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Marine Brass Seem Exonerated (And I predict, so will the Enlisted!)
The Washington Times ^ | June 2, 2006 | Rowan Scarborough

Posted on 06/02/2006 9:13:25 AM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: haditha; iraq; marinecorps; marines; murthawatch; rowanscarborough; war
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To: prognostigaator

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


21 posted on 06/02/2006 9:39:30 AM PDT by roses of sharon
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To: Peach
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.

22 posted on 06/02/2006 9:39:34 AM PDT by jazusamo (DIANA IREY for Congress, PA 12th District: Retire murtha.)
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To: kellynla

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


23 posted on 06/02/2006 9:40:46 AM PDT by Allegra (Thread Hijacker Extraordinaire)
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To: kellynla

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.


24 posted on 06/02/2006 9:42:00 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Never trust Democrats with national security.)
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To: Bigg Red

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


25 posted on 06/02/2006 9:43:06 AM PDT by NYleatherneck
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To: kellynla
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.

26 posted on 06/02/2006 9:45:55 AM PDT by Auntie Dem (Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! Terrorist lovers gotta go!)
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To: kellynla

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.


27 posted on 06/02/2006 9:46:04 AM PDT by Explorer24 ("reliable sources")
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To: All
"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
28 posted on 06/02/2006 9:47:24 AM PDT by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin
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.
29 posted on 06/02/2006 9:47:47 AM PDT by Apercu ("Res ipsa loquitur")
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To: 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.


30 posted on 06/02/2006 9:51:27 AM PDT by armydawg1 (" America must win this war..." PVT Martin Treptow, KIA, WW1)
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To: jazusamo; Peach; Allegra; BiggRedd; NYleatherneck
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.

31 posted on 06/02/2006 9:51:37 AM PDT by Coop (FR = a lotta talk, but little action)
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To: Nightshift

ping...


32 posted on 06/02/2006 9:52:20 AM PDT by tutstar (Baptist Ping List Freepmail me if you want on or off this ping list.)
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To: 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.

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

33 posted on 06/02/2006 9:53:56 AM PDT by Coop (FR = a lotta talk, but little action)
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To: Coop

Bump

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


34 posted on 06/02/2006 9:56:30 AM PDT by jazusamo (DIANA IREY for Congress, PA 12th District: Retire murtha.)
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To: jazusamo

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


35 posted on 06/02/2006 9:57:21 AM PDT by Coop (FR = a lotta talk, but little action)
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To: Patriot Hooligan
"When in doubt, attack." General George S. Patton

Good advice that will keep many warrior alive -

36 posted on 06/02/2006 9:59:07 AM PDT by SevenMinusOne
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To: Coop

BTTT


37 posted on 06/02/2006 9:59:52 AM PDT by E.G.C.
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To: Coop

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


38 posted on 06/02/2006 10:00:20 AM PDT by jazusamo (DIANA IREY for Congress, PA 12th District: Retire murtha.)
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To: kellynla
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!

39 posted on 06/02/2006 10:02:48 AM PDT by HardStarboard (Hey, march some more - its helping get the wall built!)
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To: armydawg1; Coop
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.

40 posted on 06/02/2006 10:04:13 AM PDT by Allegra (Thread Hijacker Extraordinaire)
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