Marine Brass Seem Exonerated (And I predict, so will the Enlisted!)

The Washington Times ^ | June 2, 2006 | Rowan Scarborough

[kellynla]

U.S. Marine Corps headquarters in Washington did not learn of the killing of Iraqi civilians by Marines in Haditha until early March, a timeline that appears to exonerate the highest ranks of the Marine Corps from any cover-up or failure to act.

The U.S. military command in Baghdad learned of the civilian killings in February and began two investigations: one criminal and one administrative.

The administrative probe by Army Brig. Gen. Eldon Bargewell is focusing on whether any information was covered up along the Marine Corps chain of command. This is because the 2nd Marine Division issued a press release Nov. 20 saying Iraqi civilians had been killed in Haditha the previous day by an improvised explosive device (IED) and in a firefight with insurgents.

Officials now acknowledge that the statement was inaccurate. Evidence shows the civilians were killed deliberately by Marines' gunfire during sweeps after an IED killed one of their battlemates.

One key question is: Did senior Marine Corps officers hear of the accusations and fail to act between the time of the Nov. 19 incident and February, when a Time magazine reporter brought the charges to the attention of the Baghdad command?

A timeline that the Marines provided yesterday to The Washington Times would appear to exonerate Gen. Michael W. Hagee, the Marine Corps commandant, and his staff.

Col. David Lapan, a Marine Corps headquarters spokesman, said the commandant and his staff were apprised in early March by Marine commanders in Iraq. He said Gen. Hagee subsequently received briefings on the criminal probe and then dedicated a tour of Iraq to telling Marines the importance of ethical conduct and the rules of war.

[roses of sharon]

The MSM have had control over the government for 40 years.

[jazusamo]

Are we just going on Iraqi reports?

It seems so. Just yesterday it was brought out that motives of the Iraqi reporter and the doctor in Haditha are suspect, they hate Americans.

[Allegra]

Oh, how I HOPE this whole thing just blows up in Murtha and the media's faces. BIG.

[Bigg Red]

When these Marines & the Marine Corps are exonerated, I expect the MSM to publish the findings on their front pages...but I won't be holding my breath.

&&
I am for launching a legal defense fund that will enable the Marines to sue politicians and media figures for slander and/or libel.

[NYleatherneck]

Unfortunately, it won't save their reputations, or their careers.

[Auntie Dem]

Evidence shows the civilians were killed deliberately by Marines' gunfire during sweeps after an IED killed one of their battlemates.

Uh huhhhh.... Let's see, will the Iraqis allow the bodies of the "innocent" civilians to be autopsied under controlled conditions to extract bullets to confirm they were fired from the guns in the posession of U.S. Marines? Or will that "evidence" show the "execution-style" shots were fired by American guns that were not inventoried to any troops in the action? Hmmmmnnn?

But then such evidence shouldn't be needed because all the surviving "witnesses" belong to the Religion of Peace and we know that religion to be honorable, and it's adherants would never lie to infidels.

[Explorer24]

Bottom line: it's not about accuracy or honesty, it's about getting it on the front page to work against our efforts. The damage is done.

[kellynla]

"The November 19th death of Lance Corporal Miguel Terrazas in Haditha, Iraq, led to a firefight that led to the deaths of more than 20 Iraqis -- including unarmed women and children.

Exactly what happened that day remains unclear. Terrazas' father, Martin Terraza of El Paso, says the Marines his son fought with gave him one account -- that after the car bomb exploded, the Marines took a defensive position around the wreckage of his son's vehicle. Insurgents immediately started shooting from nearby buildings, and the insurgents were using women and children as human shields. Terraza says the Marines told him they returned fire as they fought for their own survival."

http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=4973913&nav=menu73_2_2

[Apercu]

Your husband is spot on.I predict NCIS will find out that the terrorists did indeed murder these civilians to set up the Marines knowing full well the left will fall all over itself in order to find another My Lai.

[armydawg1]

It shouldnt be news to you, you seem to have been swept up in the "Blame the Marines" hysteria sweeping the media and White House.

[Coop]

I think initially what got Time Magazine's attention was a suspect human rights group, some random (but very disturbing) photos, and Iraqi eyewitness accounts. That launched an initial investigation, which seems understandable to me. However, that investigation is still ongoing (with another one started) almost three months later.

So, while I think Murtha has been caught lying/exaggerating and I am certain events did not play out as described by the press (it's amazing how different things sound when the defense is allowed to tell its story), I am by no means certain these Marines are guilt free. I hope and pray they are, and if mistakes were made in the heat of battle, I pray they will not be hung out to dry. But if cold-blooded killings did occur (which I doubt), and if charges are filed, and if they're found guilty, then they'll pay.

Whether they're guilty or not, I want Murtha out of Congress. He does not rate. His actions have been despicable. And I don't expect he or Nancy Pelosi to act honorably, so it will be up to us via his worthy opponent Diana Irey to retire him in November.

If the Marines are absolved of guilt, I hope Murtha's brought up on charges. But I'm not holding my breath.

[tutstar]

ping...

[Coop]

It shouldnt be news to you, you seem to have been swept up in the "Blame the Marines" hysteria sweeping the media and White House.

Okay. Prove it. This should be fun. Let me go grab a beer.

[jazusamo]

Bump

Diana Irey
http://www.irey.com/

[Coop]

You should really stop bumping me. I'm apparently now on the side trying to lynch U.S. Marines.

[SevenMinusOne]

"When in doubt, attack." General George S. Patton

Good advice that will keep many warrior alive -

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[jazusamo]

I noticed that. I'm going to have fun watching how it's proven.

[HardStarboard]

Looks like al Qaeda in Iraq may have adopted the technique of the Palestinians: essentially staging deaths and photographing them in a light to make them look like wanton killing of civilians.

Much of it is theater - remember the "corpse" that fell off a Palestinian funeral bier on the way to the cemetary - the procession stopped lowered the bier and the "dead guy" climed back on - and off they went. It was all caught on film.

Some woman wrtoe a book (maye it was a TV feature show) on this phenomon in Gaza/West Bank.

The Muslim religion applauds deception and trickery when dealing with "infidels". Until I see hard ground proof that our Marines committed a massacare, I will take the charges as a typical "deception technique" designed to throw the US into a tizzy of self recrimination.

and its working on the MSM, big time!

[Allegra]

you seem to have been swept up in the "Blame the Marines" hysteria sweeping the media and White House.

Huh?

I've seen just the opposite from Coop, who, in case you didn't know, is a Marine.