the arrest and beating in the future. They demand that the American troops stop occupying the hospital and destroying it every time the attack Haditha. They also believe that the Iraqi authorities are incapable of protecting them.
Is it possible Dr. Walid (Wahid) has an anti-American prejudice?
I've never heard of it, but this looked interesting:
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/686/focus.htm
Off-topic but since they mention Tal Afar... this is what was going on when Zarqawi was thought to have taken over there:
Iraqi TV airs video footage of children mutilated by gunmen in Tal Afar
Kuwait News Agency ^ | 2005 Sep 12
Posted on 09/13/2005 6:57:28 AM PDT by Wiz
BAGHDAD, Sept 12 (KUNA) -- Al-Iraqiya satellite television channel on Monday aired video footage showing dead bodies of Iraqi people, including children, mutilated by gunmen in the city of Tal Afar, northern Iraq.
It showed photos of Iraqi children between the ages of six and 17, with their bodies and faces mutilated while lying down in their bedrooms, in addition to other photos of demolished and looted houses.
The station also aired video footage of Tal Afar residents in camps outside the city, as they were forced to leave due to bombings and terror threats.
(Excerpt) Read more at kuna.net.kw ...
Axis of weasels... And whadaya know, Dennis Halliday, Scott Ritter's and Galloway's buddy... involved in this incarnation of the Tribunal.
Thank you piasa.
I learned something new today.
So did I .
"I understand the investigation shows that in fact there was no firefight," Murtha said, "there was no explosion that killed the civilians on a bus. There was no shrapnel. There were only bullet holes inside the house where the Marines had gone in."
"One man was killed with an IED [improvised explosive device]," he added. "After that, they actually went into the houses and killed women and children."
The truth of the matter or at least understanding the truth may lie somewhere between - 'man killed with IED. . .and Marines enter houses. . .
[ i.e. a man - i.e. civilian(?) is killed with/(by?) an IED?
IED. . .where. . .in his home? He was making them. . .or what? Outside his home he accidentally steps on one? What?
Were these civilians in a home where IED's were being made for insurgents or thought to be?
There are things that need to be explained re this situation and by this story. . .(or perhaps I need to read more here). . .but some serious details seem to be MIA in this report. . .]
I looked at the video and the bullet holes, (especially in the door) look like 7.62 to me, not 5.56mm.
Are our guys carrying rifles in 7.62 or are just the AKs putting .30 cal holes in things over there?
As per WaPo offering there are holes. . .would add, yes, big enough for a convoy to move through.
Have not read 'WaPo' story yet. . .but hope it includes some of the info offered here. . .
ON THE NET...
http://www.uruknet.info/
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=-6&l=e
http://www.uruknet.info/pic.php?f=resistenza29-30aprile.jpg
"Iraqi Resistance Report for events of June, 1 June 2006
Translated and/or compiled by Muhammad Abu Nasr, member, editorial board, the Free Arab Voice. http://www.freearabvoice.org"
You're welcome cricket.
ON THE NET:
MEMRITV.org - Video Clip No. 853 - 9/14/2005: "Al-Qaeda Leader in Iraq Abu Mus'ab Al-Zarqawi Declares a "Total War" on Shiites and states that the Sunni Women of Tel'afar Had their "Wombs Filled with the Sperm of the Crusaders"" (TRANSCRIPT SNIPPET: "Following are excerpts from a speech by Al-Qaeda Leader in Iraq Abu Mus'ab Al-Zarqawi. The Speech was published in audio form on the Internet and downloaded from the website of "Al-Qaeda's Jihad Media Battalion - www.k-j-i.tk") (September 14, 2005)
sp correction in post no. 112:
OFF TOPIC with you piasa
Here you go Piasa.
You can listen to Zarqawi and the words in English will be displayed on the screen.
You want video clip 853:
http://www.memritv.org
http://www.memritv.org/search.asp
When you get on this page, enter 853 in the video clip box.
It sure smells like one
bookmark for viewing later - thanks for posting Cindy.
You're welcome Pro-Bush.
Thanks for the links, Cindy
You're welcome piasa.
. . .Drudge headlining BBC report where 'new photographs' have been discovered. . .(provided by Sunnis). . .all of which sound like 'old photograhs'. . .
WhatEVER. . .'we' need to get ahead of this story; or forever, we will be behind it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.